Pod Plus Manual

1 Disc-Go-Pod Plus Owner Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Disc-Go-Pod PLUS Disc Repair Machine. Inside this manual are the tips and techniques developed from a decade of disc repair at Disc Go Technologies Inc. Taking the time to read through this manual will help you to achieve the best results with your disc repair system. If you have any problems, questions or suggestions regarding this machine, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department using our Toll Free number at 1-866-237-3724. IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the following:

1. Read all instructions.

2. To protect against the risk of electrical shock, do not put cord, plug or machine in water or other liquid.

3. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is being used by or near children.

4. Unplug the Disc-Go-Pod from the outlet when not in use or before putting on or taking parts off, or before cleaning.

5. Avoid contact with moving parts.

6. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug, or after the appliance malfunctions or is dropped or damaged in any manner. Call our Toll Free customer support line at 1-866-237-3724 for information on examination, electrical repair, mechanical repair or adjustment.

7. The use of attachments not recommended or sold by Disc Go Technologies Inc. may cause fire, electric shock or injury.

8. Do not use outdoors.

9. Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.

10. Do not disconnect the machine with wet hands.

11. Do not unplug the machine by pulling on the power cord.

12. Disconnect the machine if it becomes hot for any reason.

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Disc-Go-Pod Plus Owner Manual

Disc-Go-Pod Plus: Set-Up Instructions ………………………….3 Supplied Components ………………………………………………………3 Machine Description ………………….……………………………………..3 Preparation and Materials …………………………………………………4 Setting Up your Disc-Go-Pod ………………………………………………4

Preparing the Polishing Wheels ….………………………………4 Filling the Polishing Tank …………………………………………4

Repairing Your First Disc …………………………………………………..4 Loading the Disc …….…………………………………….………4 Repairing the Disc …….…………………………….…………….5 Removing the Disc …….…………………………………..………5 Cleaning and Maintenance …….……………………………………..……6 Basic Daily Cleaning ………………………………………………6 Pump Maintenance ………………………………………………..6 Your Guide to Disc Repair …………………………………………7 Why Do Scratches Appear on my Discs? ………………………………..7 How Are Discs Made? ………………………………………………………7 How Does Disc Repair Work on Scratched Discs? …………………….8 How Can I Tell if My Disc is in Need of Treatment? …………………….9 Identify if the CD or DVD can be Fixed ………………………….9 Cracks ….…………………………………………………9 Dents ……………………………………………………..9 Warping ….……………………………………………….9 Identify the type of disc ……………………………………………9 Inspect for specific damage …….………………………………10 Determining Which Side is Scratched …………………………………..11 The Reflection Test ……………………………………………...11 DVD Damage – Layer Separation ..….…………………………11 Scratch Damage ………………………………………………….11 Scratch Damage Levels …………………………………………11 Light Damage …….……………………………………..12 Medium Damage ……………………………………….12 Heavy Damage ………………………………………….13 Limitation of Use………………….………………………………………………….14 Disclaimer…………………………………………………………………………….14 Warranty………………………………………………………………………………14 Customer Service…………………………………………………………………… 15 Additional Components…………………………………………………………… 15 Troubleshooting Guide ……………………………………………16

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Set-up Instructions

Supplied Components

• Disc-Go-Pod Plus Disc Repair Machine (1) • Bottles of Polishing Compound (2) • Sets of Polishing Pads (2) • 1 fl. oz. Disc-Go-Tech Final Spray (1) • Disc-Go-Tech Cleaning Cloth (1) • Clean Assistant (1) • Owner’s Manual (1)

Machine Description

1. Polishing Pads 2. Polish Feed 3. Disc Cushion & Disc Plate 4. Disc Clamping Knob 5. Start/Stop/Timer Button 6. Release for Catch Lid

7. Power Indicator Light 8. Polish Tank 9. Polish Pump 10. Lid 11. Polishing Well 12. Polish Tube

4 Set-up Instructions

Preparation and Materials Remove your Disc-Go-Pod PLUS from the box and ensure that all listed components are in the box. Before you begin the set-up procedure, please make sure you have the following items ready: § Electrical Outlet – 110V grounded § A level work surface § Towel for clean up § Access to water § Disc-Go-Tech Cleaning Cloth § Bottle of polish

Setting Up Your Disc-Go-Pod PLUS Preparing the Polishing Wheels

1. Pull the release catch down towards you to open the lid. 2. Holding the back of the lid, gently push against the polishing pads with your hand to

ensure they are secured properly. Push the wheels into the bearing in the housing until they are completely seated.

