Texas Peripherals Floppy Drive latch pivot bracket

thingiverse

Human: Aging floppy drives common in older computers like the TRS-80 series frequently fail due to cracks or breakage in the plastic pivot on the back of the floppy door, which connects the door latch to the internal arm clamping down on the floppy disk surface. This critical part resists strong spring tension pushing the arm open, with all force resting on two tiny nylon pins. This replacement part is modeled after the original in Texas Peripherals' floppy drives for the TRS-80 Model III. I suspect it may be similar or identical to parts used in Tandon and Shugart drives that preceded it, but I have no way to confirm this assumption. I suggest printing this with 100% infill due to its small size, which won't significantly affect part strength. I also achieve good results using eSun PLA "Plus" filament, which seems stronger than standard PLA. The part should be printed standing on one end as none of the other surfaces are flat against the bed. However, this leaves one pivot as an overhang. To address this and maintain dimensional correctness, I've provided three files: one models the entire part for printing with supports, while the other two are mirrored halves split down the middle for welding together using acrylic cement. The axis along which the part is split is not under stress when installed, so weld strength isn't critical; however, "Weld-On 16" does the job nicely and is available at TAP Plastics if you happen to have one nearby.