Difference between revisions of "Amstrad FDD part"

Revision as of 08:03, 12 February 2014

Amstrad used different floppy disk drives during the CPC range live time. These drives where either build-in as in CPC6128 and CPC464 or within the DDI-1/FD-1 external drive extension.

They all shared the following characteristics :

• Requires 5V and 12V power supply, except EME-157 which is 5V only.
• use CF2 Compact Floppy Disc 3" discs
• Single sided
• 40 tracks
• 180kB per side (40 tracks/9 512byte sector per track)

Floppy disk models and evolution

EME-150 A

Manufactured by matsushita, this is the original drive used in CPC664 and early DDI1 / CPC6128. Used from 1984 to early 1985.

• The chassis is made of one brass aluminium piece on which the disk axis, drive motor, head motor, track 0 detector and head assembly are precisely mounted.
• This base is mounted on a folded sheet chassis that support the disk insertion mechanism and a PCB holding the LED for index and write protection sensing as well as connection to track 0 detector.
• The insertion mechanism is working by translation of the floppy on the drive mechanism.
• Main PCB (30001) can be fully removed to access drive belt.

EME-155

Evolution of the EME-150 A, used during 1985.

• Head and floppy motor reference changed and swapped they position. Now the head motor is on the right, the drive one on the left.
• Due to the motor swap, the top PCB only support the index and write protection detection led.
• Main PCB (30002) can be fully removed to access drive belt.
• The optical write protection sensor use a new reference.

EME-156

New design, used from 1986 to 1988

• Uses EME-155 head and drive motors.
• Full brass aluminium chassis.
• New head.
• Main PCB (Z70312) cannot be fully removed without de-soldering some wires or un-mounting index sensor and track 0 sensor. Track 0 sensor has to be calibrated when mounted.
• Insertion mechanism simplification. The floppy now rotate around the insertion slot toward the floppy drive mechanism. The external visual impact is a slimmer insertion slot.
• Index detection led uses a small PCB mounted on the loading mechanism.
• The write protection sensing is done using a switch / pin assembly.

EME-156 V

Cost optimised version of the EME-156, used from mid 1988

• Brass aluminium chassis has been trimmed of unnecessary bits.
• Floppy drive mechanism pulley is changed for a lighter one with a increased diameter. The floppy motor position is slightly moved inward to compensate for the new pulley diameter and keep identical belt.
• New head motor with a smaller diameter screw.
• Main PCB (Z80264) is 50% smaller than previous version. It cannot be fully removed without de-soldering some wires or un-mounting index sensor and track 0 sensor. Track 0 sensor has to be calibrated when mounted.
• The write protection sensing is done using a switch / pin assembly.

EME-157

5 volt only version of EME-156 V. Used in the 6128 plus.

• Head and drive motors changed for 5V version.
• Main PCB (Z80425) slightly smaller than EME-156 V one. It cannot be fully removed without de-soldering some wires or un-mounting index sensor and track 0 sensor. Track 0 sensor has to be calibrated when mounted.
• White face to match Plus range coulor.
• Minor modification of the brass chassis near the drive motor
• The write protection sensing is done using a switch / pin assembly.

Gallery

• 

  EME-150 A Front/Right

• 

  EME-150 A Back/Left

• 

  EME-150 A Back/Right

• 

  EME-150 A Right side

• 

  EME-150 A Left side

• 

  EME-150 A Bottom

• 

  EME-150 A PCB top

• 

  EME-155 Front/Right

• 

  EME-155 Back/Left

• 

  EME-155 Back/Right

• 

  EME-155 Right side

• 

  EME-155 Left side

• 

  EME-155 Bottom

• 

  EME-155 PCB top

• 

  EME-156 Front/Right

• 

  EME-156 Back/Left

• 

  EME-156 Back/Right

• 

  EME-156 Right side

• 

  EME-156 Left side

• 

  EME-156 Bottom

• 

  EME-156 V Front/Right

• 

  EME-156 V Back/Left

• 

  EME-156 V Back/Right

• 

  EME-156 V Right side

• 

  EME-156 V Left side

• 

  EME-156 V Bottom

• 

  EME-157 Front/Right

• 

  EME-157 Back/Left

• 

  EME-157 Back/Right

• 

  EME-157 Right side

• 

  EME-157 Left side

• 

  EME-157 Bottom