Filling the Polish Tank

1. The polish tank is located at the back of the unit. Remove the lid on top of the polish tank. Inside the tank you will see the pump for the unit. Leave the pump in the polish tank.

2. Remove a bottle of polish from the packaging and shake until no settlement remains. 3. Pour the entire contents of the bottle into the polish tank. 4. Fill the empty polish bottle with clean water, shake again, and pour into the polish tank

until the liquid fully covers the pump. If the pump is not fully covered, continue to add more water.

5. Close the lid of the polish tank. Repairing Your First Disc Loading the Disc

1. Remove the disc clamping knob located at the center of the disc cushion by turning it counter-clockwise. Hold the disc cushion steady.

2. Place the graphic side of the disc face down onto the disc cushion and press firmly until it snaps into place. The read/data side of the disc will be facing up, ready for repair.

3. Replace the disc clamping knob by turning clockwise while holding the disc steady.


Repairing the Disc

1. Plug the unit into an electrical outlet. The red power indicator light will come on. 2. The start button acts a “repair cycle selector,” allowing you to choose from 2 preset repair

cycles. Determine the damage level of your disc, and then select a cycle from the table below.

Disc Damage Level Cycle Time Timer Setting

Light 5 minutes Press Start Button Once

Medium 10 Minutes Press Start Button Twice

Heavy 15 Minutes Run for a 10 Minute Cycle and then a 5 minute cycle

3. Allow the unit to complete the repair process. The machine will automatically stop when

the cycle is complete. Removing the Disc

1. Open the lid by pulling the release catch down, towards you. 2. Inspect the disc to determine if the disc damage has been repaired. If any disc damage

remains, close the lid and repeat the repair process again. 3. If the disc is repaired, unscrew and remove the disc clamping knob by turning it counter-

clockwise while holding the disc steady. 4. Remove the disc and use a soft cloth to gently pat away the remaining polish. 5. If the disc is fixed, spray the disc with 1-2 mists of Disc-Go-Tech Final Spray and gently

wipe it with your Disc-Go-Tech Cleaning Cloth until the disc is dry and shiny. This completes the disc repair process. To repair additional discs repeat the repair process again.

NOTE: It is important to top up the polish tank with water every 4-5 repair cycles.


Cleaning and Maintenance Like any tool or piece of machinery it is a good idea to keep your Disc-Go-Pod PLUS clean. This ensures high-quality repairs and prevents the motor and pump from seizing due to a build up of polish inside the machine. Upon completion of your disc repairs for the day we recommend cleaning the machine using the following steps: Basic daily cleaning of the Disc-Go-Pod PLUS:

1. Unplug the unit, drain the polish from the tank into a lidded container and reserve it for later use. This will extend both the life of your Disc-Go-Pod PLUS and your polish.

2. Fill the tank with warm or hot water, plug the unit back in and push the start/stop button to run and rinse the machine for 30 seconds. This will help remove any remaining polish.

3. Unplug the unit and discard the water. Pump Maintenance If you find that the pump has become clogged or will no longer pump the polish properly, it may need to be cleaned out to remove any polish build up.

1. Unplug the unit, remove the pump from the tank and take off the cover at one end – the opposite end of the wiring.

2. Remove the black tear drop shaped lid. Inside the cover there is a metal mesh screen. Remove the screen and rinse it with water.

