Just like all machines, the Typograph requires regular cleaning. This page provides some of the important items to remember.
The rods should be as clean as possible, so the matrices can slide fluiently over them. the rods are cleaned with a rag dripped in gasoline.
The machine has several indicators for where to insert machine oil. A regular oiling is recommended.
There are several parts moving against each other. Specifically the mechanism that locks the matrices is prone to getting struck. If the button to lock the matrices cannot be pressed with one finger, a lot of silicone oil is required. This should be put on all moving parts that does not require normal oiling
In the video below, the motor kept pulling the keyboard backwards, even though the matrices were already distributed in their resting position.
Video: in case that the motor keeps pulling the keyboard the keyboard backwards, immediately turn the motor off
We encountered this problem only once, and we don’t know the cause because nothing changed between its last correct usage and the start of the problem.
It took a while to find the cause of the problem. It was the large vertical lever in the back. When the keyboard is pulled completely backwards, this lever will get pushed backwards automatically. This ensures that the motor gets disengaged from the keyboard, allowing the keyboard to turn back in its resting position. However, if this lever is not pushed backwards far enough, it will not get locked into its resting position. A spring will then pull this lever forward again, causing the motor to engage which pulls the keyboard backwards again. This causes the motor to disconnect and connect to the keyboard in an endless loop.
Photo: A visual explanation of the problem: at the same time, the lever should go backwards on top, disconnect the motor on the bottom, and getting locked to keep the motor in a disconnected state
Video: a visual explanation of the lever not getting locked in resting position
To solve the problem, we cut a part of the machine, so the lock could engage earlier. This is not the best solution at all, because no parts of a machine should normally get changed. But as there are no controllers to finetune this behavior of the machine, we didn’t immediately find another solution to get the machine working again.
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