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Thread: 3DO FZ-10 Repair: lens/laser issue?

  1. #1
    Strawberry (Level 2) Jasonbar's Avatar
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    Default 3DO FZ-10 Repair: lens/laser issue?

    Howdy-

    I tried to fire up my FZ-10 for the 1st time in a while last night & it wasn't cooperating.

    Upon power-up, I get the 3DO logo briefly, then the screen goes black & the disc drive makes awful noises. I imagine that the laser & lens assembly is whipping back & forth frantically & fruitlessly.

    Troubleshooting:
    1 - I poked a stick in the switch hole to fool the unit into thinking that the lid was shut & powered up. The disc spins fine, so the spindle motor seems OK. behavior was the same as with the lid closed properly.
    2 - I took a clean rag & some ethyl alcohol & wiped the lens. No change.


    I prefer to repair rather than replace (a motto I try to follow in general). But, if repair isn't an option, what's the going rate for an FZ-1 or FZ-10 console these days?



    ------UPDATE------


    I wasn't adequately clear in my description, so I took a few videos under different conditions to demonstrate what's happening:

    1: Trying to run a disc normally (with lid closed). Sounds you hear are actually lens zipping back & forth, I think.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbNQQK2_3HY

    2: Trying to run a disc with lid open & screwdriver in lid switch. Disc spins at different speeds, perhaps b/c system isn't able to read it?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHJ1XDk6hQU

    3: Lid open & screwdriver in lid switch, no disc. Lens pops up & down (focus?). Spindle doesn't spin, b/c I guess the laser assembly didn't see a disc to spin?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlpStngKvKY


    Hopefully this recorded behavior will shed some light on the problem, for those who are experienced w/ disc-based console problems.

    Thanks!
    -Jason

  2. #2
    Peach (Level 3) PC-ENGINE HELL's Avatar
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    You probably need to replace the laser. Just google the model number or search for it on ebay, as lasers are sold new on there too. I used to remember the model number for the FZ-10 laser, but don't anymore, otherwise I would hunt down some links for you.

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    Pear (Level 6) Oldskool's Avatar
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    Another FZ-10 bites the dust.. I still stand by the FZ-1. Just one hell of a solid unit.

    The third video is normal. The laser is trying to focus, and because it does not see a disc it's not spinning the motor.

    It's hard to tell what those sounds are but it sounds pretty damn rough that's for sure.

    I guess the only two moving parts on the console would have to be the spindle motor and the laser sled. So like PC Engine Hell said, sounds like you might have a laser issue.

    Sorry to hear about the news.

  4. #4
    Strawberry (Level 2) Jasonbar's Avatar
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    Howdy-

    I did lots of disassembly & research & testing tonight. The laser sled was up against its limit switch by the spindle motor & never budged.

    After disassembling & pulling the laser sled motor out, upon power up, the 3DO would spin the laser sled motor for a couple of seconds, which normally brings the sled against its limit switch by the spindle motor & it even overspins, popping the clever clutch on the lead screw (I say "normally", since I had the motor detached & it was just spinning air...).

    Figuring there was binding in that mechanism, I cleaned & regreased the lead screw, the other slide rail, the pillow blocks, & the gearbox (worm gear).

    It would work sometimes but not always. Occasional binding? Maaaybe...? When it wasn't moving, I could feel an occasional soft *click!* in the laser sled motor, as if it were trying to slide the sled & failing. Also, during the times when it wasn't working is when the spindle motor & focus in/out actuator went ape, making nasty noises. And, if it were binding, a gentle nudge should unbind it the sled--nope.

    I measured 5V on the laser sled leads during that short motion upon power-up. So, I removed the whole assembly & hooked that motor up to the 5V leads on my power supply to be able to run the sled back & forth at will. It ran back & forth like a champ! And then it stopped. Weird.

    Further tests w/ the motor alone w/ my power supply reveal that it runs fine for several bursts & then will stop & be forever unresponsive until I twist the motor shaft, & then it's good again.

    Good thing I used to be an electric motor designer & also had a short stint as a professional motor abuser (read, BattleBots competitor).

    OK, so this motor seems to have a bad commutator segment. When it happens to stop on that bad commutator segment, it won't start up again unless I manually rotate the motor to the next commutator segment.


    So, I'm confident that a swap of this motor will do the trick.

    The trick is *finding* the motor...perhaps, when one buys a replacement laser assembly, one gets the whole kit & kaboodle?


    Embossed in the assembly frame is PPE+PS. That seems to the type of plastic used...

    Ink-stamped on the assembly frame is S5801. That P/N doesn't seem to bring up anything good in Google.

    Ink-stamped on the spindle motor is LMRD0019 5607, but I don't need that...

    Sticker on the laser sled is M43i3FCFE

    Ink-stamped on the motor is PPN13KA11C 23495PD. Hey, the 1st half of that number turns up lots of motor hits on Google!

    Yup, looks like a 5V motor & the can & mount bolts look the same.


    Ugh, $10? http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...015B-/414-015B

    $24??? http://www.partstore.com/Part/Matsus...KA11C/New.aspx



    Pics:
    http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...sembly_top.jpg
    http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...bly_bottom.jpg
    http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f..._engraving.jpg
    http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f..._ink_stamp.jpg
    http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...sled_motor.jpg

    Interesting--I came across this site (http://www.datacentra.net/other/3do/3do1.html) & from what I can see (not the whole thing, unfortunately...), the FZ-1 & FZ-10 have the same laser mechanism!

    Getting closer!

    Thanks,
    -Jason

    PS--should I be able to see the laser light up when the machine is running?

  5. #5
    Pear (Level 6) Oldskool's Avatar
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    Wow looks like you are figuring it out way more than I can help you. Keep us updated.

    It's interesting to find out that the laser/sled assembly is the same on the FZ-1 and the FZ-10. I wonder why it seems that the FZ-10's are always breaking more often?

    I know it's off topic, but do you have a video of your Battlebot? Those were cool as hell, I wish they still had that show but I know it really was not too popular.

  6. #6
    Strawberry (Level 2) Jasonbar's Avatar
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    Hi, Oldskool-

    Thanks--I got a lot done Thurs night, but I was up too late & the drive to California Extreme was a bear.......but worth it!

    You can learn all about my BattleBots at www.infernolab.com. I just uploaded 120ish videos to Youtube & Daily Motion recently. Go nuts!

    Thanks,
    -Jason

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