diy phono stylus gauge

Jamh · 23rd May 2007, 06:59 AM

OMG, I was laughing so hard making this.

What you need:

+ Any piece of wood, mine is 5.5x4.5in 1/2in thick.
+ A piece of bendable metal, mine is 12inx1.4in.
+ An L bracket.
+ A straw, one of those bendable kind.
+ A kitchen utensil to measure milliliters.
+ A toothpick
+ some tape

The trick to it is that water weighs 1g per milliliter.

Drill a hole, put a screw and nut.

Cut the toothpick, bend it on the 2 ends, tape it to the straw (cut symmetrical where it bends) and balance it on the metal.

Now pour 2.2 ml of water in it (what I needed exactly for my cartridge), or whatever you want. Mark where it balances, score it with a sharp knife for the stylus to rest on it.

Jamh · 23rd May 2007, 07:01 AM

You can put more lines, one per cartridge, if you want. Here it is balanced.

Jamh · 23rd May 2007, 07:02 AM

The grooves where the stylus rests.

Jamh · 23rd May 2007, 07:05 AM

Oh, the width of the metal, it should read 1/4 in, not 1.4in.

Jamh · 23rd May 2007, 08:44 PM

One obvious and important point: make sure the metal is non-magnetic. Ie. copper, zinc, anything but iron!!!!

GRollins · 23rd May 2007, 11:05 PM

Actually it doesn't matter if it's magnetic, as compressing the stylus does not change the Earth's gravitational pull on the cartridge. However, since aluminum is so inexpensive, easily worked, and easily come by, you can use something non-magnetic if it makes you happy.

Grey

Jamh · 24th May 2007, 12:37 AM

You're right about measuring the force, but if it were magnetic as you brought the cartridge close, the metal would jump to the cartridge and crush the cantilever!!!

GRollins · 24th May 2007, 12:44 AM

You know, I once knew a young lady who used to complain about my hands in approximately the same terms.
Until I managed to persuade her that my hands knew better what they were doing than she did.
After which we got along just fine.
You just need a more robust cartridge.
Or perhaps you need to brush up on your skills of persuasion.

Grey

BluesMagoos · 24th May 2007, 07:57 AM

Jamh I agree, NON-metallic. If the cart tries to attach itself to any part of the balance beam it just adds difficulty to a simple task.
I could ask if you adjusted the weight of the water per the elevation of your location. The weight of water (specific gravity) is measured at sea level. But that would be silly, like talking about hands or whatever.
Nicely done project.

richie00boy · 24th May 2007, 08:01 AM

What is the purpose of this? Is it to test the downforce against what you have set?

24th May 2007, 08:01 AM	#10
richie00boy Did it Himself diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gloucestershire, England, UK	What is the purpose of this? Is it to test the downforce against what you have set? __________________ www.readresearch.co.uk my website for UK diy audio people - designs, PCBs, kits and more

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23rd May 2007, 07:05 AM	#4
Jamh diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: sacramento	Oh, the width of the metal, it should read 1/4 in, not 1.4in.

23rd May 2007, 08:44 PM	#5
Jamh diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: sacramento	One obvious and important point: make sure the metal is non-magnetic. Ie. copper, zinc, anything but iron!!!!

23rd May 2007, 11:05 PM	#6
GRollins diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Columbia, SC	Actually it doesn't matter if it's magnetic, as compressing the stylus does not change the Earth's gravitational pull on the cartridge. However, since aluminum is so inexpensive, easily worked, and easily come by, you can use something non-magnetic if it makes you happy. Grey

24th May 2007, 12:37 AM	#7
Jamh diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: sacramento	You're right about measuring the force, but if it were magnetic as you brought the cartridge close, the metal would jump to the cartridge and crush the cantilever!!!

24th May 2007, 12:44 AM	#8
GRollins diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Columbia, SC	You know, I once knew a young lady who used to complain about my hands in approximately the same terms. Until I managed to persuade her that my hands knew better what they were doing than she did. After which we got along just fine. You just need a more robust cartridge. Or perhaps you need to brush up on your skills of persuasion. Grey

24th May 2007, 07:57 AM	#9
BluesMagoos diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: seattle	Jamh I agree, NON-metallic. If the cart tries to attach itself to any part of the balance beam it just adds difficulty to a simple task. I could ask if you adjusted the weight of the water per the elevation of your location. The weight of water (specific gravity) is measured at sea level. But that would be silly, like talking about hands or whatever. Nicely done project.

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