3. Using a paperclip carefully take out the spinner wheel. Flush the area out with hot water and a cotton swab.

4. Put the pump back together and re-install in the polish tank. Fill the polish tank with HOT water.

5. Run the Disc-Go-Pod PLUS for 1-2 minutes to circulate the water and work out any clogs.

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Figure 1 – Disc Layers

Your Guide to Disc Repair

Why Do Scratches Appear on My Discs? Although CDs and DVDs are extremely durable and convenient to use, they can be easily damaged through normal handling and abuse, use in inexpensive CD or DVD players, car CD changers or poorly designed CD cases. While scuffed or scratched CD’s or DVD’s may still be playable, the player is likely having a hard time decoding the sound, image or data due to the interference. This commonly leads to the disc sounding dull and lifeless or skipping and stuttering. When scratches are removed from the surface of the disc, it allows the CD or DVD player to decode all the information without having to do numerous error correction procedures, which in turn makes the music or video flow properly and puts less stress on the player. How Are Discs Made? A Disc is made up of four layers. The first layer is the thickest and easiest to repair. However, the other three layers combined (reflective foil, lacquer, and graphic) are only as thin as a human hair and offer little or no protection to the data beneath them. You can see the different layers as shown in Fig 1. – Disc Layers.

Graphic Layer (fourth layer) A layer of ink is screened onto the lacquer layer for dynamic graphic and/or sales impact. (Recordable CDs don't have this layer.)

Lacquer Layer (third layer) Lacquer is dripped onto the disc and spun at high speed to create a thin layer of sealant for the foil layer. This seals in the foil layer, but offers little or no protection for the data beneath.

Reflective Foil Layer (second layer) A micro thin layer of aluminium (copper, silver or gold on higher quality CDs) is applied to the top of the CD covering the data. This layer reflects the laser beam back through the plastic disc, allowing the stamped data to be read.

Polycarbonate Plastic Disc (first layer) Data is stamped on the topside of a plastic disc creating millions of “on” and “off’s” or zeros and ones. On recordable CDs, data can be burned in at different levels within the plastic disc, for multi-session recording. Please note that recordable CDs have a much thinner layer due to the manufacturers name printed on this layer.

8 Your Guide to Disc Repair

How Does Disc Repair Work on Scratched Discs? Compact Discs are made of Polycarbonate plastics (just like plastic lenses in safety glasses) and are manufactured through a moulding process that makes the disc perfectly flat. This perfectly flat surface allows the laser beam to go straight up and reflect back off the Foil Layer, retrieving the digital information that has been stamped into the topside. A scratch, fingerprint or some foreign object that blocks or breaks up the path of the laser beam (Fig. 2) will cause the disc to either skip or freeze, depending on the disc format. Remember the laser beam reads the digital information from the centre of the disc to the outer edge in a spiral manner. With DVD Audio and Video media, Sony, PlayStation 1 & 2™, X-Box ™, Gamecube™ and Sega Dreamcast™ the digital information that has been stamped goes right to the outer edge of the disc. This means that if you don’t repair your damaged discs with Disc-Go-Tech technology, then there is a good chance that the other disc repair technologies will round the edges of your disc during the repair process. The laser beam will then follow the curve created by other repair processes and you could loose the last track on those discs.

Figure 2 - Scratch Deflection


How Can I Tell if My Disc is in Need of Treatment?

If the disc has started to make funny noises or skips and stutters when you listen, watch, or play it, then chances are the disc has scratches on it. If you are servicing the rental or retail market, such as used video games or Previously Viewed Title DVD’s, it may be desirable to repair any disc with surface damage. This will suggest to the customer that this disc is in “new” condition, and will produce a higher resale value.

Identify if the disc can be fixed

Cracks - Inspect the disc first for any cracks. Typically, discs will start to split from the inside ring, and work towards the outer edge. Give the disc a very slight bend to see the cracks more clearly. Occasionally, cracks will start from the outer edge, or may be located in the centre of the reading area. If any crack is found, the disc cannot be repaired.

Dents – Dents are large indentations on either side of the disc. Dents will sometimes appear to be deep scratches; however they have caused irreversible damage to the disc which cannot be repaired. Dents are caused by blunt force to the disc, such as being stepped on, being bitten by a pet, or placing heavy sharp objects onto the disc. Dents can sometimes be seen protruding through the other side of the disc. Warping – Warping is when the disc, which should be perfectly flat, has been bent or warped due to heat damage. This type of damage will typically be seen around the entire edge of the disc and can be seen in the reflection of the disc. To inspect for warp damage, look at the reflection in the mirror side of the disc. Reflect a straight edge, such as a fluorescent light tube in the ceiling and tilt the disc back and forth while looking at the reflection of the light in the disc. If the light tube appears to be distorted, the disc may be warped. Warp damage can occur due to leaving the disc in sunlight, or inexpensive repair methods.

