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The contacts on the 706 are located at the rear end of the lever. Some paddles will have separate adjustments for the two arm pivot bearings, and some paddles will even have separate adjustments for the upper and lower bearing surfaces.Ĭontact Spacing, the space between the two pairs of electrical contacts when the levers are at rest (unkeyed). In the paddle shown, there is a single adjustment at the center of the bearing frame, shown at A in the drawing. It is controlled by the pressure on the bearing surfaces.
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The two screws to which the spring is attached control the tension by changing the angle at which the spring pulls.īearing Tension, the setting of the pivot bearings on which the paddles rotate. Note that paddles like the “Bencher” have the tension controlled by a single long spring running around a post at the back of the unit. Some paddles will have separate adjustments for each lever. It’s usually exerted by a coil spring between the paddle lever and the adjusting screw, and is adjusted at B in the drawing. Lever Tension, the force needed to move either of the two levers from side to side. The example shown is a Hi-Mound Model MK-706, which is typical of a great number of dual paddles. There are also single paddles, but there is very little difference in the way they are adjusted. Again, this is a matter of preference, but it is possible to suggest a good rule of thumb if you haven’t developed preferences- set it for the minimum amount of tension that will allow you to feel that you are in control of the key.Ī dual paddle is a little more complex than a straight key, but it can be thought of as two straight keys side by side and operating horizontally rather than vertically. Tighten the arm tension adjustment screw (B) to a comfortable level of tension on the arm. Adjust screw (C) until you have the desired spacing between the contacts.Ĥ. It’s entirely a matter of taste, but if you haven’t used a key before and haven’t developed your own preferences, start with a sixteenth of an inch or about the thickness of a penny. The contact spacing determines the amount of vertical movement when you depress the arm.
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At this point the arm should move up and down perfectly freely, with no sideways play or “slop.”ģ. Setting the second bearing is likely to have had some effect on the first, so readjust the first bearing and then finally the second bearing. Repeat with the other bearing tension adjustment screw. Now back the screw off until just the point at which the arm moves freely again- usually it’s just a fraction of a degree of screw rotation, or about as fine an adjustment as you can make. Choose one of the two bearings and tighten its adjustment screw (A) until you can just barely feel a bit of friction as you move the arm up and down. Loosen the bearing tension screws (A) until the arm wobbles loosely.Ģ. Open the contact spacing (C) as far as you can without removing the adjustment screw from the arm. Loosen the spring tension on the arm (B) until no resistance is felt when you depress the knob. That’s right- we need to loosen everything up and get to a common starting point, because each of the adjustments has some impact on the others. Here are the four steps you will need to “set up” your key:ġ. The two unmarked screws at the back of the key, on either side of C, are the binding posts for connecting the key to the transmitter. The adjustment for the 312 and similar keys is at the back end of the arm, shown as C in the drawing. The contacts are located beneath the arm, toward the front of the key. It is controlled by the pressure on the bearing surfaces, and there is one bearing (and one adjustment) on each side of the pivot arm, shown at A 1 and A 2in the drawing.Ĭontact Spacing, the space between the two electrical contacts when the key arm is not depressed (unkeyed). It’s usually exerted by a coil spring between the arm and the base, and is adjusted at B in the drawing.īearing Tension, the setting of the pivot bearings on which the arm rotates. The example shown is a Nye Speed-X Model 312, which is typical of a great number of straight keys.Īrm Tension, the force needed to move the lever up and down. Not all keys and paddles offer the same adjustments, or even use the same terminology, but hopefully this will be enough to get you started and to illustrate the general principles. What you are looking for ultimately is a particular feel, and that will vary from person to person. These instructions use simple, generally familiar examples of equipment types and are designed to help you find the adjustment that suits you best.