this turntable utilizes 3 drive units, 3 distinctively different arm types, a 290 lb slate textured , epoxy / glass and ceramic fibere re-enforced/ lead composite casting. It is a pointed design weighing a total of 530 lbs that will rest on a Minus K , BM-1 vibration abatement unit. A tubular steel stand filled with a urethane - lead matrix will support the table, 3 electronic motor controllers, and 3 head amps. The photo shown is only a mock up using the mdf pattern that will be used to generate the fiberglass mold used to cast the final plinth.
3 arm, pointed table
- VPI HRX - 2 motor, flywheel drive unit
Utilizing 2 ac synchronous pm motors, the connection to the 15 lb flywheel via rubber drive belts reduces the cogging normally delivered to a platter when it is driven by a rubber belt directly from a pm motor, ac or dc.
- Dynavector Dynavector DV 507 MK II
Bi Axial - High mass arm tone arm with interchangable head shells. I loved this arm the first time I saw it 20 years ago; it was $800 then- used. I feel the engineering in this arm was the reason I chose it for my project. Anyone out there feel the same?
While I first saw this arm at the 2005 CES, I've read about it for years. The reviews from all the golden ears persuaded me to choose this arm.
Air bearing, linear tracking tone arm. The quality of this arm was one of the 3 factors that caused me to build, rather than buy a table. After reading all I could find on the audio web sites regarding linear trackers, It seemed logical that injecting the air in the bearing rather than the arm tube , was the only way to go; it was the right decision for me.
Plinth, The center of sound that everything is mounted to, the anchor. This is part of the pattern that will be used to produce the mold that the final plinth will be cast from. The platter will be mounted to this section of the plinth.
This shows the 3 patterns for the pods supporting the 3 armboards and leveling points for the plinth
This shows the bonding of the pods to the center platter support. A band clamp and pinch dogs, along with biscuit joints and polyurethane glue, insure an accurate pattern
The pattern is almost finished. It will be used to cast the plinth that will weigh around 260 lbs. Only the slate texture needs to be applied to the appropriate surfaces and it is ready for the next step. After the mold is laminated off this pattern, it will be used for a trial horse for the arm boards, and other acoutrements to finish the table.
The slate texture and mold release have been applied. The pattern is set up to produce an epoxy mold for the final casting of the plinth.
Time to make the mold. Metal filled surface coat is sprayed over the pattern you saw in the previous shot.
Surface coat done, fiberglass re-enforcement is next. It stinks , but it's strong.
Re-enforcement of the mold. Fiberglass maintains the surface and dimensional integrity , but mdf supplies the bulk strength the mold needs to maintain the shape.