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TD124 MK1 Outer Platter Dimensions?

Caballo said:
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.
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Hi Caballo, did you ever get a platter machined for your 124? I’m in the process of straightening one and I’m thinking it might be worth it to go shopping for a better specimen.
 
cmcguire said:
Hi Caballo, did you ever get a platter machined for your 124? I’m in the process of straightening one and I’m thinking it might be worth it to go shopping for a better specimen.
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Sorry I missed this!

I've designed a platter and am working with a metal spinner to get it prototyped. It will have the center divot for the 45 adapter and will replicate the lip that sits on the rubber dots on the flywheel. The height is about 1/16" taller than the measurements I got from forum members, mostly because I don't want to mess up the lifting function.

Metal spinning is the proper process to produce these. Due to their size, CNC machining would be prohibitive in materials cost. The drawback is that there aren't a lot of experts in metal spinning these days.

@cmcguire , if you have a platter that needs work, do you think you could let me borrow it? The metal spinner wants to be able to see the original part, and I don't have one. I would send it back to you and make a new platter available to you at cost in exchange.
 
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Here are a couple of screenshots of the design that I am working with a metal spinner to make out of 6061 aluminum ("aircraft"). This design was based off the dimensions I got from @biscuithead and from careful measurements I made of the iron flywheel and clutch mechanism.

Again, if anyone has a platter that I could borrow to verify the design, I (and the metal spinner) would appreciate it. I would make a new platter available at cost. Still unsure at this point what that cost is but I do have a pretty good notion of what it needs to cost. I'm certain that my design would fit flawlessly, but would appreciate a chance to make an exact replica.

Thanks --
Jay



Upper Platter - top.JPG Upper Platter - bottom.JPG
 
Were I closer, I'd happily lend you mine. I'm scared to ship it, and too lazy to do so in a way that would ensure its survival (miniature crate or something).

Appreciate your adding to the resources available.
 
jgordon said:
Were I closer, I'd happily lend you mine. I'm scared to ship it, and too lazy to do so in a way that would ensure its survival (miniature crate or something).

Appreciate your adding to the resources available.
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Are they really that fragile that they need a crate? I would think big bubble wrap in a sturdy cardboard box would suffice. Thanks for the thought :)
 
Caballo said:
Sorry I missed this!

I've designed a platter and am working with a metal spinner to get it prototyped. It will have the center divot for the 45 adapter and will replicate the lip that sits on the rubber dots on the flywheel. The height is about 1/16" taller than the measurements I got from forum members, mostly because I don't want to mess up the lifting function.

Metal spinning is the proper process to produce these. Due to their size, CNC machining would be prohibitive in materials cost. The drawback is that there aren't a lot of experts in metal spinning these days.

@cmcguire , if you have a platter that needs work, do you think you could let me borrow it? The metal spinner wants to be able to see the original part, and I don't have one. I would send it back to you and make a new platter available to you at cost in exchange.
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Sorry I dropped the ball on this! If there are any issues with breadhead's platter I'll absolutely send you mine.
 
No problem @cmcguire -- Breadhead sent me his and it's fine for my purposes.

I'm now working with an old-school metal spinner to produce exact replicas, only with 6061 "aircraft" aluminum that should be much stiffer than the original. They should be resistant to the warping and bending issues of the original. They will all be handmade using custom tooling! It's a really interesting process and I hope to be able to share a video soon. I should have a few available for around $300 by mid January 2018. My goal is to produce as close a replica as possible while keeping costs about 25-50% lower than other options currently available.

Hope I'm not breaking any forum rules on this post -- this isn't a commercial project, but rather a hobby project that may be of benefit to other forum members.
 
Caballo said:
No problem @cmcguire -- Breadhead sent me his and it's fine for my purposes.

I'm now working with an old-school metal spinner to produce exact replicas, only with 6061 "aircraft" aluminum that should be much stiffer than the original. They should be resistant to the warping and bending issues of the original. They will all be handmade using custom tooling! It's a really interesting process and I hope to be able to share a video soon. I should have a few available for around $300 by mid January 2018. My goal is to produce as close a replica as possible while keeping costs about 25-50% lower than other options currently available.

Hope I'm not breaking any forum rules on this post -- this isn't a commercial project, but rather a hobby project that may be of benefit to other forum members.
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Sign me up! Awesome work on this. I’ve been wrestling with the aluminum platter in my tt with various degrees of success (blowtorch, heavy weights) and it is frustrating to say the least.
 
asilker said:
So you do indeed have a sample item? You have a top platter on hand to perform measurements?
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Yes, Jim Campbell sent me one, so I made a few dimensional changes to the model shown above, made new drawings, and also left it with the fabricator who understands that the goal is a replica with all of the original platter's functionality with clutch and spindle adapter.
 
Caballo said:
Yes, Jim Campbell sent me one, so I made a few dimensional changes to the model shown above, made new drawings, and also left it with the fabricator who understands that the goal is a replica with all of the original platter's functionality with clutch and spindle adapter.
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You plan on even have a functioning pop-up spindle adaptor? That would make the 3 bill price a very good deal. If Jim Campbell is working with you, then it sounds like you're on your way to a primo product.
 
biscuithead said:
You plan on even have a functioning pop-up spindle adaptor? That would make the 3 bill price a very good deal. If Jim Campbell is working with you, then it sounds like you're on your way to a primo product.
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Well, Jim isn't working with me per se, he just was kind enough to lend a part to a stranger. We are otherwise unaffiliated. I design and build machines for a living, so this was a way to put my skills to use for my personal interests. I have a lot of ideas for tonearms and such that I would like to invest in. These platters are a start.

To clarify, the goal is that the replica will *work with* the spindle adapter and clutch, but I will not be replicating the splindle adapter. Not now at least. It seems to me it would be expensive to produce at low scale. There is also the threaded circular bottom plate that you would need to use spindle adapter, and I'm not making that right now either. To be clear, this is for the top platter only. If your machine came with everything but has a dinged up platter, you would use my platter along with your original accessories.

The truth is that I don't actually have a spindle adapter or the bottom plate, or the original mat! I only needed the upper platter to produce a copy. I was going to beg a forum member (perhaps one who has parts machines) to trade me those missing pieces for one of my new platters :) All this because I restored for myself a TD124 that I bought without the top platter!

But we'll cross that bridge once I have an actual example made that I can show off. It's taking extra time because of the holidays and because I told the fabricator it wasn't a rush job. His main business is making woks and other cookware, so he's kind of taking this on as a change of pace project. Can't wait to have something to show soon.

Oh, and I've been feeling the interest and encouragement building on this forum. Thanks to everyone for that -- it's why I prefer Audiokarma over some of the other forums out there.
 
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Caballo said:
Interesting read, indeed. I have some very specific reactions but I will keep them to myself until I got my own platters to back me up! :)
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I think I understand... I hope someday marketing BS becomes so very transparent to the masses that it is forced into extinction. But for now, the data proves that it works:(.
 
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