ights reserved. Printed in Canada.
© 2003 - 2004 Eikon Device Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada.
P L E A S E R E A D A N D S AV E T H E S E I N S T R U C T I O N S
INSTALLATION
INSTALLING ARMATURE BAR & SPRINGS
Note: To install your Tru-Spring armature bar and springs, the shims
under the coils of the machine may have to be removed or replaced.
Check to make sure that the coil screws on the machine can be re
moved before you begin the installation of your Tru-Spring armature bar.
1. Remove springs and armature bar from machine by loosening or

removing the back spring mounting screw. Retain the back spring

mounting screw and washers. They will be re-used to mount the

Tru-Spring back spring to machine.
2. Choose weight of armature bar you want to install on machine.
a) If machine is to be set up as a liner, take light armature bar and


attach thinnest back spring (0.016) to armature bar through

short slot on spring using screw and washer provided.
b) If machine is to be set up as a shader, take medium-weight arm-


ature bar and attach thinnest back spring (0.016) to armature

bar through short slot on spring using screw and washer provided.
c) If machine is to be set up for solid coloring, take heaviest armature

bar and attach thinnest back spring (0.016) to armature bar


through short slot on spring using screw and washer provided.
3. Install Tru-Spring Armature Bar and back spring on machine by


tightening original back spring mounting screw through long slot on

back spring.
4. Install needle bar and tube into machine. Connect needle bar to


Tru-Spring armature bar. Ensure that needle bar is running directly

through center of tube. If it isnt, loosen back spring mounting


screw. The long slot on back spring will allow adjustment of armature

bar and spring forward or back until needle bar is centered in tube.

Tighten back spring mounting screw rmly.
5. Gently apply downward pressure to front of armature bar until con-

tact is made between armature bar and front coil core.

If armature bar contacts back coil core, release armature bar and


remove back spring and armature bar from machine frame. Remove

all shims from between machine frame and back coil core.

Re-install back coil screw. Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5.
6. When armature bar contacts front coil core, check to ensure that


armature bar is level and parallel to the base of machine frame.


Remove or install shims under the front coil core until armature bar

is level and parallel to the base of machine frame when bar is held


down against front coil core.
7. While holding armature bar down on front coil core, check


clearance between armature bar and back coil core. The armature

bar must not make contact with back coil core, but clearance should

be minimal. Add shims under back coil core until clearance is minimal.
TRU-SPRING KIT
Features
The Tru-Spring system of spring mounting ensures consistency in spring
angle of de ection and eliminates all spring bending. Makes changing to
thicker or thinner springs quick and accurate. Maximizes spring per-
formance and exerts exact front and back spring pressure on the contact
points of the machine.
Note: Tru-Spring armature bars are not for use on cut-back machines.
Kit Contains:
1. 1 Tru-Spring light-weight armature bar
2. 1 Tru-Spring mid-weight armature bar
3. 1 Tru-Spring heavy-weight armature bar
4. 1 front spring - 0.016
5. 2 front springs - 0.017
6. 2 front springs - 0.018
7. 2 front springs - 0.019
8. 1 front spring - 0.020
9. 1 back spring - 0.016
10. 2 back springs - 0.017
11. 2 back springs - 0.018
12. 2 back springs - 0.019
13. 1 back spring - 0.020
14. 6 screws
15. 6 washers
16. 10 thick shims - 0.008
17. 10 thin shims - 0.020
18. 1 hex key
REPRODUCTION OF THIS DOCUMENT WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN
PERMISSION OF EIKON DEVICE INC. IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
over
Note: Choosing the correct weight of armature bar and making ex-
act adjustments of the machine are greatly facilitated when readings of
speed, duty cycle and follow through are available. It is recommended
that you use a meter when installing your Tru-Spring armature bars
and springs.
9. Connect machine to power supply. Adjust voltage until machine


runs. Adjust point gap on machine and voltage at power supply until

machine runs smoothly.
If machine runs too slowly, replace front spring with a thicker front


spring. If duty cycle is too low, replace back spring with a thicker


back spring.
Note on machine sound: The sound of your machine will change

whenever you install a different armature bar. Machine sound is not
an accurate indication of machine function. A heavier armature bar

will sound different than a lighter armature bar and generally neither

will sound the same as the original armature bar.
1
6
short slot attaches
to armature bar
long slot attaches
to machine frame
TRU-SPRING BACK SPRINGS
LOW-LIFT
8. Install thinnest front spring (0.016) to armature bar using screw

