Groove depth discussion

[mossboss]

The original point I wanted to make was that this plated and pressed without issue. So, we know that up to 7 mils will plate even with a deeper lead-in

I am rather curious to know why this comment?
One knowing his game can plate anything
A cut down to the aluminium would plate as well as a very thin one say a 1.5 mil cut or no cut at all for that matter
Cheers

[opcode66]

@mossboss

I was taught not to cut deeper on these, especially lead in due to stamper cracking issues.

I have also heard and read conflicting views on this topic. Anybody else want to chime in?

So, I chimed in with pictures of a release that has 7 mil grooves and closer to 8 mil lead in groove. It was plated, pressed and the stamper still exists ready to be pressed again.

I guess I should have said "plate and press" not just plate in my second sentance. Sorry.

The discussion was originally about groove depth. And it was proposed that a deeper lead-in groove was bad and would make a plate that wouldn't stand up to being pressed. I was simply showing that I've seen severly deep grooves on pressed releases.

[mossboss]

Hey
Thanks for clearing this up
Thats the problem when you read a post and absorb it rather than skip over it like a lot of people do
Now
There is no issue in plating up a thicker stamper up to a point it is OK
It becomes an issue at the spot where the stamper is formed so as to take the bush
The bush will be proud above the surface by the extra thickness added to the stamper
This will give you a record with a slight depression there
Apart from not being visually pleasing its no detrimental at all
And yes I do know about Deeeeeeeep cuts When we get lacquers from outside sometimes I scratch my head
Imagine plating up around to 60 to 100 sides of cuts a weeek from all and sundry and we do
No comments on this either
You see the lot from one end of the spectrum to the other
Having control of the cutting parameters does make a significant difference as to how the end product would end up in its looks and sound
Unfortunately this is something that is not possible now days
I can certainly say we get more hassles with outside cuts than what we do in house which is quite significant
Not that we do not have those either and this stems from the demands of people asking for a loud cut mainly for 12" at 45 rpm
It seems that there is a ratio of about 4 to 1 Cutting guys to pressing plants so here we are
Who is going to ask that these guys stick to certain parameters?
Any way may be I have it all wrong may be we also need to consider the head rewinding guys and the lacquer manufacturers
They need to make a living as well Ha
So all is well
Cheers

[concretecowboy71]

Hey, I just found the answer to the "deepened lead in groove" question. I was re-reading my manual and there is a bulletin called "Q&A About Cutting"

Question 19 is:

Which groove should be deepened?

The answer is:

"Our experience has shown that most record manufacturers no longer cut spirals and lead-in grooves with increased depth. As a result this facility has been discontinued on recent NEUMANN lathes."

The answer does say that most people deepen the lead-out however. To 5 mils.

I knew I had read this somewhere and could not put a finger on where.