Y-E Data YD-180-1601 restoration – looking for photos and dimensions of damaged parts

[Romain N.]

Hello,

I am currently restoring a Y-E Data YD-180-1601 8-inch floppy disk drive.

Drive details:

• Model: YD-180-1601
• Serial number: 207-154
• Date code: 1983-49

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The drive is mostly complete, but several plastic or elastomer parts have deteriorated with age. I would like to reproduce them in CAD and 3D-print suitable replacements.
I am therefore looking for someone who owns a complete Y-E Data YD-180, preferably the same early version, or possibly a mechanically similar Qume QumeTrak 242, and who could take some detailed photographs and measurements.

The three areas I am interested in are:
1. Front bezel

The black front bezel is broken at both ends, especially around the mounting and retaining features.​

I still have most of the part, but I need photographs of an intact bezel, particularly:​

• front and rear views;
• close-ups of both ends;
• mounting points and retaining clips;
• overall dimensions;
• thickness of the plastic;
• dimensions of the LED opening and central button opening.

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2. Left media guide

The original left guide rail had deteriorated, and I have already made a temporary white 3D-printed replacement.​

I would like to compare it with an original part and verify:​

• the exact profile;
• the front and rear geometry;
• the mounting-hole positions;
• the height and width of the disk-guiding surfaces.

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3. Missing part in the head-load mechanism

A small part in the head-load mechanism has completely disintegrated.​

There is an adjustment screw that appears to control the head-loading height or resting position. This screw should press against a small insert, pad or bumper located in a hole in the black moving part connected to the solenoid.​

On my drive, only the empty hole remains.​

I would particularly need:​

• close-up photographs from several angles;
• photographs with the drive door open and closed;
• the diameter and depth of the hole;
• the dimensions of the missing insert;
• information about its material;
• whether it is rigid plastic, rubber or foam;
• whether it has a flange, groove or retaining feature;
• photographs showing exactly where the adjustment screw contacts it.

Please do not alter the adjustment screw on your drive. External measurements and photographs would already be extremely helpful.​

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My goal is to reconstruct the damaged parts accurately and, once the models are validated, make the 3D files available to the vintage-computing community.

Thank you very much for any help, photographs or technical information.

Romain

 

[RetroAND]

Dear Romain,

I have three Ye-Data YD-180. One is employed to write and read disks with a PC to communicate with our Datamasters, another one is fitted in one of our AS/400 and the third one is for spares. We will have to manipulate them during summer, so I could take some measures. I hope you don't mind they are in the metric system.

Regards

 

[Romain N.]

Dear RetroAND,

Thank you very much. That would be extremely helpful.

The metric system is perfect for me, as I am located in France and use metric measurements for my CAD models.

The most important parts for me are the missing bumper in the head-load mechanism and the damaged ends of the front bezel.
Thank you again for your help.

Best regards,

Romain

 

[Romain N.]

I have now completed a first CAD reconstruction of the front bezel based on the remaining parts of my original one.

Some areas, especially the damaged ends and retaining features, had to be estimated. I have attached several views of the current model.

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It would be very helpful if you could compare the original bezel with my reconstruction and take photographs of any details that appear different or missing.

I have not reproduced the hollow cavities on the rear side of the original part. They were probably intended to reduce the amount of plastic used. For FDM printing, keeping these areas solid makes the replacement stiffer and should not affect its function.

Thank you again for your help.

Best regards,
Romain