If the disc is damaged in any way described above, the disc cannot be repaired.

Identify the type of disc

CD or DVD? – There are types of damage that can occur on one type of disc, which will not occur on the other. To identify the type of disc, look at the label side of the disc and locate the identifying mark.

Compact Disc (CD) Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)


Inspect for specific damage

CD Damage - Foil Damage – Foil damage occurs when the graphic side of a compact disc has been scratched. Severe foil damage can easily be seen by holding the label side of the disc up to a strong light source and observing the shiny side of the disc. If light can be seen through the disc then the disc has foil damage. Light foil damage can also prevent the disc from playing, but it is much harder to locate. One easy way to see light foil damage is to first inspect the label side for any type of scratch. If a scratch is located on the top side, view the bottom side to see if the same scratch appears on the optical side. If the disc is dark, such as a Playstation™ or PS2™ disc, assume the disc is damaged. One other method of viewing foil damage is to look at the scratches on the optical side of the disc. If you can see a reflection of the scratch in the “mirror” of the disc, the disc can be repaired. If you cannot see a reflection of the scratch, the scratch is likely to be foil damage on the top side. See figure 3 for an example of foil damage. Refer to the chart below to determine whether or not your disc is susceptible to foil damage.

Foil Damage Chart

Disc Medium Colour Example Susceptible Non-Susceptible CD Silver Music, Software § DVD – Single Layer (4.7GB) Silver Movies § DVD – Dual Layer (8.4GB) Gold Movies § PS1™ – CD (700MB) Black Video Games § PS2™ – CD (700MB) Light Blue Video Games § PS2™ – DVD Single Layer Silver Video Games § PS2™ – DVD Dual Layer Gold Video Games § X-Box™ - DVD Silver / Gold Video Games § GameCube™ - 3” DVD Silver / Gold Video Games § CD - R (650 – 700 MB) Any Color Music, Software § CD - RW (650 – 700 MB) Grey Music, Software § DVD – R (4.7 GB) Purple Movies § DVD – RW (4.7 GB) Grey Movies § VCD (700 MB) Silver Video § Karaoke CD (700 MB) Silver Music §

Figure 3 – Foil Damage


Determining Which Side Is Scratched The Reflection Test

• Hold your disc, with the graphic side down. • While looking at the scratches on the play side, tilt the disc slightly, back and forth. • Now check each scratch for a reflection or double appearance. • Scratches on the bottom of the disc will have a reflection and are repairable. • Scratches in the foil will not have a reflection and are not repairable.

DVD Damage – Layer Separation A DVD is similar to a CD, however it is like having two CD’s with the label sides placed together and glued. This is perfect for protecting the information from foil damage, as the important layers are on the inside of the disc, instead of the top. However, there are sometimes problems with the two glued discs pulling apart. When these two discs separate, it will damage the foil on the inside of the disc. This type of damage is relatively rare, and is usually caused by excessive heat and/or severe bending. Inspect the gold or silver side of the disc, if the consistency of the gold or silver color seems to change from the inside ring to the outer edge, the disc may have separation. Give the disc a slight bend, if the color changes in a concentric pattern, the disc has layer separation and cannot be repaired.

Scratch Damage If the disc passes the above tests, it is probably scratch damaged. Scratch damage is the largest type of damage in discs and will typically result in 94% of all disc failures. Scratch damage can be repaired. Use the Disc-Go-Pod Plus to remove the damage, and leave the disc looking as good as new! Scratch Damage Levels The level of scratch damage can be difficult to determine. Some discs may have scratches covering the surface of the disc, but the scratches may not be very deep. Other discs may look great, except for one large scratch. Damage levels are determined by the depth of the scratch, not the number of scratches. The deeper the scratch, the longer it will take to be removed. Please refer to the pictures below for some typical examples of light, medium and heavy scratch damage.


