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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc.

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Old 29th Dec 2020, 9:56 pm   #1
kestrelmusic
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Default Akai 4000D cam

Wilkinson's Hi-Fi of Lancashire are now making replacement cams for the Akai 4000D. They cost £20 plus £3 postage.

I've just bought one which works a treat. I found them helpful and prompt.

Now the drive is working, the next job is aligning the record/playback heads...
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Old 30th Dec 2020, 1:15 pm   #2
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Default Re: Akai 4000D cam

That is good to know, good luck with the head alignment. I must get my 4000D out for a check up.

David
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Old 30th Dec 2020, 3:10 pm   #3
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Default Re: Akai 4000D cam

This is very interesting. It's the first time I've ever seen a commercial source. Sounds like they'd be worth a visit when I make it through Lancashire customs. There have been periodic surges in requests over the years eg for R1115's, Round Ekco's, AR88 Mains Transformers and the Akai TR Cam. All of them exceeding rare [at different times]. The Akai was a constant subject on the Forum about 15 years ago and there seemed to be no end of recorders with the "monkey metal" crumbling away! It was the "I've just bought a Record Player" of it's day

There was no ready solution although one or two individuals machined replacements on a small scale. There a cam in in little bag pinned on the wall here. I had the chance to buy it just in case but the original one has held up so far. Perhaps because I was careful with it! I have to be more so with the track change switch to keep that going as well. Maybe the demand for replacement cams has gone up along with the current interest in vintage HI Fi? Good news anyway!

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Old 30th Dec 2020, 6:38 pm   #4
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Default Re: Akai 4000D cam

Out of curiosity, is this firm related to Wilkinson Cameras, also of Lancashire? I've dealt with them over a number of years and found them to be good people.

THese cams should make a number of people very happy.

Anyone with a 4000D series recorder may be thinking of getting a pair in stock, ready for 'when'

David
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Old 31st Dec 2020, 1:45 am   #5
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Default Re: Akai 4000D cam

Hi,
3D printed Akai/Roberts cam sets are readily available on Ebay. A quick search found these three,

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Roberts-...frcectupt=true

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-repl...sAAOSw7tJfYNGp

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Akai-Cam...MAAOSw0C1c2bTD

Regards
David
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Old 31st Dec 2020, 10:47 pm   #6
kestrelmusic
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Default Re: Akai 4000D cam

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaillard View Post
Hi,
3D printed Akai/Roberts cam sets are readily available on Ebay. A quick search found these three,

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Roberts-...frcectupt=true

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-repl...sAAOSw7tJfYNGp

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Akai-Cam...MAAOSw0C1c2bTD

Regards
David

True. But they are a good deal more expensive than the one I got from Lancashire.
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Old 18th Jan 2021, 10:29 am   #7
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Default Re: Akai 4000D cam

Your second link is a set of 5 cams, so if one needed all 5 or even 3, it is then quite good value for money compared to the prices being asked/charged by other people for a single cam.

Looks like the various 3D printed cams stick close to the original design, whereas the Wilkinson's cam is a pruned down version (no spigot, no securing screw and no raised boss section).

I am still unsure as to the long term reliability of the various 3D cams, I have not experienced any 3D printed part so do not know how strong/tough they can be.

David
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Old 19th Jan 2021, 11:44 pm   #8
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Default Re: Akai 4000D cam

Any idea if they can be obtained direct from Aussie? Seems to be fraught with problems with the current crisis - trying to buy things from overseas means delivery time is now counted in months rather than days!
I'll do a bit of research from this end before jumping into the deep end. My GX4000DB is now about 40 years old and still going strong but.....

Aah - my mistake - they are actually made in the USofA even though they are advertised on the Oz Ebay.

However I did find this...

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4188780/files

...anyone got a 3D printer.....
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Last edited by majoconz; 19th Jan 2021 at 11:56 pm.
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Old 20th Jan 2021, 10:42 am   #9
DMcMahon
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Default Re: Akai 4000D cam

One of the 3D links was UK.

Well done Martin on finding those 3D file downloads. I have no experience at all with 3D printing.

David
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Old 21st Jan 2021, 2:14 pm   #10
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Default Re: Akai 4000D cam

Here's some duckduckgo search results for 3d printing services. Dunno how much they cost or if they're any good though.
You can do 3d printing with sintered metal, but no idea of the durability versus plastic printing.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=3d+printin...=v243-1&ia=web

Might be worth looking into CNC machining from proper steel as well.

Last edited by garry71; 21st Jan 2021 at 2:21 pm.
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