Jody asked if I would provide more information on my roll perforating
system.  Well here goes.

   The machine consists of a single punch and die set (the set is
intercahangeable) that is mounted on a high strength aluminum U shaped
carrier with a 16" throat. The carrier is mounted on precision ball
bearings and is moved transversally across the paper by a stepper motor
and lead screw at a resolution of 0.001".  The paper is pulled
longitudinally by rubber pinch rollers at a resolution of 0.01".  Both
axis of the system were originally at 0.01", but I upgraded one with a
microstep drive.  Eventually I will upgrade both axis to 0.001".  After
the paper is punched, it passes through rotory cutters to trim the
paper to the desired width.

   The punch is air driven with a 1" diameter cylinder. One problem
encountered in punching large holes for organette music is that
occasionaly a small shard of paper will prevent the punch from
returning if only a spring return is provided. The simplest solution is
to use a double acting air cylinder that drives the punch through the
paper and then drives it back to the starting position.

   The perforator is also used to copy original music.  A series of
different tracker bars have been constructed using photo-transistors as
the sensing element.  I have used two different Texas Instrument
devices. One is TIL78 which is .125" in diameter.  The other is LS400,
which is 0.085" in diameter.  I am not sure of the availability or
price of either device since it was many years ago that they were
purchased.  The paper is illuminated with an 18" long GE Lumiline lamp
that is run on DC at 60 volts.

   All comunication with the computer that controls the reader and the
punch is done through a parallel port.  The photo-transistors are wired
in groups of eight and the data readin a byte at a time until all notes
have been read.  A parallel output port selects the byte to be read.

   At present, I have only been punching music for Organettes, Tanzbar
accordians, a few different monkey organs and just starting on spome
Rollmonica rolls.  As like most of you, I have a full time job, which
limits the time that I can devote to roll punching.  Originally my two
sons were involved, but both have moved away and are persuing other
activities.  I had planned to retire and devote more time to this
activity, but I have a project to finish which will take the next three
years.

    At one point we considered manufacturing the punching system, but
then it was too costly. Now there is not enough time.

 Edward Schmidt <eschmidt@erols.com>