Re: SuperDrive Card (Apple II 3.5" Disk Controller Card) and FDHD Questions...

["Bill Garber" <willy46pa@comcast.net>]

"Mitchell Spector" <mitch2gs@hotmail.com> wrote in message 
ufesp11gcef0h0pi9gv13003u9upo374ds@4ax.com.gnresend">news:ufesp11gcef0h0pi9gv13003u9upo374ds@4ax.com.gnresend...
> "Matthew S. Carpenter" <superpsycho@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>Sean Fahey wrote:
>>> Warren Ernst wrote:
>>>
>>>> Michael,
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for the info. I should have tried the Cx0Ag trick first thing
>>>> (that tip was burned in my brain after years of working with a
>>>> RamFactor, then forgotten about 10 years ago).
>>>>
>>>> Fortunately, I only paid about $12 for the two 800k mechanisms...
>>>>
>>>> -Warr
>>>>
>>>
>>> In case you're interested...
>>>
>>> http://www.shrevesystems.com/drives.html
>>>
>>> at the bottom, left side - $29, new in box. And on eBay, when available,
>>> they go for $20-$25, also NIB.
>>
>>Hey....
>>
>>That "1.44 Super Drives!" listing that's around the middle of the page
>>on the right.... would it be possible to know if that mechanism could be
>>put into the case of an Apple 3.5 drive to produce a superdrive?
>
>    Only if they're the Sony designed and manufactured SuperDrive. These
> can be identified by the auto-inject feature (spring mechanism that pulls 
> in
> partially inserted disks) and a Sony sticker label on the underside 
> spindal.
> It appears that's what the $3 drives are from the photograph, but I'd 
> verify
> that with Shreves before ordering.
>
>>I'm actually trying to figure out what models of drive mechanism would
>>work in the Apple 3.5 drive case to get a couple of superdrives on my
>>IIgs for cheaper.
>
>    The Sony mechanism I describe above (typically you can pull these
> from Macintoshes built between 1988 and 1993). Avoid later model
> SuperDrives manufactured by IBM, these are easily identifiable by the
> presence of a dust-shutter at the opening of the drive. They also lack
> the auto-inject feature, disks have to be manually inserted like PC's.

There is also a similar mechanism that is 1.6 MB by, I think,
it's Teac, which also works ok. I have one with one in it and
it work fine.

>    On the same topic, you can tell an 800K and 1.44 MB Apple drive
> apart by visual inspection. Have a look through the drive opening at
> the right corner, you should see a small white plastic pole pointing up-
> wards in a SuperDrive--this is the High Density detection sensor. The
> older Apple 3.5 drive mechanism lacks this sensor. You may need a
> flashlight, there's a metal bit atop it and it's not that tall.

Those sensors are used on both side, also for write protect.

Bill Garber