Reel-to-reel Compact Cassette Upgrade

thingiverse

Recently I realized that I was missing playing music from tapes, not because of the sound quality but because of that feeling of the '80s. So I purchased a pre-owned tape desk and a few cassettes. To enhance my visual experience even further, I designed an upgrade for reel-to-reel cassette compatibility. While it's far from professional-grade reel-to-reel cassettes, it doesn't come with a hefty price tag and looks pretty good. One drawback is that you'll need to cut off almost half of the 90-minute cassette tape, leaving you with approximately 50 minutes. However, this isn't a concern for me. The reels themselves are an extremely thin 0.2 mm, so it's essential to have a calibrated bed. I'm using capton tape for good adhesion, even in low-temperature beds, and for a glossy finish on the bottom layer. I printed my upgrade with PLA and used a 0.3 mm nozzle. You can view a video of the process here: https://youtu.be/oTubU1VG-n0. The instructions are also included. This is still a work in progress - I'm currently deciding between two different designs for the inner supporting structure. One design is easier to remove, while the other adds better support for the inner cylinder. Update 31/3/2018: I've uploaded an updated v3 design that features lower friction between the reel and cassette body.