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NAVIGATION
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Tangential Tracking Air Bearing Tone Arm. The following shows the continuing evolution of the design.
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 When I'm not working on my guitars, I usually fool around with my Hi-Fi system. Being a vinyl junkie, I am forever tweaking my turntable, & in particular, the tonearm.
Having come across an article several years ago by Norwegian engineer, Poul Ladergaard, http://www.aiko.com/roscoe/airbearingarm.html
who developed the basis of a cheap air bearing arm that anyone could make at home, I immediately set about making my own version.The results are posted here. You can either make your own, or get in touch with me & I will make one for you!
The performance is unrivalled & is equivalent to arms in the £1500+ bracket. Below are more pictures showing the various stages of contruction & its development through the years. |
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First completed working prototype on Gyrodek with Orbe platter.
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The air bearing consists of a airtight sandwich of aluminium angle. The top extrusion has the holes drilled in it.
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Close up of arm showing L profile aluminium extrusion. The arm rests on a slider that floats with no friction & is free the track the grooves of the record.
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Tha arm pivots in the vertical plane on a knife edge bearing, also frictionless.
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The arm can be made extremely short & light. This one weighs less than 170g, including cartridge & counterweight.
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Arm resonance is 5Hz in the horizontal plane, & 15Hz in the vertical....well out of the audible frequency & warp range
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Arm wand fully adjustable for overhang, azimuth & VTA. Once set, they dont have to be touched.
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In this particular prototype, the wires were too stiff & interfered with tracking. They have now been changed to a more flexible version.
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Wires terminate at the back with quality RCA connectors.
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Air bearing requires a simple aquarium pump & smoother tank. I have boxed mine in to keep noise levels down, or it can be moved to another room.
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Later developement of arm. Components tidied with the purchase of a Micro lathe for my workshop. No stopping me now!
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Carrier tidied with retro-wood look.....
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Latest update 27/9/06. After rushing air noise noticed thru speakers major arm re-work in 6mm aluminium to save weight. Runner profile increased to 1" so arm floats with less air pressure. Isolation of arm improved using double runner / foam sandwich
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Note new needle bearing for vertical movement!
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Re-worked wooden carrier in oak veneer. 6mm carbon-fiber arm.
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SELECTION OF CARRIER STYLES
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Completely redesigned tonearm fitted to 401.
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Counterweight redesigned to lower center of gravity.
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Vertical bearing now using quality ceramic ball races!
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New conterweight/bearing detail
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Reworked Gyro- Solid suspension on ball-bearing slate base/ 4 belt pulley/OL Motor/
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© 2005 All Rights Reserved.
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