Audio Technica AT-1010 Tonearm Rebuild and Upgrades

[chromenuts]

all i have is a hobbymat md65 lathe and bench top milling machine mate, its all good fun!

Amazing…I googled it quickly and it seems to have quite a following and reputation as a good machine.

The Logan I have does as well…but its been through the ringer and really should be rebuilt.

I was scratching my head trying to figure out how you did the channel and recess with stops along the circumference of the carrier.

Is your machine set up as an all in one that allows you to hold work in the lathe headstock and rotate itwhile milling from above?…or perhaps you used a rotary table in the mill somehow?…still the channel has a dead end 🤔

Always trying to learn 😉

 

[jamie123]

hi,yes the lathe has the option to mount the milling machine on the side,the little milling bed is attached to the lathe carcarriage,little jobs like tonearm parts are about its limit as its prone to vibration not having its own table/stand.
i have a rotary table and did the groove with the table mounted upright and then switched it to horizontal to do the stops.

 

[chromenuts]

Fantastic results…especially given your limitations.

I’m hoping to improve my machinery and tooling in the future.

Perhaps a combination machine instead of a dedicated lathe and mill would be a better way to go.

I’ll have to do some more research.

 

[warrjon]

A separate milling machine and a rotary table with chuck is more versatile on either a turret or standalone mill if funds and space are not an issue. I have a Colchester Master 6.5 and a King Rich KRV3000 turret mill with DRO and both of these are capable of holding microns. The DRO allows very accurate PCD holes to be drilled to mate parts. The Colchester is 1967 but can still turn shafts parallel to better than 0.05mm over 300mm.

 

[jamie123]

Jealous.com!

 

[jamie123]

new improved bearing post made today in en8 steel, much more rigid than the brass one.
it was very hard to get a good finish,in the end i used an insert for aluminium and that did the trick,wet and dry paper did the rest.

 

[warrjon]

That'll do the job, looks good too.

 

[jamie123]

Time for an update,i've been enjoying the mission mechanic tonearm so much i must admit i lost interest in the AT-1010.
Today though i got stuck in again as im close to finishing it.
I fitted the bearing carrier and replaced the bias line. The hybrid ceramic beaings are beatifully smooth with no detectable play.
The next job is to fit the tonearm tube assemble to the bearing carrier and re wire with PC triple C wire.

 

[warrjon]

Looks like you ended up using the PEEK carrier. Why didn't you use the aluminium one?

 

[jamie123]

Hi,
i did some reading up and went with peek because it has a greater tensile strength and is lighter than aluminium.i have another 2 arms to do so i can compare it with other materials eventually.

 

[tmfromjd]

I also have a AT 1010 and was looking to upgrade/refurbish my arm so to see what you are doing here is great. Just curious, where did you get your tonearm bearings? What sizes are you using?

 

[SpatialKing]

I am also updating an AT-100 Mk III tonearm. This is a great thread! Very informative! What lube did you use on the bearings? Also, I too would like to know where you found your bearings. It appears that the Anti-skate is not threaded in your photo. How did you rethread your anti-skate?

 

[jamie123]

i didnt lube them,i took the arm apart and measured the bearings then googled the size,there are several bearing shops that list them.

 

[jamie123]

nearly there....

 

[SpatialKing]

Jamie, how did you remove the bearings? I am rebuilding an AT-1100 MK lll tonearm and converting it into a 12" transcription length with a carbon fiber tube. But I am not sure about how to pull the bearings out as they appear to be pressed in place.

 

[jamie123]

yes i just pressed them out,they were being replaced so i wasnt to concerned about damage

 

[Wolfmorgain]

Hello, amazing work you are doing! I just bought a used AT-1010 tonearm and the shaft that holds the counterweigh is loose. Can you tell me how that is attached? Would it be difficult to tighten that up?

i wish I had the guts to rebuild like you are doing. I am afraid I will ruin the tonearm!

 

[brianco]

One of the best DIY threads I have read. Congratulations on your achievements @jamie123

How has progress been since a year ago?

 

[Dave Cawley]

the horizontal ones are hybrid ceramic

Could you tell me where you bought the bearings from please ? Maybe a link to the hybrid one ?

Thanks Dave

 

[jamie123]

One of the best DIY threads I have read. Congratulations on your achievements @jamie123

How has progress been since a year ago?

Hi and thanks,i have not done much to the arm since i last posted, hifi has taken a back seat of late. I should get off my **** and finish it really as it just wants new wires, and then It's ready to go. I bought a mission mechanic tonearm a while back and that's doing wonders.