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
fc911c, these 3D arms have gone thru 3 or 4 different iterations, three that I know of. The first being the one with the arm lift molded in the second one going with the metal arm lift that bolts on with the cart and the third with the thicker headshell, a work in progress you might say. I to came from a Scoutmaster with SDS, perifial ring and BDR record clamp and loved it but always wanted to try the 10.5 arm versus the 9 arm and as good as the 9 is the 10.5s are sooooo much better and when you add the perifial ring, SDS and a good record clamp it is really sweet.

Thanks tooblue for the information. Could you post some pictures of your new arm? I too have the ring and the hrx  clamp no SDS though. I would like to get an SDS can you explain what it did to improve your setup?
fc911c, bear with me I am waiting on my headphone amp to be shipped from Yamamoto in Japan and I will post my system in it's entirety when that arrives because system will be complete at that point. Also bear in mind that as good as the 10.5 arms are the 3D is the premium arm and even with the issues I have had VPI has shown nothing but great customer support.

The SDS is kind of hard to pigeon hold to what it adds, it is suttle but still an upgrade and does give you the peace of mind that the speed is firm and the power is clean although expensive, in my mind worth it plus it gives you 45 rpm without moving the belt. The HRX pulley with two belts was a very cost effective upgrade upgrade that was not shuttle at all.