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Mirrored Cartridge Alignment Tool--Make your own

archiek

archiek

Member
So many helpful cartridge tools are available here at AK and other forums. We print them on paper.
On eBay you can buy mirrored alignment tools, but I'd like to offer a possibly less expensive alternative.
Materials needed are:
1. a tonearm/cartridge alignment FILE of your choice.
2. a USB thumb drive.
3. a used LASER video disk from you local thrift store.
(mine cost $3, and yes it is the same 2mm thickness of a standard 33 1/3 rpm record.)
What to do:
A. On a USB thumb drive, put a copy of the alignment tool of your choice.
B. Take the thumb drive and a precision ruler/scale to an Office Depot, FedEx Office, or a UPS Store. It's best to call ahead to make sure they have the transparency film for laser printers and what they charge. If they don;t have the film, you'll have to go to Staple/Office Depot, etc. and buy some film made for laser printing.
Have your alignment tool printed on clear the "Overhead" transparency film. Use the ruler/scale to verify the transparency is precisely 100% to size. Printing prices vary, but I've had good experience at the UPS Store not charging until the tool was printed exactly to size.
C Cut out your alignment tool, leaving an 1/8" or so all around for taping the tool to the Laser disk and punch the spindle hole. (A single hole hand held hole punch is the ideal tool for making the spindle hole.
D. With the laser disk on your turntable, place the alignment tool over the spindle and point it in its proper direction , make sure it is as flat as you can get it, and tape the edges of the tool to the Laser disk.
E. Use the tool as you normally would but now you have a mirrored surface to enhance your ability to align your cartridge!
 
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Beobloke said:
Sounds ingenious but hideously over-complicated. I'll stick with buying one if i need it!
Click to expand...
Cheers! I agree buying one is the simplest way, but is the one you buy the best one for your specific setup?
I enjoy the creative DIY aspect of our avvocation.
Do consider this, kind sir:
  • A blank laserdisc--in this case the flip side from your alignment tool(s)--is the perfect grooveless surface for testing how well you set up tonearm anti-skating.
  • Using the laserdisc as an alignment platform allows you to generate multiple custom alignment tools and fix them on a single stage for each of your different tonearm/cartridge combinations.
  • No record, however horrendous its content, is put at risk.
  • The reflective surface is extremely helpful when using a USB microscope to measure Stylus Rake Angle. Please reference Stereophile's expert in turntable set up, Michael Fremer's video, "Video Showing Setting Stylus Rake Angle Using a Digital USB Microscope" at https://www.analogplanet.com/conten...ng-digital-usb-microscope#RDUg68LAO11OIVuG.99
To simlify my original post: Buy some laser or inkjet transparency film--depending on which type printer you own, and print your own alignment tool(s) to tape to the laserdisc.

All that aside, part of the joy and fun of being and audio enthusiast is playing with the hobby, but first and foremost...enjoying the Music! Don't you agree?
 
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