Need help and advice on a VPI 3D arm


I was wondering if anyone else has had this issue with the new 3D arm? I bought a new Prime table 4 months ago to try the new 3D arm I also have a Classic stainless steel arm to load another cart on to compare the two back and fourth, last night I was going to switch the cartridges on the two arms and could not set the azimuth on the 3D arm, to get the azimuth right I had to tilt the drop counter weight plus the Soundsmith intuitive way off of center and it is causing the side weights to rub against the adjustment column and is very tilted, after walking away from the setup 3 times I pulled the arm, pulled the side weights off so it would sit square on a level marble counter top and set it flat on the surface and eyeballed it, this thing has lost its shape, the barrel of the arm has a gradual bend downward and the cartridge shell portion of the arm is rolled down and in. This is really throwing off the geometry of the cart in the arm. I placed the stainless steel arm out in the same way and its barrel is perfectly straight and it's head shell is straight as well, it's only issue is that it is slightly off on the azimuth but that can be adjusted out easily. The fact that the barrel and the headshell on the 3D arm is so far off I certainly can not trust my setup to be accurate. I store whichever arm is not being used in a VPI holding case for the 10 inch arms and it has not been dropped or subjected to any drastic temperature changes. I am going to call VPI on Monday but if this is an issue with these arm wands I certainly don't want another one. Let me also add that I believe that this has been a gradual demise of the arm and that I do love the arms sonic signature so would hope VPI has an answer. Tooblue
tooblue
My 3D arm began bending too. I sent pictures to them and they sent me the new one with the thicker head shell. Now I too need longer screws.
How long has VPI been making pickup arms? And they still can't make a headshell correctly?
Yeah the heashell is thicker and the tube itself seems just a tad beefier, I say that because it is a very firm fit when I slip it into the arm rest. Just set the ZYX Universe up in the 3D arm and my Dynavector DRT XV1S in the stainless steel Classic arm wand with a Mint Protractor, have about 20 hours on the new arm and seems to have burnt in, no complaints, the 3 D arm is the better sounding arm overall so I will wait a year or so, sell the Classic arm and start looking for another 3D arm as long as this one maintains it's shape.

Nice that HW chimed in, but you are all too generous. The 3D twists like a Takata airbag.