The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Hi, I would try higher current to the styli heating. It is recommended 0.5A everywhere.. I expect to give 2 or 3 minutes to preheat diamond.

Hi just seen you lathe photos. My observation, you’ve put the upright posts too close together. I know you’ve done this to secure and box in the turntable but you’ll really struggle to swap the blanks over (unless you are building a tiny Cutterhead) Hi leemichael thank you for your input. Upper arm...

Hi all,
I'm little bit stucked on suspension box. I'm quite busy these days by some gigs, work and so on..

I'm learning tig welding of aluminium to complete suspension box. It is quite struggle..

Added few photos..

Small update from suspension box assembly. I'm trying my best. I do some kind of work for first time, so it is not so precise and nice. Also it was my first turning with lathe. But it's pure fun.. Dash pot, electric door lock ratchet, magnetic raising mechanism will follow.. IMG_3553.JPEG IMG_3554.J...

I forgot to add one more sample. Aluminium from a beer can. Beer was quite good. :D Weight is comparable with 2nd version of carbon one and stiff as hell. IMG_3548.JPEG @spinnertownblanks Thank you for an answer. Digital microscope measurement should be good also for this aligning. I already have on...

Hello Thomas, It would be so much easier to guess with the arm mounted. Maybe too easy.. :D Anyway It is so nice work and usefull device. May I ask how do you align diamond perpendicular to the groove? Do you have any marks on torque tube? I think about this topic for longer time and I have not yet...

I relalized that my cutterhead is way bigger than others.. But I expect that it is not last version. I tried to make few samples of cones. I used a funnel as a form. I have quite powerfull tweeters. Maybe I don't need to have so much low weight of components, but let's see. Funnel: IMG_3545.JPEG 1st...

Hello Thomas, It would be so much easier to guess with the arm mounted. Maybe too easy.. :D Anyway It is so nice work and usefull device. May I ask how do you align diamond perpendicular to the groove? Do you have any marks on torque tube? I think about this topic for longer time and I have not yet ...

Hmm, I have no idea so far.. You should add some hint..

Hi All, I have a question. I think about how to align correctly styli to a tube bar. I have 320 styli type. Styli should be aligned perpendicular to the groove. How to check it? I've seen Thomas's laser, but not sure if I want it. I have some news: IMG_3530.JPEG Cutter head V1 from 3D print. I tried...

Hi ilovedrums247, I like your approach.. Machine looks really solid. I'm also curious how caruso head sounds.. Your suspension system look inspiring. I think that Neumann is difficult to copy, but you did nice simplified version. And there is a lot of opportunities for experimenting and fine tuning....

Hi Semar,
your record sounds really promising. I'm also curious regarding your experiments with styli. I'm always staring what kind of different work are people in this forum able do.. Working with sapphires and diamonds must be extremely difficult.

Good luck..

Hi all, I was struggling with MIDI receive by arduino. It was working, but some bytes were missing some bites. Or bites were distorted somehow. After chain of investigation I found a trouble in MIDI shield. Unfortunately I bought the cheapest one available. This one: Screenshot 2026-01-30 100911.png...

Ohh, cool system. Thank you for sharing it. Seems to be precise enough. This is the path.. :) I have been struggling with Arduino for couple of days. I'm trying to control a stepper via MIDI from DAW. It is almost finished, but for some reason I'm loosing some bits. I'm waiting for better midi cable...

Hi Semar,
the link is not working for me.. Maybe because I'm not member of the group?? I'm also not so much familier with FB

Hello Thomas, you have so great result. The sound is nicely open and pleasing to my ears. I did a comparing by ears with youtube records for fun. I think you are so close, that a really small deviations in sound spectrum could be easily compensated by EQ (or a little mastering proces). I think that ...

Hi Trolls, thank your for your valuable advices. @Semar: I will begin simple way for first version. But I'm looking forward for further experimenting. :D I undertand that I should have some positive results before making things more complicated. :) @Fela Borbone: It seems that you are already on thi...

Hello Semar and Thomas, firstly thank you for you reactions. I really appreciate it. I mixed up lifting mechanism and pressure correction together. I thought that Neumann has solved both functions by one mechanism (magnet+solenoid). I think you explained problematic really well. I will keep trying s...

Hi Kungfupanda,
try to find someone who can do machining by metal lathe like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYZ9KBUDtYA

Usually they have bunch of different materials to turn. This part is task for 30 minutes maybe less.