TD124 MK1 Outer Platter Dimensions?

[Caballo]

Hi folks,

I need an outer aluminum platter for the TD124 that I am restoring. I am able to get it fabricated myself. Could someone please measure their platter for me to a tolerance of +/- 0.01"?

1. Overall diameter
2. Outer lip height
3. Outer lip thickness
4. Platter thickness
5. Dimensions of the center divot: diameter, depth, threaded hole pattern

I will get a quote to have it produced. If there is any interest, I could make a few extra for the folks here.

 

[Caballo]

Anyone? Maybe .01" is a bit tight. Within 1/16" should be fine.

 

[beatcomber]

34cm outside is as close as I can get with my metal ruler.

I'll get you the other dimensions shortly.

 

[Caballo]

Thanks for helping me out! I'm excited to get a chance to compare costs on machining vs spinning.

 

[jgordon]

Where are you located? Maybe someone can loan you theirs.

 

[beatcomber]

Where are you located? Maybe someone can loan you theirs.

Oakland, CA.

 

[jgordon]

Oakland, CA.

Did his icon have that info when I asked? If so, wow. I'm a little off today.

 

[Caballo]

Yes, I'm in Oakland. Good idea! I don't know anyone else with a TD 124. In fact, the one I own is the only one I've ever seen in person.

As a mechanical engineer, I am very impressed with the build quality of the Thorens. Just about every mechanical component was manually machined. It's in another league as compared to my TD 125. Equally nice is how everything is designed to be easily disassembled, so working on it is a meditative pleasure. Even the spring clips are super high quality -- this is a part that would often need replacement after removal in most assemblies. I'm currently disassembling the entire thing and thoroughly cleaning every component while waiting on parts from Audiosilente and elsewhere.

I'm also taking the opportunity to modify the main bearing. Alumina Ceramic ("Sapphire") and Silicon Nitride balls are easily obtained on the cheap, though it remains to be seen whether 1/4" (6.35mm) is a suitable replacement for the stock 6mm ball. I'll be machining a new thrust plate and a thicker Delrin insert.

I have a SME 3009 II Non-improved that came with the TT, that I thought was knackered until giving it a once over with the isopropanol and the Tarnite. I also have a Grace G840 arm, an S-shaped arm with bends that look "just right" to my eyes. Not sure which one I'll be using, yet. The two arms are very similar in effective mass.

Mine came without the top platter, which they tell you never to buy one without. They also tell you not to have them shipped from the seller either. Mine was the only good deal I'd seen locally in over two years, so that's why I'm trying to pattern out a platter today.

CALLING BAY AREA TD124 ENTHUSIASTS! CAN I COME OVER AND MEASURE YOUR TOP PLATTER? =)

Thanks --
Jay

 

[beatcomber]

Did his icon have that info when I asked? If so, wow. I'm a little off today.

If you're viewing on a phone, it might not display that info. I can't see it on my iPhone.

 

[heyraz]

Not an engineer but am wondering...
Can the platter's dimensions be scanned as if it were going to be reproduced by a 3-D printer?

 

[Caballo]

Not an engineer but am wondering...
Can the platter's dimensions be scanned as if it were going to be reproduced by a 3-D printer?

Yes, it's possible... but I don't have a 3D scanner! There aren't that many critical dimensions on a platter though, should be easy enough to measure.

 

[bob06]

What happened to beatcomber did his ruler break.

 

[bob06]

It's not as easy as you think to get measurements from the 124 platter. There's the center that's dished where the 45 popup is and that's tapered also . You have to get the holes in exactly the right place and then there's the lip on the inside under the platter that rest on the rubber dots. Your better off trying to find a used one our buy one already made. There are a few people making them.

 

[biscuithead]

I had the Thorens on the kitchen table an some slip-sticks nearby.
This is what I got using dead-battery micrometers, and a metric tape-measure, so take it as pseudo-gospel

1. Overall diameter - 30.5 cm

2. Outer lip height - 17.1mm (measured from outside)
Lip depth -14.9mm (measured from inside)
3. Outer lip thickness - 1.5mm

4. Platter thickness ( at outer edge ) 2.2mm

5. Dimensions of the center divot: diameter, depth, threaded hole pattern - 52mm at its widest, tapering to ~42mm. Depth is 4.9mm, Tri-screw with 19mm center2center

interior Edge 2 outer lip-ring - 37mm

Interior edge 2 inner lip-ring - -43 mm

Ring thickness = 6mm
45 adapter capture ring- 50mm



Question my tolerances and Good luck with the build. I would be curious of costs...

 

[biscuithead]

Hi folks,

I need an outer aluminum platter for the TD124 that I am restoring. I am able to get it fabricated myself. Could someone please measure their platter for me to a tolerance of +/- 0.01"?

1. Overall diameter
2. Outer lip height
3. Outer lip thickness
4. Platter thickness
5. Dimensions of the center divot: diameter, depth, threaded hole pattern

I will get a quote to have it produced. If there is any interest, I could make a few extra for the folks here.

