Precision production potting

Claim 2

In a magnetic tape recording apparatus including a tape transport comprising a baseplate, the improvement wherein said baseplate is a built-up assembly which comprises a structural member, a plurality of mounting apertures in the structural member, an insert in each of the mounting apertures, each insert having at least one surface precisely positioned in predetermined relation to a surface on another insert, which surface has a position in the baseplate which is essentially independent of the precise position of the aperture in the baseplate, and a rigid filler in the space between the insert in each aperture and the walls of the respective aperture for rigidly fixing the insert within the aperture.

Claim 3

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the precisely positioned surfaces of a plurality of the inserts are in a single plane.

Claim 4

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of the inserts each define first and second ones of said precisely positioned surfaces, the first surfaces of said plurality of inserts are in a first common plane, and the second surfaces of said plurality of inserts are in a second common plane.

Claim 5

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first and second planes are parallel to each other.

Claim 6

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the first plane is on one side of the baseplate structural member and the second plane is on the opposite side of the baseplate structural member.

Claim 7

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a secondary structural member having dimensional stability and defining therein a first plurality of mounting apertures; an insert in each of the first plurality of mounting apertures in the secondary structural member, each insert having at least one surface precisely positioned in relation to a surface on another insert in said first plurality of apertures and essentially independent of precise position of the aperture; and a rigid filler in the space between the insert and the walls of the respective one of the first plurality of apertures in the secondary structural member for rigidly fixing the insert within the aperture; and means for securing an insert fixed in the secondary structural member to an insert fixed in the first-mentioned structural member, the insert in the secondary structural member having at least one surface precisely positioned in relation to a surface on the insert in the first-mentioned structural member.

Claim 8

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the secondary structural member further comprises: a secondary plurality of mounting apertures; an insert fixed in each of the secondary plurality of mounting apertures, and wherein the precisely positioned surface of each of the inserts fixed in the first plurality of mounting apertures in the secondary structural member is in a first plane and the precisely positioned surface of each of the inserts in the second plurality of mounting apertures in the secondary structural member is in a second plane parallel to the first plane.

Claim 9

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: means for mechanically connecting the filler to the structural member; and means for mechanically connecting the filler to the insert.

Claim 10

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the baseplate structural member and the inserts therein are fabricated of metal, and the filler fixing the inserts to the structural member comprises a major portion of metal particles and a minor portion of hard curing plastic resin.

Claim 11

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the metals defining the baseplate structural member, the inserts, and said particles are defined by substantially similar metals.

Claim 12

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the inserts are each circumferentially recessed within the limits of the mounting apertures, and the mounting apertures are defined by double drafted holes formed through the baseplate structural member.

Claim 13

In a magnetic tape recording apparatus including a tape transport comprising a baseplate, the improvement wherein said baseplate comprises a relative roughly finished baseplate structural member, a plurality of mounting apertures in the structural member, a relatively accurately finished insert in each of the mounting apertures, and a rigid filler in the space between the insert in each aperture and the walls of the respective aperture for rigidly fixing the several inserts within the corresponding apertures of the structural member, each insert having defined thereon at least one accurately defined and located reference surface, the several inserts as fixed to the structural member having their reference surfaces positioned in predetermined relation to a reference surface on at least another one of the inserts without substantial regard for the locations of the inserts relative to the corresponding apertures.

Claim 14

In a magnetic tape recording apparatus including a tape transport comprising a baseplate, the improvement wherein said baseplate comprises a relative roughly finished baseplate structural member, a plurality of mounting apertures in the structural member, a relatively accurately finished insert in each of the mounting apertures, and a rigid filler in the space between the insert in each aperture and the walls of the respective aperture for rigidly fixing the several inserts within the corresponding apertures of the structural member, each insert having defined thereon at least one accurately defined and located reference surface, the several inserts as fixed to the structural member having their reference surfaces positioned in predetermined relation to a reference surface on at least another one of the inserts without substantial regard for the locations of the inserts relative to the corresponding apertures.

Claim 15

In a magnetic tape recording apparatus including a tape transport comprising a baseplate, the tape transport being defined to manifest a specified degree of precision in the relative positions of other components of the transport secured to the baseplate, the improvement wherein said transport baseplate is a built-up assembly which comprises a relatively roughly finished baseplate structural member, a plurality of mounting apertures in the structural member, a relatively accurately finished insert in each of the mounting apertures, each aperture being sufficiently oversized relative to the insert disposed therein that the aperture defines only broadly the position of the insert relative to the structural member in the completed baseplate, a rigid filler in the space between the insert in each aperture and the walls of the respective aperture for rigidly fixing the several inserts within the corresponding apertures of the structural member, each insert having defined thereon at least one accurately defined and located reference surface, each insert as fixed to the structural member having its reference surfaces positioned in predetermined relation to a reference surface on at least another one of the inserts without substantial regard for the locations of the inserts relative to the corresponding apertures.

Claim 16

In a magnetic tape recording apparatus including a tape transport comprising a baseplate, the tape transport being defined to manifest a specified degree of precision in the relative positions of other components of the transport secured to the baseplate, the improvement wherein said transport baseplate is a built-up assembly which comprises a relatively roughly finished baseplate structural member, a plurality of mounting apertures in the structural member, a relatively accurately finished insert in each of the mounting apertures, each aperture being sufficiently oversized relative to the insert disposed therein that the aperture defines only broadly the position of the insert relative to the structural member in the completed baseplate, a rigid filler in the space between the insert in each aperture and the walls of the respective aperture for rigidly fixing the several inserts within the corresponding apertures of the structural member, each insert having defined thereon at least one accurately defined and located reference surface, each insert as fixed to the structural member having its reference surfaces positioned in predetermined relation to a reference surface on at least another one of the inserts without substantial regard for the locations of the inserts relative to the corresponding apertures.

Claim 17

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the inserts define means for mounting other components of the transport to the transport baseplate with said specified degree of positional precision.

Claim 18

A magnetic tape recording according to claim 13 wherein the baseplate structural member and the inserts are fabricated of metal, and the filler fixing the inserts to the structural member comprises a major portion of metal particles and a minor portion of hard curing plastic resin.

Claim 19

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the metals defining the baseplate structural member, the inserts, and said filler particles are defined by substantially similar metals.

Claim 20

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the baseplate structural member is defined by an essentially unmachined casting and the inserts are comprised of machined elements defining detail structural features of the transport baseplate.

Claim 21

A magnetic tape recording apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the inserts are each circumferentially recessed within the limits of the mounting apertures, and the mounting apertures are defined by double drafted holes formed through the baseplate structural member.