Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 05:26 pm, by: Cliff Newton(Tiger_x)
I'm looking for the laser alignment procedure. I had a copy a while back but i've lost it. I installed a new laser about 3 years ago, but I only set it up very roughly. My stacker has problems reading some discs and tracking, especially towards the end of the disc. My Tracking Balance and tracking gain needs adjustment, possibly Tracking offset too. Can this be done without the panasonic jig? You have any idea's Mark?
Monday, January 02, 2006 - 01:14 am, by: Mark Paddick(Sparks)
Trial and error is the best option. The factory setup for these is hard to do and requires a good dual channel minimum 50MHz CRO. Once you've done that procedure it will play good CDs. To get it to play all burnt CDs you then have to try small adjustments and get the best compromise between several different types of CD. You can't do that with test equipment, the changes are too small to see or make sense of. Trial & error is the only way to get them to play all CDs...and adjustment of the laser gain which the manual tells you never to touch and gives no info for. Be very careful doing this with the new type lasers; go too far and the laser WILL die and quickly. Turn the pot on the laser assembly anticlockwise while playing. Usually 30 degrees or less is the required adjustment. Sneak up on that very slowly and at the very first hint of distortion BACK IT OFF! Tracking problems toward the end of discs is generally the spindle motor but that should have been replaced with the laser. The new motor does not have the rubber mat to stop the CD slipping. This should be pulled off the old one and glued to the new one to prevent thinner than normal discs slipping.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 - 03:50 pm, by: Cliff Newton(Tiger_x)
Cheers Mark, just sent you an email. That's how I have aligned the new laser just by trial and error, it can be very frustrating and tricky to get it right. The spindle motor comes complete with he laser assembly as you know, so I'm guessing its a tracking balance set up. I've setup laser pick-ups before in the past on home systems, but Panasonic lasers ( the older ones ) are the worst to set up. So many adjustments, you need special test discs and special equipment to set them up. They can be a real pain!
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