I was tempted to do this a while ago... maybe 4 years ago. I had pull in a machinist dept. and my options were CNC, or CNC... It was only going to be about sixty bucks, but would very much not look original, and not have the 45 adaptor built in... then there was going to be balancing issues. So I elected to spend about 200 bucks more and get a turntable with cosmetic issues, but with a platter....

 

[Caballo]

I had the Thorens on the kitchen table an some slip-sticks nearby.
This is what I got using dead-battery micrometers, and a metric tape-measure, so take it as pseudo-gospel

1. Overall diameter - 30.5 cm

2. Outer lip height - 17.1mm (measured from outside)
Lip depth -14.9mm (measured from inside)
3. Outer lip thickness - 1.5mm

4. Platter thickness ( at outer edge ) 2.2mm

5. Dimensions of the center divot: diameter, depth, threaded hole pattern - 52mm at its widest, tapering to ~42mm. Depth is 4.9mm, Tri-screw with 19mm center2center
View attachment 1012895 View attachment 1012896 View attachment 1012897
interior Edge 2 outer lip-ring - 37mm
View attachment 1012898
Interior edge 2 inner lip-ring - -43 mm
View attachment 1012899
Ring thickness = 6mm
45 adapter capture ring- 50mm

View attachment 1012900

Question my tolerances and Good luck with the build. I would be curious of costs...

Thank you biscuithead, this is pretty helpful, and I think you got all the major measurements. I'll see what I can come up with.
Still would be nice to have the real thing to ensure a good copy. I think this is precisely the kind of thing that in the car and motorcycle world would be ordered in batches for a cooperative "group buy". I do this kind of thing every day, so I have the ability to make it happen...

I'm thinking about spring for the Swissonor platter. It's starting to look like a an easier option, at least =)
Can anyone speak to how close that is to the original?

Is anyone else making them? As far as I can tell from my research so far, everyone who sells an Alu one, sells the Swissonor.

 

[biscuithead]

Thank you biscuithead, this is pretty helpful, and I think you got all the major measurements. I'll see what I can come up with.
Still would be nice to have the real thing to ensure a good copy. I think this is precisely the kind of thing that in the car and motorcycle world would be ordered in batches for a cooperative "group buy". I do this kind of thing every day, so I have the ability to make it happen...

I'm thinking about spring for the Swissonor platter. It's starting to look like a an easier option, at least =)
Can anyone speak to how close that is to the original?

Is anyone else making them? As far as I can tell from my research so far, everyone who sells an Alu one, sells the Swissonor.

I thought Hanze had them also... but I don't see them anymore on their website. Next time I call, I'll ask.

 

[biscuithead]

Not an engineer but am wondering...
Can the platter's dimensions be scanned as if it were going to be reproduced by a 3-D printer?

I kind-of like the idea of a 3-d printed version... I wonder if it would be structurally sound at only ~2.5mm thick. ...it might be a slightly better option for MC users...

 

[heyraz]

I don't have a 3D scanner either, but there must be places that offer the service.
Perhaps an Engineering School? Maybe they can scan the dimensions you seek. Possibly even print up a copy as a prototype.
A friend's son graduated from Rutgers College of Engineering and I think one of his projects had to do with 3D scanning and reproduction.

 

[asech]

Yes, I'm in Oakland. Good idea! I don't know anyone else with a TD 124. In fact, the one I own is the only one I've ever seen in person.

As a mechanical engineer, I am very impressed with the build quality of the Thorens. Just about every mechanical component was manually machined. It's in another league as compared to my TD 125. Equally nice is how everything is designed to be easily disassembled, so working on it is a meditative pleasure. Even the spring clips are super high quality -- this is a part that would often need replacement after removal in most assemblies. I'm currently disassembling the entire thing and thoroughly cleaning every component while waiting on parts from Audiosilente and elsewhere.

I'm also taking the opportunity to modify the main bearing. Alumina Ceramic ("Sapphire") and Silicon Nitride balls are easily obtained on the cheap, though it remains to be seen whether 1/4" (6.35mm) is a suitable replacement for the stock 6mm ball. I'll be machining a new thrust plate and a thicker Delrin insert.

I have a SME 3009 II Non-improved that came with the TT, that I thought was knackered until giving it a once over with the isopropanol and the Tarnite. I also have a Grace G840 arm, an S-shaped arm with bends that look "just right" to my eyes. Not sure which one I'll be using, yet. The two arms are very similar in effective mass.

Mine came without the top platter, which they tell you never to buy one without. They also tell you not to have them shipped from the seller either. Mine was the only good deal I'd seen locally in over two years, so that's why I'm trying to pattern out a platter today.

CALLING BAY AREA TD124 ENTHUSIASTS! CAN I COME OVER AND MEASURE YOUR TOP PLATTER? =)

Thanks --
Jay

i have two down here in the LA area,
i know a few metal workers here that may be able to get some good measurements, if you have time...