diy tangential tonearms


I hope to have a tangential tracking tonearm one day. The available new ones cost five figures and Revox is not acceptable because of the difficulty in maintaining it and others come with turntables which threaten to be difficult to repair or rebuild. I like the turntable I have and a tangential tonearm could be installed through what appear to be three standard positioned screws which hold the present arcing tonearm in place.
The expensive tangential tonearms have air bearings which minimize any rumble from the arm sliding down its track. Other such tonearms use a servo to try to move the tonearm which can't be precise enough to do any good when the spacing between record groves varies with the amplitude of the music signal. Furthermore, air bearings will introduce the hissing sound of the air and that hissing noise is bound to be louder than any speaker noise the friction of an oil bearing might introduce. Air pumps, the dirt and filter and water condensation problems are not acceptable. From what I can find, my only way to have a tangential tonearm is to make one myself.
Does anybody have any suggestions, for instance, a set of plans I could buy for a tangential tonearm which does not require an air bearing or a servo motor drive? I have built other electronics myself which I like more than what I could buy if I could afford it. I think if I took my time machining the parts it would make a nice finishing touch to my turntable. Your ideas would be of great value to me.
drbarney1

Showing 4 responses by uberwaltz

Thanks for coming to the forum and sharing your thoughts Andy.
I still have yet to decide on trying one but your comments here may well help.
I know Eric, near perfect" copy" .
Yes the nylon 3d printed tonearm may be unusual but it's probably less likely to have an effect on this application than a regular pivoted system.

I do like the fact it is supposed to run on just a low pressure air pump.

I'm close to biting the bullet, shoot it's less than the cost of one PPT Omega plus mat for heaven's sake.

I have wasted way more that that in the past.
Lol at BDP24.
And the one I posted a link to is just over $500 USD.

One reason I am strongly considering one at that price.