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Thread buffer rcm i the works.

Well the latest vacuum pump didnt quite have enougth flow for it to dry the record. 0.5cfm is not enougth for my setup, perhaps with a smaller nozzle hole.

Luckily it was a $55 ebay special, an im sure i can use it for something else, perhaps an airbearing linear tonearm :D

Ive noticed where i ordered some veneer they have some refurbished 3.5cfm pumps for $120, i think i will try on of those next, and if that doesnt work it can go into a veneer vacuum press.

edd
 
I seem to have an opposite problem. I've now taken to manually vacuuming records with a thrift store mini vac cleaner and using a microfiber towel over the intake. It seems to work pretty well... quieted down one record I did a before/after. I have to have the vac fitting hanging off the edge of the record or it'll have too much suction. I'd almost prefer to turn down the voltage on the motor rather than just sucking air for no good reason. It's turning out to be a pretty slow path, but once I get the manual technique then maybe I can start automating parts of it and keep at it until the entire process is automatic ... I dunno... at this point it'd be nice not to have to turn the table by hand... so I may be bringing the RCM in the house rather than cleaning the records on my TT.
 
on a slot style cleaner with a vacuum motor (not a pump) the suction is very stong, the moth cleaner i used (like a vpi) had a clamp and a very high torque low rpm motor to pass the record over the slot.

The vacuum pump i want to use are much quieter than a vacuum motor, and are good for high vacuums but low flow. But since its a very small nozzle it works, well when you have more than 0.5cfm lol.

This is the pump i am looking at to try next:

http://www.veneersupplies.com/product_info.php?products_id=1099

edd
 
Another little update

IMGP0925.jpg


These are the pumps i have been trying, on the left is the one that ended up to small, on the right is the monster you can hear on the video, an oil spewing rotary vane compressor for Air con work, 6cfm! :D

The one in the middle is the one i just got, $78 delivered off ebay. Its larger and noisier than planned but the flow rate is good, 3.5cfm, and it was cheap :D

I would estimate a flow rate of 1cfm and above will work, but to be safe id stick with 2.

Now i just need to put it into a nice housing.

edd
 
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Very cool! I'm looking at a vacuum cleaner motor, MAYBE. If it still works. If I can fab the plumbing for it too
 
Here is what collects in the jar:

IMGP0935.jpg


IMGP0936.jpg


That is from 10 albums or so. I am unsure if is filth, or perhaps a top layer of vinyl :D

edd
 
Great looking machine! I've been reading a lot about these thread machines, and thinking about trying a DIY version with an old turntable. However, I'm still a bit confused about how the thread is supposed to work. During the cleaning cycle is the thread pulled into the vacuum hose continuously by the suction, or do you just manually pull out a 1/4" for each a new record and the suction pulls up the slack?

The Loricraft site says: "with ¼ inch used per record, should last for thousands of record cleanings". So it doesn't sound like the thread is being feed out during the cleaning. Is there any concern about the same piece of thread being dragged across the record as it's collecting contaminants?

Cheers,

Andrew
 
I just pull 1/4" out and the vacuum takes up the slack. Same with the loricraft.

Ive cleaned 50lps so far and have not noticed any undue effects.

edd
 
Thanks for the quick reply. That's how I thought it worked, but I wasn't too sure. I guess a little piece of thread that touches the record once is still infinitely better than brushes that are used repeatedly.

Do you think it's absolutely essential to use teflon for the suction tip? I was out running some errands this afternoon and stopped into a medical supply house, where I found the white plastic tip pictured below that looks just about perfect. However, I don't think it's made out of teflon.



Cheers,

Andrew
 

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Very cool! Seems to me the hardest part to construct would be the arm lift, placement and gearing for the cleaning sweep. Well done!
 
I have no clue why teflon is used, i guess because its soft.

Replacement ends for desoldering tools are a common source for teflon ends about the right size: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=370-031

I used teflon because the commercial one did, let them do the r&d lol

spartanmanor, there wasnt much difficulty, all the gearing was put in place by eye, and the arm lif was fudged from spare tube. The hardest part was the motor drive for the platter, trying to get it aligned etc.

edd
 
edd9000 said:
I have no clue why teflon is used, i guess because its soft.

Replacement ends for desoldering tools are a common source for teflon ends about the right size: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=370-031

I used teflon because the commercial one did, let them do the r&d lol

spartanmanor, there wasnt much difficulty, all the gearing was put in place by eye, and the arm lif was fudged from spare tube. The hardest part was the motor drive for the platter, trying to get it aligned etc.

edd
Click to expand...

You do have a truly inspirational build. This is one I am going to keep on the back burner for when I have more time. I wonder how much better a job this does than say a conventional RCM?
 
I would think an alternate material should be ok providing the string buffer is working properly. Theoretically, only the string would be making contact with the record.
 
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