as i reported already once a while ago, all the white cd-rom add-ons seeming to die off sooner or later. the cause of dying i like to show you with the following pictures, which speaking clearly for themselves.
You can see a gearbox from the motor to the laser-shaft, which contains 3 different gear wheels. for some reason, dear lord knows why, the middle gear is made out of a very different material as the neighbouring wheels, which became very brittle over the years. but not so for its neighbouring wheels, which seems to be made of solid PVC, and doesn't change its condition for over the next 132 years maybe.
fig.1 close shot of the damaged gear wheel, which lost the half of its teeth.
fig.2 same from top view.
so why the heck only this middle wheel was made of a such weak and brittle material?? i can't help my self, but was this possibly done by purpose?
anyway, i couldn't spot out the exact material it's made off. anyone have any ideas?