MTI quick-start guide

Everything on the card in the box, with video clips and close-ups. Five sections: mount it, load tape, use it, clear a jam, change the width.

IMount

  • Clip the MTI onto standard 35 mm DIN rail. It lifts off by hand.
  • The MTI is electrically conductive and grounds only where its clip touches bare metal. Connect the rail to ESD ground.
  • Anodized aluminum rail (most aluminum rail): anodizing doesn’t conduct. Sand at least one lip edge to bare metal, or the MTI isn’t grounded.
  • Steel rail: deburr the lip edges with fine sandpaper (about 400 grit) so they don’t scrape the MTI clip.
Clips on, lifts off by hand.
35 mm DIN rail with its lip edge marked in blue: sand to bare metal on aluminum rail, deburr on steel rail
Rail lip edge. Anodized aluminum: sand at least one edge to bare metal. Steel: deburr with about 400 grit.

IILoad tape

Trim first. Cut off any cover-film end that has adhesive or splice tape on it. The residue jams the film.
  1. Trim the cover-film end, as above.
  2. Feed the carrier tape in from the rear: two molded leaf springs inside would fight front loading.
  3. Peel and feed the cover film in between the gears.
  4. Press the actuator. Within 2–3 presses the film exits at the top and runs back over the feeder. If it doesn’t, stop and see Clear a jam.
Step B: carrier tape fed in from the rear, cover film peeled back
B Tape in from the rear
Step C: the cover film fed in between the gears
C Cover film between the gears
Step D: after a few presses the film exits at the top and runs back over the feeder
D Film exits the top
Loading, start to finish.

IIIUse

  • Press the actuator straight down. No side load.
  • Each full press advances the tape up to 6 mm and peels the cover film back, clear of the pick zone.
  • Cut tape, paper or embossed carrier, pocket depth up to 13 mm.
  • Press with a fingertip, the plastic body of a pickup stylus, or the stylus tip if it’s sturdy enough.
One press, one pocket.

IVClear a jam

  • Never force an apparent jam. On a clear tape path a light press is enough, so resistance means something is in the way.
  • If the film hasn’t exited the top within 2–3 presses after loading, it’s jamming. Pull the film back out the way it went in. It may take some force, but it usually slides out.
  • If it won’t come out, open the feeder (section V) and clear it.
Finesse, not force. Thin, stiff walls are what keep each feeder just 2 mm wider than its tape. They are strong in normal use, not made to take force.

VChange width, or open the feeder

Tape Feeder width Extension kits
8 mm 10 mm None (as shipped)
12 mm 14 mm One 4 mm kit
16 mm 18 mm One 8 mm kit
24 mm 26 mm Two 8 mm kits, stacked
32 mm 34 mm Three 8 mm kits, stacked

Feeder width = tape width + 2 mm. Extension kits

Open the housing: unclip the rear arm first

The rear arm is the DIN-rail clip at the back of the feeder, and it snaps the two housing halves together. Slip a small flat blade or razor into the gap at one end and lift just enough to unsnap it, then do the same at the other end. Once both ends are unsnapped, separate the rest by hand or with a wide-blade screwdriver.

Unsnap only; don’t pry the gap open wide, side-load or twist the arm. The carbon-fiber LCP is very stiff and can crack.

Left end of the rear arm: 1 tip of a small flat blade, 2 the snap point in the gap
Left end. 1 blade tip, 2 snap point.
Right end of the rear arm: 1 tip of a small flat blade, 2 the snap point in the gap
Right end. 1 blade tip, 2 snap point.

Fit the extension parts

Lift out the gears. Push one extension pin into each of the 7 holes in the base half; they taper-lock. Press the gear extensions onto their gears: keys meet slots. Every kit size uses the same joint.

8 → 12 mm, one 4 mm kit (0:50). Gear steps slowed down.
Gear extension: keys meet slots, then press.

Refit the gears: pinion meshed with the rack, bosses up

Mesh the pinion teeth with the rack, its last tooth to the rack’s last tooth. Then fit the gears with their alignment bosses facing up, as in the close-up.

Pinion teeth meshed with the rack: 1 the pinion's last tooth, 2 the rack's last tooth
1 Pinion’s last tooth, 2 rack’s last tooth.
Both gears seated in the feeder body with their 4 alignment bosses circled and numbered, all facing up
1–4 Alignment bosses face up.

Close it: press on the 7 pins only

Line the other half up on the extension pins. Press it shut with firm finger pressure on the 7 pin points. Never press with a tool, and don’t press between the pins.

Going narrower? Lay the housing half flat, hold it down with one finger beside each pin, and pull the pin out of its hole.

Base half of the MTI with all 7 extension pins fitted, each pin circled and numbered 1 to 7
1–7 The press points.
8 → 24 mm, two 8 mm kits stacked (0:34).
Removing pins without stressing the walls (0:11).

Questions? We’re glad to help.

info@smtcaddy.com. We reply within one business day.

Warranty: one year from delivery against defects in workmanship and premature failure. Email your order number and a photo.

MTI designed, molded and assembled in the USA.