You are getting a set of 2 custom machined brass gears

International customers – please read the shipping notice below about shipping options

In the 1980s the Alps 4-pen printer/plotter mechanism was used by almost every home computer manufacturer, for portable computer printers as well as a number of pieces of medical equipment. While they were not fast, they were compact, and did allow for 4 color printing/plotting at an affordable price.

Over the years they all develop the same problem however, the pinion gears on the stepper motors crack. Plastic shrinks over time and a small plastic gear pressed onto a steel shaft will most likely succumb to age and split. While there have been some 3D printed gears available, they are expensive and not as strong as the original injection molded plastic gears.

After searching for a few years now we finally found a manufacturer that could reproduce these gears in a reasonable quantity and reasonable price and out of brass which will last a lifetime. Now it is possible to fix all those old alps mechanisms and get them printing/plotting again. 

The gears are sold in a set of 2 which is enough for 1 printer/plotter mechanism. They must be pressed into place, but you can make a simple tool to do so form a 2”/50mm C-clamp.

Installation video: search for "alps mech brass gear" on YouTube, eBay will not allow a direct link.