[Search] Springs for Film Processors

mesa177

Hello fellow geeks,

I'm looking for a spring for a Kodak X-ray film processor (the mother company has stopped manufacturing it and I can't seem to find a used processor to use as a source for spare parts). The spring is used in the developing rack as seen in the picture below (number 12, picture extracted from service manual):

The spring is 11.5 cm in length and of 2mm diameter. I checked Shamma tools and Karout stores, their springs are either too short or too thick to use.

If anyone can guide me to a store that might sell such springs or suggest an alternative, I am more than grateful.

Thanks a bunch :)

shant

whats a film processor? is this a film itself or a machine? if its a film, the place i work most probably has them

mesa177

shant wrotewhats a film processor? is this a film itself or a machine? if its a film, its place i work most probably has them

It's the machine that processes the acquired X-ray image and develops it onto a film.

shant

in that case no,sorry

Abbabbj

I think you will have to make your own spring
you can use:
stainless steel wire -the one used in construction- but stainless rather than ordinary steel
music wires(guitar, piano) provide variety of thickness, flexibility, durability ....
baking wires for cars bikes or motor bikes
or is you know a jeweler or anyone who makes "foubijoux" I am sure that they can help you because my friend once told me that he bought a machine that can make a mold for any CAD drawing which can be casted later by the type of metal alloy you want
unfortunately he is in Africa right now but I am sure that you can find someone if it deserves
hope I have helped,
good luck

mesa177

Abbabbj wroteI think you will have to make your own spring
you can use:
stainless steel wire -the one used in construction- but stainless rather than ordinary steel
music wires(guitar, piano) provide variety of thickness, flexibility, durability ....
baking wires for cars bikes or motor bikes
or is you know a jeweler or anyone who makes "foubijoux" I am sure that they can help you because my friend once told me that he bought a machine that can make a mold for any CAD drawing which can be casted later by the type of metal alloy you want
unfortunately he is in Africa right now but I am sure that you can find someone if it deserves
hope I have helped,
good luck

First of all thank you for the suggestion, it was worth trying. We tried to fashion the spring from the braking wires of a bicycle as well as a stranding chain of a faux-bijoux necklace. Although the processor's racket is turning quite well, it seems to somewhat loosen out (most probably because of the variation in degree of elasticity) during its rotation since some consistent slashes are appearing on the X-ray while developing.

My best shot right now seems to be fashioning it out from a CAD mold.

Abbabbj

you can make the racket thicker-using thick tape- and you will solve the elasticity problem
If CAD molding didn't work you can go to any mechanics workshop "makhrata" preferably advanced one just with the specifications and they will make you 100% original duplicate, you will need the original spring to choose what kind of alloy to use
I think x-ray film processors are old
I think they use something similar to a CCD that will directly give a digital image or maybe I am wrong....
good luck