Light Damage Light damage is characterized by small, hairline type scratches. It can also contain light scuffs, marks and debris such as food or glue residue. This type of damage cannot be felt when running your fingernail across the scratches.

Figure 4 – Light Damage Medium Damage Medium damage is typically larger scratches than those in the light category. Medium scratches can be felt when running your fingernail across the scratch. You should be able to feel the scratch, but your nail should not stop at the scratch. More extensively damaged discs with many scratches on the disc will typically have one of two scratches that would fall into the Medium damage level. These discs will need to be run through a medium cycle.

Figure 5 – Medium Damage


Heavy Damage Heavy damage is the deep knife or screwdriver type of damage. This type of damage can be felt when you run your fingernail over the scratch and it stops in the scratch. This type of damage can be very severe. Occasionally it may be necessary to run a disc through a heavy cycle once or twice.

Figure 6 – Heavy Damage

14 Limitation of Use, Disclaimer, Warranty

Limitation of Use This machine is not capable of repairing cracked, warped, or foil damaged discs. If there is damage to the data within the disc, this machine cannot replace or restore the data. Disclaimer Reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this information, but Disc Go Technologies Inc. and the product distributors extend no warranties, make no representations and assume no responsibility as to the accuracy or suitability of information. Judgements as to the suitability herein are the purchaser’s responsibility.

Warranty 90 Day Limited Warranty - Disc Go Technologies Inc. warrants the Disc-Go-Pod PLUS to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 90 days from the date of purchase, except as noted. There is no warranty with respect to the following: pads and/or polish. This warranty extends only to the original consumer purchaser and does not cover damage from abuse, neglect, or any other use not found in the printed directions. The warranty applies to the product from the original date of purchase and the owner must furnish proof of original purchase from Disc Go Technologies or a Disc Go Technologies authorized reseller. The unit must be shipped, freight prepaid or delivered to the nearest authorized repair centre in either its original package or similar package affording an equivalent degree of protection. The repaired unit will be returned to the customer at the customer’s expense. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, DISC GO TECHNOLOGIES INC. EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR INCIDENTAL LOSSES CAUSED BY THE USE OF THIS APPLIANCE AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL DISC GO TECHNOLOGIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY AMOUNT GREATER THAN THE ACTUAL PURHCASE PRICE OF THE UNIT. If you have a claim under this warranty, DO NOT RETURN THE APPLIANCE TO THE STORE OR DISTRIBUTOR! Please call our CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER. This warranty is valid only in Canada and the USA. In the U.S. and Canada 1-866-237-3724 This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other legal rights which may vary from state to state, or province to province.

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Customer Service Call our toll free customer service number. Please have your Disc-Go-Pod PLUS close by when you call. This will help us answer your questions. In USA and CANADA call: 1-866-237-3724

Website: http://www.discgotech.com

E-mail: [email protected]

KEEP THIS NUMBER FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

Additional Components To order additional components, please call our toll free customer service line at 1-866-237-3724 or, visit our secure website at www.discgotech.com

DISC GO TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Unit 105 – 20530 Langley Bypass Langley, B.C. Canada V3A 6K8

16 Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting Guide The polish feed does not work

• Ensure there is at least 1 cm (1/2”) of polish covering the pump • Gently shake the polish pump • Clean and rinse out the polish pump, tank and tube to clear any blockage

Quality of repairs is lower than normal

• Give the polishing wheels a quick clean with water and a toothbrush • Replace the polish and polishing wheels • Wipe down the polish tank, pump, tube and inside of machine with a damp cloth • Run the disc through a second repair cycle

There are circles on the repaired disc

• Make sure the polishing wheels are spinning • Check the polish tank to ensure the pump is submerged in polish

Motor squeaks or stops turning

• Remove the disc cushion and add a drop of 3-in-1 oil to the top of the motor shaft (should be done once a month)

Motor stops working after continuous repairs

• When repairing multiple discs continuously, the unit may shut down automatically to allow it to cool off. Unplug the machine and let it sit for half and hour.

• To avoid overheating and unnecessary downtime we recommend leaving approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute between cycles.

Pod Plus Manual

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