Floppy drive calibration tutorial

Started by eidis, January 24, 2015, 03:14:54 AM

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Do we need a guide on how to calibrate faulty 5.25" drives ?

Yes
6 (100%)
No
0 (0%)
I'm not confident in doing such things
0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 6

eidis

 Hi Guys !

This is a very important matter which needs to be addressed and I will do a tutorial if there will be enough interest. It will consist of three steps:

1) Connecting the X68000 floppy drive to PC
2) Using PC software to calibrate the drive heads
3) How to adjust track 0 sensor, if necessary

Keep the scene alive !
Eidis
X68000 personal computer is called, "X68K" or "no good good" is called, is the PC that are loved by many people today.

emerald danjon

Connect the 5/25 to PC?
but is needed some kind Adapter,right?
in my actual PC i dont have any port for FDD,
but  i remember in the past try add an 5/25 FDD to others PC,s without luck  :-\,
i have 2 AMSTRAD PC1512 with 5/25 FDD,S  ::)

eidis

#2
 Hi Gillianx68000 !

Quotebut is needed some kind Adapter,right?

Slightly modified floppy cable could do the trick.

Quotebut  i remember in the past try add an 5/25 FDD to others PC,s without luck

I have a secret weapon. Behold the motherboard of Canon MD-5501:

Left: Canon MD-5501; Right: X68000 floppy drive; Bottom: Canon MD-5501 old style controller.
http://nfggames.com/x68000/Pic/Misc/Canon%20MD5501/Canon%20MD5501v2%20vs%20X68000%20slim%20vs%20Canon%20MD5501v1.JPG

First stage would be successfully connecting the X68000 drive with MD-5501 controller to PC, next step would be to connect the drive to PC with its native controller.

Sparcie has already figured out a good working solution for aligning the heads.

Aligning a Canon MD 5501 5.25″ FDD
https://sparcie.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/aligning-a-canon-md-5501-5-25-fdd/

Keep the scene alive !
Eidis
X68000 personal computer is called, "X68K" or "no good good" is called, is the PC that are loved by many people today.

emerald danjon

You use the PCB for the compatibilization of the PC 5/25 drive? :o
Smart,
but i think i was read the PC 5/25 FDD can work in X68000 losing the Soft eject...¿is that true?,
i feel bad for ask things what sure are answered a lot of times...,but sometimes is hard find the post...,
i know i was read something about,maybe in this same forum.
cheers.