Floppy drive read/write head specs

[Kemmotar]

I'm wanting to use a floppy drive read/write head (removed from the
drive) to read other types of magnetic media, but I can't find any specs
on it. What I need is some idea which pins are which, and what voltages
etc. to use.

I've got the head out of the drive, and it has a ribbon coming out of it
which terminates in five contacts. Any ideas where to start or where I
might go (other forums, webpages etc.) to find this info?

Kemmotar

 

[CWatters]

"Kemmotar" <kem@otar.com> wrote in message
news:4213ad94$0$214$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...

I'm wanting to use a floppy drive read/write head (removed from the
drive) to read other types of magnetic media, but I can't find any specs
on it. What I need is some idea which pins are which, and what voltages
etc. to use.

I've got the head out of the drive, and it has a ribbon coming out of it
which terminates in five contacts. Any ideas where to start or where I
might go (other forums, webpages etc.) to find this info?

Kemmotar

Find the head amp chip. Look up the part data. Trace the wires.

 

[Zak]

Kemmotar wrote:

I'm wanting to use a floppy drive read/write head (removed from the
drive) to read other types of magnetic media, but I can't find any specs
on it. What I need is some idea which pins are which, and what voltages
etc. to use.

I've got the head out of the drive, and it has a ribbon coming out of it
which terminates in five contacts. Any ideas where to start or where I
might go (other forums, webpages etc.) to find this info?

I suspect one wire shield, two wires to the actual read/write head, and
two wires for the 'tunnel erase' used when writing.


Thomas

 

[CWatters]

"Kemmotar" <kem@otar.com> wrote in message
news:4213ad94$0$214$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...

I'm wanting to use a floppy drive read/write head (removed from the
drive) to read other types of magnetic media,

I recall that an old National Semiconductor Application Note on drive PLLs
contained the words "National Semiconductors can't vouch for the sanity of
enyone who ventures beyond this point".

 

[Kemmotar]

Zak wrote:

I suspect one wire shield, two wires to the actual read/write head, and
two wires for the 'tunnel erase' used when writing.

That's kind of what I was thinking. I also thought I might try plugging
the drive (minus the head) into the computer power supply and testing to
see what voltages etc. I have coming to the head. Of course that may
not work if the computer can tell that I don't have a disk in and so
doesn't send any power to the head.

Alternatively I could just try various things... I've got a virtually
unlimited supply of heads (brother in law rebuilds computers) so if I
burn a few out it's not that big a deal!

Thanks for the suggestions!

Kemmotar

 

[Kemmotar]

CWatters wrote:

"Kemmotar" <kem@otar.com> wrote in message
news:4213ad94$0$214$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...

I'm wanting to use a floppy drive read/write head (removed from the
drive) to read other types of magnetic media,


I recall that an old National Semiconductor Application Note on drive PLLs
contained the words "National Semiconductors can't vouch for the sanity of
enyone who ventures beyond this point".

It is a rather insane project, but those are the best kind! If you fail
there's little dissapointment, and if you succeed there's great
satisfaction!

 

[Kemmotar]

Kemmotar wrote:

Zak wrote:


I suspect one wire shield, two wires to the actual read/write head,
and two wires for the 'tunnel erase' used when writing.


That's kind of what I was thinking.

Just took the back cover off the head, and I can now see that two wires
go to one side, which is red, and two go to the other side, which is
green. I'm guessing that the red side is the erase head, and the green
side is the read/write head. I'm going to proceed on that theory anyhow!

Kemmotar

 

[CWatters]

"Kemmotar" <kem@otar.com> wrote in message
news:4215e8f4$0$415$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...

It is a rather insane project, but those are the best kind! If you fail
there's little dissapointment, and if you succeed there's great
satisfaction!

For the effort involved in getting it working.... I'd want a bigger reward

 

Kemmotar <kem@otar.com> wrote:

Just took the back cover off the head, and I can now see that two wires
go to one side, which is red, and two go to the other side, which is
green.

As in top and bottom of the disk? Floppies are double-sided...

 

[Franc Zabkar]

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 09:01:20 -0500, Kemmotar <kem@otar.com> put finger
to keyboard and composed:

Kemmotar wrote:

Zak wrote:


I suspect one wire shield, two wires to the actual read/write head,
and two wires for the 'tunnel erase' used when writing.


That's kind of what I was thinking.

Just took the back cover off the head, and I can now see that two wires
go to one side, which is red, and two go to the other side, which is
green. I'm guessing that the red side is the erase head, and the green
side is the read/write head. I'm going to proceed on that theory anyhow!

Kemmotar

Did you locate the head amp IC? If not, I have the circuit diagram for
the original IBM 5.25" 1.2MB FDD. Perhaps it can help you understand
how things work??? Let me know if you want it.


- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 's' from my address when replying by email.

 

[Kemmotar]

William P.N. Smith wrote:

Kemmotar <kem@otar.com> wrote:

Just took the back cover off the head, and I can now see that two wires
go to one side, which is red, and two go to the other side, which is
green.


As in top and bottom of the disk? Floppies are double-sided...

No... I only have one of the heads out... the one off the top actually.

The other one, that would read/write the other side of the floppy, is
still in the drive. The head itself is color coded... the left side is
red, and the right is green. I'm just guessing about what the colors
mean, but I think it's a reasonable guess.

Kemmotar