Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] 8" Floppy Drive Motor question

cadcamcenter@... wrote:

> Alan Trest wrote: "Anyone know what type of motors are in old 8"
> floppy drives."
>
> Jon Elson: "All sorts. I've seen AC induction motors, DC brush, DC
> brushless. Just about any kind of motor you can imagine......Without
> knowing what you want to do with it, I can't offer much help. They
> won't be of much use in a machine tool, unless it was micro-sized."
>
> Is the Unimat I (Unimat Classic) micro- enough?

I'm still not clear whether you are referring to the stepper motor
that moves the heads, or the spindle motor that turns the disc.
But, I suspect both motors are too weak for practical use. It is possible
that with large belt reductions, some over-spec'd motor on some
8" floppy might work acceptably. But, most of the motors are way
too small. You might have some luck with 5" or 8" HARD drive stepper
motors, which are generally just a little bigger, because they have
more mass to move and were required to seek faster than floppies.
But, even these are probably a bit small, even for a Unimat.
When making a heavy cut for your machine, how hard do you have
to turn the handles? With a 4:1 belt reduction ratio, the motors would
have to produce 1/4 that much torque.

Jon