The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

I had access to a Vinyl recorder head. I drew the body in AutoCad. This allowed me to align where its stylus holder was to mine. I could then derive proper measurements such that this pegged back connector will allow my head to fall perfectly on a Vinyl Recorder overhead. VR Body.png Photo Jan 24, 3...

This work has been ongoing for more than 4 years. I've been fairly open and shared my experience most of the way. I've been fairly quiet over the past year. But, certainly not idle. In addition to this development, I also now can fully rebuild an entire Neumann SX transducer including bobbin, punche...

Mantra V2 Back Connector
Watch as I go from CAD to CAM to reality using innovative 3d printed angled parallels.

I will be offering full metal heads for sale within two months if not sooner. Check back regularly for updates.

In the meantime, have a look at my customized Mach3 setup.

If you're doing moving magnet you then I already did that, fyi. Wouldn't be a first.

I'm taking repairs again. Price has increased. Quality has also.

I can no also fully rebuild Neumann SX cutterheads. Including feedback coils and transducer springs. I can in fact clone the entire transducer if necessary.

After a lot of learning, trial and error, pain and suffering, blood, sweat and tears, I have arrived. I can now personally make every part for Mantra in metal. Every part is prepared and ready to be CNC'd now. See my progress to date! And, get very excited because sunrise of Mantra V2 has begun. Mis...

4-18-2017 Cutterhead Rebuild Log
Full rebuilds of the following types of mono cutterheads for audio disc recoding: Presto 5-C, Presto 1-B, Presto 1-C, Presto 1-D, Recordio, Audax RH5, Audax R56, Grampion D, Thorens Type G15, RCA MI-4887, RCA MI-4889, and Olson.

First step in getting the speed of the Lyrec platter motor to be stabilized. No loss of torque. Not overtaxing on the motor. Clean power. Not a modified sine wave.

The next step will be to add feedback. That will turn the AC Synchronous motor into essentially a BLDC system.

MIDIToLatheControl V2 MIDI Automation of Time, Echo, Fast, Start, Stop and Cutter Lift. Automatic start and stop of DAW playback via tape remote start card AS-66M. MIDI Continuous Controller #91 affects cutterhead depth to achieve perfect automated locked grooves. I designed, cnc'd and packed every...

All tracks written and mixed by K-rAd and Opcode66. Pre-Mastering and Vinyl Mastering by Todd Mariana at Deep Grooves Mastering. Pressing from Archer Record Pressing. These are great examples of my work both as a musician, a mastering engineer and a lathe operator. http://www.juno.co.uk/products/k-r...

KNO-002 out now!

The excellent folk at Mobile Vinyl Recorders have graciously agreed to lend me an overhead. I have discussed my ideas with their tech. I have a plan. I think with a very simple mod kit, everyone with a 6N will be able to use Mantra. I may need to make a change to the back of the body to account for ...

Just challenging is all... Not a nightmare. I have ideas on how to go about each piece. I will need to make other parts in order to hold the pieces to make these parts. Jigs for various steps. That's all. Some other aspects I'll sort out later. If I really need to have a cast made I will. But, I wou...

Aluminum block and large end mills arrived today! Also, round rod for more torque tubes.

End Mills are starting to arrive! I believe I will also have the Aluminum Sections of Square and Rectangular bar for body parts this week too. Meanwhile I push forward with V2 of the cutterhead protection. The first design was using a pic to do voltage comparison, relay control, led indication and b...

I would also be willing to provide a Full Service Rebuild of a mono cutterhead as a form of payment for the lease. If you have a blown head that is keeping you from using your lathe and thereby your overhead, you could do me (and the community) a huge favor. And, you'd get a free repair and would be...