cutterhead dss 661

[Jonas]

I’m making record cutting lathe, and use Ortofon cutting head DSS 661.
When I put cutting stylus into head, I saw, that it is impossible to achieve correct vertical cutting angle, because stylus mounting hole is not perpendicular to head bottom.
I must incline head a lot, head bottom begins to touch record, I do not achieve necessary angle.
Why stylus assembled in to head in such angle?
Maybe someone can explain.

[markrob]

Hi,

You have it correct. The Ortofon rocker design has no intrinsic vertical cutting angle (the stylus movement is not described by an arc) unlike the Nuemann/Westrex torque tube style heads. So you have to tilt the head to create the proper angle. If the original stereo head designed by Westrex had been of the the rocker type, we might not have the VTA spec that exists today.

Mark

[EpicenterBryan]

I see your issue.

It's possible you don't have the stylus protrusion set correctly. It should be 2.35mm from the surface of the bridge as shown below. If it's more or less than that it will also affect cross talk as shown in the table.

Bryan

UNTITLED.jpg

[EpicenterBryan]

Actually, when your stylus is perpendicular to the record surface as it should be your head will look like this and you have plenty of clearance like shown ...

Bryan

20181117_180634.jpg

[markrob]

Hi,

Bryan's right. Here is some info from the manual on setup:

Cutting Angle.jpg

[EpicenterBryan]

Bryan's right.

Love it!

I wonder if he is missing the mount on the back of the head. There would be one that sets the head for 15 degrees (most common) to match the angle of the bridge piece, and another one that is 20 degrees if a special bridge was installed - designed for 20 degrees if fitted.

Here is a diagram of one style of mount that attaches to the back of the head. This is for 15 degrees... And notice the angles in the diagram match this adapter.

Ortofon Cutterhead Mounting piece backplate 06121600.JPG

IMG_6405[1].JPG

[EpicenterBryan]

And here is an adapter to make this work on my Presto 8D...

IMG_5641.JPG

IMG_5651.JPG

[Jonas]

Thanks for the explanations,
Bryan, can you show a side view of your head in working position above record.
I want to see head position, and how long the stylus goes out of the head.
I see that my problem is that my stylus is too short, and when I try to reach necessary stylus cutting angle, head body begins to touch record.

Jonas.

[alexsation]

Joans, you have a standard length stylus, you need to insert it into a collet, and you will get an extra length. You have two collets, I hope you have not lost them.

[EpicenterBryan]

Bryan, can you show a side view of your head in working position above record.

This stylus is broken (the entire cutting tip) but you can still see there is clearance with the stub touching the disc.

IMG_6409.jpg