and washer provided. Adjust point gap to 1/16 (1.5 mm).
#1811
EIKON CARRIES A COMPLETE LINE OF
SPRINGS FOR TRU-SPRING
ARMATURE BARS
Tru-Spring polished front and back springs are
available in 11 thicknesses:
0.013, 0.014, 0.015, 0.016, 0.017, 0.018,
0.019, 0.020, 0.021, 0.022, 0.023
Tru-Spring blue tempered front and back springs
are available in 4 thicknesses:
0.016, 0.018, 0.020, 0.022
REPLACEMENT SCREWS & WASHERS
ARE AVAILABLE FOR TRU-SPRING
ARMATURE BARS
EIKON CUSTOMER SERVICE
GLOBAL TOLL FREE 800.3556.6655
TOLL FREE 800.427.8198
FAX 613.384.9583
www.eikondevice.com
PHONE 613.384.4688
TRU-SPRING HEAVY-WEIGHT
TRU-SPRING LIGHT-WEIGHT
TRU-SPRING MID-WEIGHT SUGGESTED MACHINE SPEEDS AND
DUTY CYCLES
Note: Machine speed and duty cycle can be read with the Eikon
EMS 200 Meter-Power Supply.
A machine will run differently with a tube and needle con guration
in it than it will without. Machines should be set up with a tube and
needle bar whenever checking numbers on the meter. Friction of the
needle con guration in the tube tip can impair the functioning of the
machine, as will running too many or overly-tight rubber bands.
The meter displays electronic measurements that cannot be taken
from the machine any other way. These electronic measurements are
not the only factors that determine how a machine is working. It is
possible to obtain correct or recommended readings on the meter
from a machine that is not running properly. Speed and duty cycle are
critical factors to know when setting up a machine, but other factors
including spring force, stroke length and choice of capacitor are equally
important and must be considered part of proper machine set-up.
Machine speed depends on usage - liners generally run between
120 Hz and 140 Hz. Coloring machines can run as low as 100 Hz
but generally not faster than 110 Hz. Shading machines generally run
faster than coloring machines, but slower than liners.
Duty cycle for any machine should be between 45% and 50%.
Note: Suggested machine speeds and duty cycles are expressed as
averages with needle bar and tube installed. Each tattooer will nd an
exact speed and duty cycle for machines that will suit how they tattoo.
Back spring angle of de ection can only be measured without
a front spring on the machine.
Angle of de ection may be measured as:
A. an angle in relation to machine frame;
B. a distance between center of front coil core and armature bar.
CONVENTIONAL ARMATURE
BARS
Conventional system of armature
bar mounting requires that the back
spring be bent or rolled to create
back spring angle of de ection.
Once front spring is mounted on
armature bar, the measurement
between front coil core and
armature bar is the air gap.
TRU-SPRING ARMATURE BARS
Tru-Spring system of armature bar mounting ensures consistency in
back spring angle of de ection while utilizing at springs.
MACHINE PART NAMES
EIKON CUSTOMER SERVICE
GLOBAL TOLL FREE 800.3556.6655
TOLL FREE 800.427.8198
FAX 613.384.9583
www.eikondevice.com
TRU-SPRING
HIGH-LIFT
a
SPRING BASICS
Shorter spring acts harder Longer spring acts softer
Wider spring acts harder Narrower spring acts softer
Thicker spring acts harder Thinner spring acts softer
THE SPRINGS ON A TATTOO MACHINE AFFECT:
voltage the machine requires
speed of the machine
stroke length of the machine
THE FRONT SPRING determines machine speed.
To make a machine run slower, put a thinner front spring on it.
To make a machine run faster, put a thicker front spring on it.
THE BACK SPRING provides the force that puts compression on
the front spring. The machine will not run properly unless there is the
correct amount of back spring force. Back spring force is made up of
four factors:
1. spring length
2. spring width
3. spring thickness
4. angle of de ection
Of these four factors, back spring angle of de ection is critical. There
must be enough angle of de ection to establish desired stroke length
and front spring compression.
BACK SPRING ANGLE OF DEFLECTION
TRU-SPRING
LOW-LIFT
PHONE 613.384.4688
Capacitors are available from Eikon in
the following microfarad ratings:
10uF capacitor
15uF capacitor
22uF capacitor
33uF capacitor
47uF capacitor
68uF capacitor
To order, call Eikon at:
800.427.8198
1. Back coil core
(top)
2. Back coil
3. Back spring
4. Back spring mounting

screw
5. Back spring mount
6. Back upright
7. Capacitor
8. Back binding pos