Comments on: No. 3 and No. 4 Roller Assemblies http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/01/04/3-and-4-roller-assemblies-2/ »A forum for flatbed cylinder proof presses Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:26:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Paul Moxon, Moderator http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/01/04/3-and-4-roller-assemblies-2/#comment-331 Paul Moxon, Moderator Fri, 05 Jan 2007 18:41:04 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/?p=120#comment-331 Eric is correct that the gears and roller cores are not interchangeable. While focusing on the commonalities of the complete assemblies, I neglected to describe their differences: on the No. 3 (which has no motor) the gears are fixed on the core end so that both always turn together, while the No. 4 gears have a two-part clutch that is separated when the carriage is at the feed board. This separation allows the rollers to spin independently of the gears when lowered and the motor is running. When the carriage is moved forward, the clutch parts engage locking the gear and roller to mesh with the gear rack. I am not advocating this frankenstein approach, just wondering whether it is doable. I'd rather see the complete No. 4 assembly matched with a press that is missing one. Having said that, the person with the No. 3 should be able to use a No. 4 top frame assembly with the bottom frame and bearing blocks, but would need to use No. 3 roller core and gears. I would think that NA could supply these, but perhaps not the the brackets and feed roller. Without the feed roller the only way to distribute the ink would be to roll the carriage back and forth over the whole length of the bed (with the type form removed) again and again--an awkward and tedious work around. Hey that printmaking! I don't have a No. 3 nearby, but have put out requests for more photos. I do have a manual but it curiously doesn't show any form roller gear racks in the top view drawing. Eric is correct that the gears and roller cores are not interchangeable. While focusing on the commonalities of the complete assemblies, I neglected to describe their differences: on the No. 3 (which has no motor) the gears are fixed on the core end so that both always turn together, while the No. 4 gears have a two-part clutch that is separated when the carriage is at the feed board. This separation allows the rollers to spin independently of the gears when lowered and the motor is running. When the carriage is moved forward, the clutch parts engage locking the gear and roller to mesh with the gear rack.

I am not advocating this frankenstein approach, just wondering whether it is doable. I’d rather see the complete No. 4 assembly matched with a press that is missing one.

Having said that, the person with the No. 3 should be able to use a No. 4 top frame assembly with the bottom frame and bearing blocks, but would need to use No. 3 roller core and gears. I would think that NA could supply these, but perhaps not the the brackets and feed roller. Without the feed roller the only way to distribute the ink would be to roll the carriage back and forth over the whole length of the bed (with the type form removed) again and again–an awkward and tedious work around. Hey that printmaking!

I don’t have a No. 3 nearby, but have put out requests for more photos. I do have a manual but it curiously doesn’t show any form roller gear racks in the top view drawing.

]]> By: The Arm NYC http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/01/04/3-and-4-roller-assemblies-2/#comment-329 The Arm NYC Fri, 05 Jan 2007 17:38:51 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/?p=120#comment-329 Paul and Eric, Thanks for the information. I put out an ad looking for Vandercook parts and I had someone say that they had a #3 minus roller assembly and another saying they had a complete assembly for a #4. I thought I maybe I should introduce them to each other, but it would appear this still not going to make a complete press. It's very nice to see such informed technical responses here. Daniel Paul and Eric,
Thanks for the information. I put out an ad looking for Vandercook parts and I had someone say that they had a #3 minus roller assembly and another saying they had a complete assembly for a #4. I thought I maybe I should introduce them to each other, but it would appear this still not going to make a complete press.
It’s very nice to see such informed technical responses here.

Daniel

]]> By: Eric Holub http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/01/04/3-and-4-roller-assemblies-2/#comment-327 Eric Holub Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:48:25 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/?p=120#comment-327 The whole "Bottom roller frame assembly" wouldn't be interchangeable between the 3 and 4. Perhaps the lower frame by itself is common to both models, but the rollers/cores/gears are completely different. "Assembly" includes all those parts. I notice that in the photo, no form roller gears show on the near side; but in the parts drawing, the rear form is driven by gear on near side. Looks like there is indeed a rack on near side. The whole “Bottom roller frame assembly” wouldn’t be interchangeable between the 3 and 4. Perhaps the lower frame by itself is common to both models, but the rollers/cores/gears are completely different. “Assembly” includes all those parts.
I notice that in the photo, no form roller gears show on the near side; but in the parts drawing, the rear form is driven by gear on near side. Looks like there is indeed a rack on near side.

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