Cartridge tools

Detailed drawings for a brass-bodied 3-part record clamp. DIY Strobe. Instructions for building a DIY strobe timing light. A look at this classic parallel tracking turntable. The Clearaudio Alignment Tool. A detailed analysis of the Dennesen look a like protractor. Dimitris Lamprou's guide to rewiring a Thorens tonearm. The Guru Protractor Analysed. Seb analyses the unconventional Guru alignment method. VPI tonearm geometry. An attempt to understand the geometry of VPi tonearms. Pink Triangle PT Too.

Modifications and enhancements by Phil King. Step-ups and MC cartridges. Read the instructions for the Technics Arc protractor above for the correct procedure. Basically the arc is used to set overhang and the grid to set offset angle. I just wanted to thank you for making this protractors available. I then tried using the protractor supplied with my Shure M97x3 cartridge but I simply couldn't get the cartridge to align to both null points no matter how long I tried entire nights.

I was frustrated and seriously dissapointed with vinyl Then I found your arc protractor. And I spent today's evening listening to some of my vinyl favorites.

What a difference! You gave me my faith in vinyl back! I had a few friends confirm this with scaling off so I am not sure if anyone ever raised an issue with the pdf but that seems to be where the problem is. Although everyone seems to think it works fine so if someone can tell me I am wrong that would be awesome. Indeed I can confirm that the protractor files are perfect in their dimensions and that it's your printer that is throwing off the dimensions.

I had to try 4 different printers until I got one HP LaserJet that printed the file with perfect dimensions. I can't get the stock arm to extend far enough in towards the spindle to touch point C on the protractor. Even if it were to be able to touch point C and C' equally, I'm not sure I would be able to adjust my Denon DL cartridge in the standard headshell to track the arc properly between the two points.

Am I missing something? I hope you finally find the way to set up your cartridge and that you're still waiting for an answer I found that mounting distance on the technics manual. Please check your mounting distance.

For some SL that protractor should not be used! I just downloaded the K Willis Universal Accutrak protractor. It contains three alignments, Baerwald, Loefgren, and Stevenson. I found that the Baerwald alig! I assume this table has the same mm length arm as other SL series Technics tables.

The Stevensen protractor would probably be your best choice IMO. Just align to the innermost null, and you have it! The outer null will be a bit off, but there IS a null there, just that it will be a slightly different location than shown on the protractor. The trade off is a bit more error at the outer grooves, I do not know exactly how much more however this rarely poses any problem Using the Stevensen alignment for your Technics table, the inner groove alignment is where it needs to be, the rest should be ok.

How do you think that the location of where the arm bend inwards, quote: I've discovered that the tracking error is very small as the arm arcs inward from about the mid point of a 12 inch record, and that's where tracking errors are most audible has anything to do with the tracking error? It's really the offset angle that you are referring to, which in the SLMKxx series is 22 degrees.

The shape of the arm has nothing to do with the tracking error, that arm can be a rollercoaster model for that matter; the path that the needle is following a theoretical mm which is effective length is still the same.

Hi, You should first push the cartridge forward in the headshell to follow the arc - this sets the overhang. If you run out of room in the slots it may not be possible to use Baerwald alignment with that cartridge. The cartridge should end up 2.

Just a "heads up" if you're having trouble printing the protractors and keeping the scale accurate. I found that with the Stupid Protractors I had to print in landscape mode with page scaling set to none. Thanks for the protractors!

I am struggling a little bit and think I may need a bit of advise. With a table designed mounting distance of Calculator reccommended overhangs are not achievable example - I may be able to move the cart out to an max effective length of mm.

I'm using a universal headshell which is similar dimensionally to the original Kenwood, and all original manual specified Kenwood dimensions can be met. So I am confused as to what the original intent for alignment was when the table was designed?? Hi, as you have a much shorter than usual or common arm length, in the absence of a protractor specifically drawn up for that arm, I would simply set the overhang to 9. Providing Kenwood's figures are accurate, your cart will be aligned accurately.

It is also possible to check alignment and tweak further by listening to a test record although that usually applies to fine tuning the VTF and anti-skate more than the actual alignment of the cartridge. To be honest I'd be tempted to use an overhang gauge and stick with the standard overhang. Without knowing the original offset angle it's hard to know what sort of alignment they were aiming for, or what is possible within the current headshell?

Thanks for the reply. I could most likley acheive an additional 4 to 5mm of overhang for a max of approx to mm eff. I cannot comment on angle as I have not seen this number published is there an alternate way to determine this angle? I do have the original plastic overhang guage that came with the table, but this appears to place the stylus at the mm eff. If the plastic overhang guage is used, I assume you would just square the cart in the headshell and call it good? Hi, Yes, if you keep the cartridge square and use the gauge then that will give you the original alignment, which should give reasonable results?

If you want to experiment further you could attempt to measure the offset angle the angle between the cantilever and a line drawn between the stylus tip and the horizontal pivot point of the arm , or maybe experiment with inputting different angles into the Alignment Comparator until you get a decent distortion curve, then use Conrad Hoffman's arc protractor generator to print out an alignment template to see if you can align to it?

Thanks JaS I believe that playing with those tools plus the excel spreadsheet is what brought me around to asking these questions! Plotting a Stevenson arc protractor using DIN std for the inner groove radius gives me an overhang of I might just be able to get to this one. If not, I will pursue the overhang guage suggestion.

The protractors that dont have an arc offset like the stupid protractor I mean you could align one position but not the other without moving the protractor I thought the whole point was to keep the protractor stationary and then align to both positions, which is not possible with the stupid protractor.

Hi, There seems to be some confusion about how to use these protractors? Neither type is kept stationary between points - for this you would need a specific arc protractor designed for your mounting distance.

However, it's not always easy to point the sight-line accurately at the pivot point so if there is misalignment at the second point you should then use it as you would a two-point protractor to correct it.

For each alignment method Stevenson, Baerwald and Lofgren B the two-point protractors above will give identical alignment to the KWillis protractor when used correctly. The mold opens on an upper hinge which can very easily separate if desired. These cleverly designed, forged iron musket tools were fabricated at Richmond. The postwar frontier army was armed with conversions and modifications of Civil War arms to metallic cartridge arms into the s.

The army realized that it might be necessary for troops to salvage, reprime and reload expended cartridges. Reloading kits were therefore constructed and supplied on a limited basis.

Offered here is a rare. This is the barrel breech plug from a model musket. The U. Army ordered some of the Lee and the Navy about 1, of the , both chambered for the government.