Method of manufacturing a drum assembly associated with video tape machine

A method of manufacturing a drum assembly associated with a digital video tape machine, the method comprising:

• providing a helical scan drum assembly having a stationary upper drum, a stationary lower drum and a plurality of rotating read/write heads disposed between the stationary upper and lower drums, the rotating read/write heads reading and writing digital information to and from a tape;
• and
• altering at least one of the stationary upper drum and the stationary lower drum so as to improve the performance of the helical scan drum assembly, wherein altering at least one of the stationary upper drum and stationary lower drum comprises:
• undersizing a diameter of the stationary upper drum;
• oversizing the undersized diameter of the stationary upper drum with a wear resistant material;
• and
• reducing the oversized diameter of the stationary upper drum so that the diameter of the stationary upper drum is within specified limitations.

A method of manufacturing a drum assembly associated with a digital betacam video tape machine, the method comprising:

• providing a helical scan drum assembly having a stationary upper drum, a stationary lower drum and a plurality of rotating read/write heads disposed between the stationary upper and lower drums, the rotating read/write heads reading and wilting digital information to and from a tape, the lower drum including a shoulder for guiding a tape around the drum assembly;
• and
• altering at least one of the stationary upper drum and the stationary lower drum so as to improve the performance of the helical scan drum assembly, wherein altering at least one of the upper drum and lower drum comprises:
• removing the shoulder from the lower drum;
• inserting a recess within an outer peripheral surface of the lower drum;
• mounting an adjustable band within the recess;
• and
• adjusting the position of the band relative to one or more heads of the drum assembly.

A method of manufacturing a drum assembly associated with a digital video tape machine, the method comprising:

• providing a helical scan drum assembly having a stationary upper drum, a stationary lower drum and a plurality of rotating read/write heads disposed between the stationary upper and lower drums, the rotating read/write heads reading and writing digital information to and from a tape;
• and
• altering at least one of the stationary upper drum and the stationary lower drum so as to improve the performance of the helical scan drum assembly, wherein altering at least one of the stationary upper drum and stationary lower drum comprises:
• removing a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the stationary upper drum so as to undersize the diameter of the stationary upper drum, and to increase the precision of the diameter of the stationary upper drum along its perimeter;
• thereafter, adding the air grooves along the outer peripheral surface of the upper drum in at least the region the tape contacts the outer peripheral surface of the stationary upper drum, the air grooves being configured to reduce sticktion between a tape and the outer peripheral surface of the stationary upper drum when the tape is moved around the outer peripheral surface of the stationary upper drum:
• thereafter, plating the outer peripheral surface of the stationary upper drum with a different material so as oversize the diameter of the stationary upper drum;
• thereafter, removing a portion of the oversized diameter of the stationary upper drum until the desired diameter of the stationary upper drum is obtained;
• and
• thereafter, polishing the outer peripheral surface of the stationary upper drum.

A method of manufacturing a drum assembly associated with a digital video tape machine, the method comprising:

• providing a helical scan drum assembly having a stationary upper drum, a stationary lower drum and a plurality of rotating read/write heads disposed between the stationary upper and lower drums, the rotating read/write heads reading and writting digital information to and from a tape;
• and
• altering at least one of the stationary upper drum and the stationary lower drum so as to improve the performance of the helical scan drum assembly, wherein altering at least one of the stationary upper drum and lower drum comprises:
• forming a recess in the stationary lower drum;
• thereafter, mounting the adjustable band within the recess, the adjustable band being configured to guide a tape around the drum assembly in accordance with helical scans when the tape is moved around an outer perpheral surface of the stationary upper drum;
• and
• thereafter, adjusting the position of the adjustable band, the recess being dimensioned to receive the adjustable band while still allowing room for positional adjustments of the adjustable band therein.