June 2023 - Time for some production 

Another month, another post. This time, I will focus on the current development of the tonearm. Now that it has transitioned from the prototype stage, we have commenced the first full production run of 10 units.

Let's begin by discussing the recent workbench activities. Due to the ongoing development of the 4th axis, my focus has primarily been on turned parts. This involved working on the 1st and 2nd stages of the main body and the arm mounting collar. The completion of the 3rd stages will require the use of the 4th axis.

The arm mounting collar is a rather complex component, as it incorporates several crucial features that contribute to the functionality of the arm. These features include channels for the arm wire, a precisely reamed bore to ensure a close fit for the arm support pipe, and a side locking mechanism. The side locking mechanism enables vertical locking of the VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle) using a hex screw from above, rather than in a horizontal position.

These have been machined both sides but still need the radial holes done,  this will have to wait for the 4th axis.

The arm mounting collar with support pipe assembly, note the the vertical VTA hex screw adjuster.

Below we have the first 2 operations completed on the main body, the radial holes have yet to be done.  Since the main body is made from aluminium and has low mass, we have incorporated some nickel silver to provide additional mass in the bottom third of it. This additional mass will be secured using Loctite after anodizing and will also act as a grounding point for the main ground wire connected to the micro connector plug. 

Side view of the main body showing the counterweight, bias arm, and nickel silver weight. Also, please note the small 0.9mm grounding hole on the arm tube collar, which will electrically connect the arm tube to the rest of the body using conductive silver paint. 

Main bodies. Note the extra cut-out in the bottom section, this will be for the nickel silver weight. 

Some parts for the support pipe assembly in production.

The next part that we have started working on is the support pipe assembly , this consists of 6 individual components.

All of these components are made in-house apart from the sapphire cup and the zirconium  ball.

The support pipe assembly serves as a means to mount the sapphire cup bearing. It incorporates a simple internal dampening system comprising a layer of silicone oil inside, which rests on a zirconium ball. This setup helps reduce vibrations and promote smoother operation.

Additionally, the outer diameter of the support pipe shaft is designed to fit precisely into a close-tolerance bore that houses the VTA adjustment system.

Next month, I will delve into the details of how the VTA adjustment system works and its practical usage.

If you have any further questions or need clarification on any topic, feel free to ask the email address is below.