Some time after my rediscovery of vinyl, I started toying with the idea of building a turntable. At the time I owned an idler (Dual 1219) and a DD (Technics SL-QL1). For me, the Dual was a small revelation (although there was The Rumble) and started me on an If... path.
Put it simply, what about designing an idler with modern materials, technologies and principles ?
Almost 3 years later - and 2 prototypes - I think I might be getting somewhere. I leave some picts and details for your "viewing pleasure".
- Plint made from steel reinforced concrete containing all locating points
- Subframe from Aluminium / Acrylate sandwich
- Inverted bearing design with twin ceramic spheres as the thrust surfaces
- Aluminium Platter with an inner acrilic ring and underside rubber matting for damping control
- Epyciclic drive - the motor pulley directly drives the inner rim of the platter, so no real idler drive…
- BLDC motor with electronic control and speed switching
- Armboard made from an aluminium / corian sandwich
Externally, I used black Alcantara for finishing (no nasty fingerprints), with the sideboards made blackened mahogany. Later, (after loosing 2 stylus to an excited child…) I added a darkened acrylic cover with a tilt/slide opening.
Overall, the main drivers for the design have been speed stability, low background noise and resonance control - hence the several “sandwiches”. Speed stability is where I think some progress is still needed, but I have an upgrade coming along.
https://restlessengineer.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/dsc_0399.jpg?w=1000&h=&crop=1 https://restlessengineer.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/dsc_0393.jpg?w=1000&h=&crop=1 https://restlessengineer.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/dsc_0401.jpg?w=1000&h=&crop=1 https://restlessengineer.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/dsc_0404.jpg?w=1000&h=&crop=1
