Good point made by Geoffrey regarding why not simply get a wide screen LED 
TV and a LAPTOP.  I am half way there with my large format computer screen. 
But it is somewhat fun and certainly challenging to try to make the old 
stuff work.  However, after receiving tremendous and detailed information 
from Jan, George, Chris, Meredith and Steve as well as others on the list it 
is clear to me at my limited stage of development that converting my drum 
from thermal to ink would be a very trying experience.  I really appreciate 
the thoughts and experience of you fine folks on this list which is 
invaluable to a neophyte like me.
James Allen
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Geoffrey" 
To: "PSN-LIST" 
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 7:36 AM
Subject: Re: TELEDYNE-GEOTECH HELICORDER Ink Pen


> For a lot less trouble why not simply get
> A wide screen LED TV and a LAPTOP ?
>
> I bet they may even be less expensive
> than those drum recorders ?
>
> Capillary action sounds like the
> trees use to pick up water from their roots
> ???
> I think the pumping is really caused by
> the outflow (EVAPORATION OR ? MOVING PAPER)
> pulling up on the reservoir
> as the ink goes to the paper.
> The capillary action only keeps
> the ink in the tube and little more.
>
> INTERESTING, never thought of this before.
>
>
> You guys need to study plant roots & Leaves
> to understand your own equipment.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jan Froom" 
> To: 
> Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:52 PM
> Subject: Re: TELEDYNE-GEOTECH HELICORDER Ink Pen
>
>
>> You want capillary attraction to pull the ink out of the ink reservoir, 
>> so you have to have the top of the ink in the reservoir below the pen 
>> level, otherwise the ink will siphon causing a very wide inky trace.  I 
>> use a simple plastic one oz bottle which I've placed two brass tubes in 
>> the lid, one going to the bottom of the
>> bottle and one just though the top for a air vent. The one going to the 
>> bottom of the bottle is then connected to the pen using
>> neoprene tubing. To get the whole thing going... I put my finger over the 
>> air vent tube, squeeze the bottle until ink comes out
>> the pen, then remove my finger from the air vent, and release the squeeze 
>> on the bottle.
>> The pen opening must be _*EXACTLY*_ tangent to the face of the drum... I 
>> installed the pen... and then put a very fine sand
>> paper on the drum surface and sanded the pen to get that tangent fit.
>>
>> Getting the pen to pull ink was the hardest part of my installation and
>> I probably spent more time getting the pen to work... than anything else. 
>> Having George Bush & Steve Hammond available for suggestions and support 
>> was the only way I got mine going.
>>
>> Another interesting point is the force at which the pen makes contact 
>> with the paper...
>> our pens have a counter weight on a screw at the back end of the pen 
>> which can be adjusted to adjust the contact force.
>> Too light and pen will skip on a large rapid swings... too heavy and 
>> you've decreased your sensitivity.
>>
>> I'm curious as to how many other "drummers" are out there?
>>
>> Jan in Gilroy
>>
>> Stephen Hammond wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi, the ink will flow if the reservoir fluid level is above the pen. The 
>>> trick is to keep it from flowing too much. I used a wire clamp on the 
>>> tubing to cut the flow down. Professional models used low pressure pumps 
>>> and an fin valve. If I can suggest, search online for "chart pen ink" 
>>> and you will find the Recorder Charts Pens Company in Newhall CA. 
>>> 800-758-0740. While they do not list your unit they have a large 
>>> selection of professional pens, ink and paper. It might be worth a trip 
>>> to the website or even a call to see what they can offer in the way of a 
>>> solution.
>>>
>>> Steve
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* psn-l-request@.............. 
>>> [mailto:psn-l-request@............... *On Behalf Of *James Allen
>>> *Sent:* Saturday, October 24, 2009 9:46 PM
>>> *To:* psn-l@..............
>>> *Subject:* Re: TELEDYNE-GEOTECH HELICORDER
>>>
>>>
>>> Steve Hammond
>>>
>>> Is there need for a special reservoir to insert the capillary tubing 
>>> into or will the ink start flowing by the action of the pen on the chart 
>>> paper?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> James Allen
>>>
>>>     ----- Original Message -----
>>>
>>>     *From:* Stephen Hammond 
>>>
>>>     *To:* psn-l@.............. 
>>>
>>>     *Sent:* Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:41 PM
>>>
>>>     *Subject:* RE: TELEDYNE-GEOTECH HELICORDER
>>>
>>>
>>>     There is a typo. Not needs try needle... Steve
>>>
>>>
>>>     *From:* psn-l-request@..............
>>>     
>>>     [mailto:psn-l-request@............... *On Behalf Of *Stephen Hammond
>>>     *Sent:* Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:38 PM
>>>     *To:* psn-l@.............. 
>>>     *Subject:* RE: TELEDYNE-GEOTECH HELICORDER
>>>
>>>
>>>     For some time some PSN members were using hypodermic needs to
>>>     build ink pens. You simply grind the point off and have a
>>>     precession tip that  can then be connected to the reservoir using
>>>     a capillary feed tube. We learned the process from Howard who used
>>>     this design back in the first Bay area seismic station way before
>>>     our time in the 40's. I ran two drum recorders back around 1990
>>>     and Jan Froom currently has a display station at Bonfante Gardens
>>>      in Gilroy CA that has a permanent display he put together for
>>>     them also using this design.
>>>
>>>     Regards, Steve Hammond PSN Aptos, CA
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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