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I just got a VE10-50X and was wondering if those parts that always fail on these machines are out there at all. I've seen old posts where someone was making these at one time, but haven't seen anything current. I don't have much in it and the cabinet is nice so I thought I would give it a shot. Thanks.

Columbia BF wrote: Thu Nov 10, 2022 6:42 pm I just got a VE10-50X and was wondering if those parts that always fail on these machines are out there at all. I've seen old posts where someone was making these at one time, but haven't seen anything current. I don't have much in it and the cabinet is nice so I thought I would give it a shot. Thanks.

Shoot me a DM. Are the parts gone, or are they still there? I may be able to print some for you.

Mark Lynch is actively having all of the 1st Generation Victor changer parts made now. But has not publicly announced it yet as all of the pieces are not in stock yet. These will be very high quality metal parts that are 3D printed and finished out ready to install. So stand by.

Carlton Smith
Indianapolis

electrolaman 64 wrote: Fri Nov 11, 2022 8:56 am Mark Lynch is actively having all of the 1st Generation Victor changer parts made now. But has not publicly announced it yet as all of the pieces are not in stock yet. These will be very high quality metal parts that are 3D printed and finished out ready to install. So stand by.

Carlton Smith
Indianapolis

Is he printing with metal, or using metal flake filament? Also, does anyone know just how much pressure in terms of psi these gears will be under?

electrolaman 64 wrote: Fri Nov 11, 2022 8:56 am Mark Lynch is actively having all of the 1st Generation Victor changer parts made now. But has not publicly announced it yet as all of the pieces are not in stock yet. These will be very high quality metal parts that are 3D printed and finished out ready to install. So stand by.

Carlton Smith
Indianapolis

If Mark is involved the parts will be of high quality.

Garret

Carlton,

Thanks for your posting. No announcement has been made as enough inventory has not been accumulated. An announcement will be made in January with delivery in the February-March time frame.

The replacement part sets for the 10-50 style changer have been under development since last November. This will be the culmination of a 30 year project to make these parts available to collectors. Truly a labor of love since finding the first 10-50 in 1991. Many attempts have been made over the years but most have required significant rework and trial fitting. The design goal has been to make parts that are an exact fit as Victor did in the past. This is now a reality.

All parts are made from aluminum and include a newly designed record size index assembly. The new index assembly is endorsed by Bob Baumbach and is a drop-in replacement. It requires no modifications to the mechanism and is more positive, less costly and easier to install and adjust. The pointer indicates the correct selection on the escutcheon. The supporting bracket includes an Oilite bronze bearing for easy action and long life, another improvement over the original design. Bob comments that Victor should have done it this way rather in the beginning rather than using the complicated gear mechanism.

Full sets will be available in a few months. We can supply some parts now. The taper-tube lift collar, index assembly and index levers in small quantities are ready now. Magazine bases and lift pads are designed, tested and stock will come soon. Email for pricing and information.

BTW, producing parts with additive manufacturing (3D printing) is not as easy as it is commonly thought to be. Each step of development required multiple iterations, trial parts, checking the fit on the seven different first-style changers in the lab and much research. Reference to the original patent drawings was critical as was studying existing potmetal parts. We found that original parts, even those that appeared to be perfect, were well out of spec and would not function correctly. This is why previous attempts, particularly those using original parts to make a mold, did not work properly without significant rework.

Stay tuned for the announcement when full sets are ready. The sets should be around five-hundred dollars and will be painted and felted ready for installation. Previous attempts via CNC machining would have made the sets in the sixteen-hundred dollar range (a non-starter) so additive manufacturing in metal has certainly put the parts within range.

Contact Mark directly for more information or to be placed on the waiting list. The parts pictured are prior to threading and boring. The index lever and taper tube collar include the hardware. The magazine base and lift pad will be painted and the lift pad will include the correct orange-gold wool felt.

Thanks,

Mark and Bronson
Sound Investments

MarkELynch wrote: Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:06 pm BTW, producing parts with additive manufacturing (3D printing) is not as easy as it is commonly thought to be. Each step of development required multiple iterations, trial parts, checking the fit on the seven different first-style changers in the lab and much research. Reference to the original patent drawings was critical as was studying existing potmetal parts. We found that original parts, even those that appeared to be perfect, were well out of spec and wound not function correctly. This is why previous attempts, particularly those using original parts to make a mold, did not work properly without significant rework.

3D designing can indeed be very frustrating. Are you using the filament with metal flakes which is then melted, or is it some other method?

MarkELynch wrote: Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:06 pm Stay tuned for the announcement when full sets are ready. The sets should be around five-hundred dollars and will be painted and felted ready for installation. Previous attempts via CNC machining would have made the sets in the sixteen-hundred dollar range (a non-starter) so additive manufacturing in metal has certainly put the parts within range.

Mark, this will be a dream come true for folks attempting to bring their 10-50X changers back to life. I imagine that even some of those people with the earlier replacement parts will opt for your new sets. It's clear that the task of designing and producing these is far more complex than many people realize.