Why Use Aluminum for a TT Platter?


Mass I am told is a good thing when it comes to TT platters. Lloyd Walker for one extolls it's virtues and as a rule some of the better turntables like to brag about their big ..Platters. Why then would aluminum, known for it's light weight (low density) turn up as frequently as it does as a platter material. I know it is easily machined but isn't there anything better and much denser.
mechans

Fourteen years late to the party I just found this thread.

How do manufacturers of wooden platters manage the effects of humidity changes?  The third certain thing in life is that wood moves!

I am an amateur woodworker, apart from a few of the largest pieces and chairs, I made all of the wooden furniture in my home, and when designing a piece it is critical to allow for the expansion and contraction that will occur.

Wood changes dimension across the grain much more than along the grain so how do manufacturers prevent the platter from becoming non-circular?

Cocobolo, in addition to being hard, heavy and beautiful, has one of the lowest  differential  expansion rates, but it is non-zero.  Is the platter potted in epoxy or something?

I am not being a smart aleck, I am genuinely interested in knowing how this property is managed.

 

Teres TTs were the last of the wood platter TTs, so far as I know. I think Chris is still available for comment. But these days there are no other examples.

The higher end aluminum tables typically use aluminum alloys to improve rigidity, increase density, etc., over "regular" aluminum.