Has anyone used electronic pocket scales for VTF?


I use pocket scale from http://www.saveonscales.com/pocket.html to set stylus tracking force sucessfully. These scales have 0.1 gram increments which should be good enough for VTF.
nghiep

Showing 5 responses by nghiep

I like to retract my statement about the VFT at various heights. I use a homemade 14 inch carbon fiber tonearm (measuring from pivot to stylus tip) with Shure type III cartridge. My scale didn't detect the VTF changes when I varied the scale's altitude due to my tonearm high compliancy. The Shure cartridge is relatively forgiving on VTF. I use the scale to ensure the VTF within manufacture's limits then fine tune with listening test. I enjoy inexpesive vintage sound.
I substituted the steel arm tube from an Audio Technica broadcast tonearm with a graphite golf driver shaft. Note the lead strip covering the vertical movement pivot bearings, it acts as a damping device. The anti skating string device works well also.
http://www.geocities.com/nghiep16/Vinyl/Arm.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/nghiep16/Vinyl/Arm1.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/nghiep16/Vinyl/new.jpg
Thanks for all of the responds. I bought the 120 Z model. I tried the scale at different heights by placing it on and off the platter and still got the same weight reading. The VTF should be the same at about +,- 2 inch from the platter height because the scale didn't detect any difference in 0.1 gram sensitivity. You can try different heights to see if the scale detects different weights. This scale design is insensitive to the the height. The shure VTF gage is sensitive to different heights due to its pivot supported and counterweight balanced. The penny weights is a good way to check the scale.
The 120 Z model is non magnetic. The VTF differences at various heights are due to the anti skating device. When the height changes, it either pulls the anti skating string or spring up or down hence changes the VTF. The tonearm pivoting should not effect the VFT at various heights.
It is suspended by the fishing string which stablelizes the azimuth like in the Well Tempered arm. The ball bearing is glued to the armtube and fitted into the hole of the cylinder (button). This arm employes the same principle as the Shroder Reference tonearm. At first I was impressed with the smooth sound of the "new" arm. When I modified the gimball bearing arm with the graphite arm tube, I really enjoy the sharper image/focus of the gimaball bearing arm design. I also loaded the arm tube with wood chips and silicone jell to damp the long arm tube similar to the fine sands in the Well Temper arm or silicone fluid in other arms.