[CW] Russian Semiautomatic key with Cootie Dasher

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

To those who are interested in the Russian Cootie Bug that Piero
Begali said he would make, here is a letter from Eric, KE6US which I used
google translate to translate and I sent it to I2RTF, Piero who is at
Hamvention right now.

Eric, KE6US hasn't responded to emails or my posted U.S. mail since April,
so something has happened to him, perhaps he is in hospital or he is no
longer living.  No reverse beacon network "hits" are shown since

3/7/21

Hi David,

Here’s a set of different fingerpieces for the cootie side. One side
is offset more from the centerline. When you mount it so the offset
side is towards the center of the key, it will decrease the paddle
distance by 2,4,6 or 8mm (6.35mm = 1/4 inch). They aren’t marked, but
your calipers will show which is which.

I went back through my notes. My LH version measures 34mm between the
trunnions. I reduce it to around 26 with fingerpieces. When I sent you
photos, your reaction and the reaction of the Morse Code group was the
spacing looked way to wide. And Lery said it must be 32mm. It’s easy
to make the paddle spacing narrower, but difficult to make it wider.
So I redesigned the one for you at the widest likely to be required
figuring it can always be made narrower with the fingerpieces. I
didn’t want to ship you something that would be too difficult to
modify long distance.

Bottom line is I could easily print a smaller bridge/mainframe for
you. Mine is the narrow one with 34mm wide trunnions. Yours is the
wider one with 40.35mm wide trunnions. That is roughly the 25%
reduction in size you calculated. However, that would mean you would
have to disassemble the key and install everything with the new
bridge. If you are interested in doing that, let me know. It’s not
overly difficult, but it’s a little fussy. You are the best judge of
your current capabilities.

I would suggest fixing the paddle distance with the enclosed
fingerpieces and trying to get up to speed that way. If you then want
to swap out the bridge, let me know and I’ll print one. ’

BTW, let me reiterate, this is not a commercial venture for me. I have
absolutely no interest in selling this or any 3D printed bug—too much
like having a job (hi). My interest is strictly in exploring
mechanical design for 3D printing using a fun subject: semi-automatic
keys. If anyone has any interest in making one, I provide the files
free. They just have to ask.

Eric KE6US

N.B.:  Eric hasn’t been heard from since April 2021, I think he is
either in hospital, or he has died.  He doesn’t answer his email from
myself or others.
/DR N1EA


73

DR N1EA
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