The Mike New Bearing Base Plate

[CableMaker1]

Hmmm... lets try this...

Nope, not working the way I expect it to.

This is what I copied and pasted from the FAQ when doing a search on pictures. I get stuck on this part - I have a manage attachments where I see the file uploaded to the post/reply to thread, and the file is there. But no arrow to click on to attach the image to the reply the way I see in other posts. Wait, lets see if this works.

new-york-map-04.jpg


How do I add an image to a post?
If you have uploaded an image as an attachment, you can click the arrow next to the 'Attachment Icon' and select it from the list. This will be inserted into your post and can be located where you want it displayed.

OK, I got it now.

[Mike_New]

Now that Mike is safe and sound and still alive in one of the three Westchesters; I will try to explain the philosophy behind the ‘Bearing Base Plate’ and how it was designed to integrate with my Bearing and Copper Bonded Platter.

I designed and manufactured my first batch of High Precision Bearings some three years ago now. It was evident to me at the time that the existing platform for the bearing could be improved so as to provide a more rigid mounting onto the Alluminium chassis, and also provide a more positive clamping for my bearing using larger bolts, which can be effectively tightened up onto the coil stator assembly. This is possible because the new 1/8” Whit hex head bolts, are now threaded into the 6mm thick steel Base Plate, they are not self taps.

I designed the prototype Bearing Base Plate and provided the first unit to Mike in CAL USA. who is a mechanical person of great ability as a result of his connection with aeroplanes of the aggressive type!

We also discussed the advantage of such a Base Plate in raising the effective height of the “assembly” so that VTA (for other arms) could be more easily obtained by virtue that the Base Plate was 6mm thick.
However my concern with the bearing Base Plate was the level of average DIY skill required to install it. However all those who have received one have had no problems and have said that it is not that difficult, which is satisfying as I did try to optimize the positioning of the bolts for ease of drilling and to avoid the strengthening ribs underneath the chassis.

Mike in this thread, has made mention of the raised portion around the three holes which he calls taps. These are in fact the plain holes which take the long self-tapping bolts which normally secure both the bearing and the coil assembly to the chassis. You can see from his pics that the holes are surrounded by raised lugs on the edge of the bearing well.

Now if you purchase only my bearing, as most people do; then you will be using these long self-tap bolts to secure your new bearing to the chassis in the normal way, nothing changes. The large majority of people who have chosen this first option are happy with the greatly improved sonics the bearings provides and stay at this point on the upgrade path.

Now to address the real objective of this post:

The Bearing Base Plate serves essentially two functions,
a) to provide a more rigid foundation for my bearing. and
b) to effectively raise the whole assembly up by 6mm ( the thickness of the Base Plate) so as to provide more room for the adjustment of VTA on the various arms that are now being used with the SL1200.

Now for those people who are not interested or inclined to carry out the work required to fit the Base Plate, then the purchase of the bearing on it’s own is the obvious option and is certainly the choice of the majority of SL1200 people. The Base Plate does not form a mandatory part of my bearing assembly, purely an option.

If you are contemplating the purchase of one of my platters in the future and /or require to raise up the platter for easier VTA adjustment on the tone arm of your choice, then you may wish to obtain a Base Plate. The choice of upgrade path is up to the person concerned.
My Copper Bonded Platter will run very happily without the Base Plate.

The Base Plate has been designed so that it can be fitted later, in keeping with my objective to provide an upgrade path according to the finances and inclination of the particular enthusiast. If you buy the Base Plate at a later date after you have installed my Bearing (as many people have done) then you will also get the new bolts, which will fit directly into the threaded holes in the Base Plate. Thus more securely clamping the bearing and coil assembly together.

Mike also talked about the notch in the chassis, which fits a protrusion on the OEM bearing, he showed a pic of it. The notch and protrusion do not have anything to do with the operation of the bearing assembly or it’s location or rotation, as the three bolts do all this.
Rather, they were probably included by the original designers as a way of quickly locating the bearing into the chassis so that the three self-tap bolt-holes would quickly line up for insertion of the long bolts during production-line assembly.
Remember they were probably producing many thousand a week and would be using air driven screwdrivers for speed of assembly.

I did consider providing a notch in the Base Plate to locate the OEM bearing, however this would be a somewhat hollow exercise as the Base Plate would be a useless overkill when used with the OEM bearing or any modified version which uses the original soft fragile alluminium alloy casting.

In conclusion I must state that the fitting of my High Precision Bearing and a replacement external Power Supply of your choice are the most important upgrades that will immediately show considerable sonic improvements.
Whichever you choose to do first is optional, although I would think that replacement of the power would probably be the first choice.
Then if finances and/or inclination permit, you can get the Bearing Base Plate and at a later time the Platter.

Some however may wish to approach the problem with a big bang, and fit all the upgrades at the one time as many have, thus enjoying the immediate results of the sum total combined improvement in sound quality.

[Spectral Morn]

The hurricane looks to be clearing out. I did see sun for about 10 minutes or so. Luckly no (major) power outages or destruction in NYC/Westchester my area that I know of right now. But there is lots of rain to go around.

We did not get the full blast of winds that were promised in our area. Long Island (the tip that sticks out at bottom east of the NY map) always gets hit the hardest during any major storm since they are costal.


Its been a pretty eventful week for New York and the Eastern Seaboard in the USA.

Earthquake: Check
Hurricane: Check
The New York Yankees becoming the first Major League Team to hit 3 Grand Slams in a single game: You bet we have that covered.

Rumor has it that the sizmic activity that impacted the Eastern Seaboard earlier in the week has the epicenter in Westchester due to some guy drilling into his TT. Again, this is just a rumor.

Glad you are ok Mike and while a lot of damage has been done (including some deaths ) Irene did not quite damage America as badly as had been feared.

However seeing some of the streets of New York under a few feet of water was quite a dramatic thing to see.


Regards D S D L

[CableMaker1]

Glad you are ok Mike and while a lot of damage has been done (including some deaths ) Irene did not quite damage America as badly as had been feared.

However seeing some of the streets of New York under a few feet of water was quite a dramatic thing to see.

Regards D S D L

Thanks for the well-wishes D.

I had to work from home because the rail line I take to go to work was not operational today. There was flooding in a near-by station that my rail passes through, so passage was not going to be possible on my line. The rail line was so bad that they had to stop service on all three of their lines. Two of those lines are now back in operation, but my line is still up in the air for tomorrow.

There is also a highway which runs parallel to my station stop. This highway (along with a few others) was completely shut down due to flooding.

Power outagaes are scattered throughout NY. I am pretty fortunate that the hurricane did not impact my area.

Life should return back to normal by the end of this week for most who has been impacted throught this ordeal.

Mike

[Macca]

Good to hear you are all okay Mike

[keiths]

Good to hear you are all okay Mike

+1 Glad it wasn't quite as bad as some were predicting. We all complain about the weather over here in the UK, but we don't get much extreme stuff.

[Paul Hynes]

Keiths,

We get some heavy Atlantic storms in the Western Isles from time to time. A few years back before we moved here, a storm blew in and the wind speed was measured at 140 MPH. It caused widespread damage and some unfortunate people lost their lives over on the North end of the Isle of South Uist.

Paul

[Pete]

Mike New,

Wasn't that me who got the prototype base plate?

Your bearing w/baseplate, platter, and SME armboard are still making wonderful music on my SL1210

[Mike_New]

Hi Pete,
Yes it was you, I must have had a seniors moment, or too much red!!

[MartinT]

Nice one, Westchester Mike. For some reason I missed this thread completely, but you may be interested in comparing your installation with mine - I think I may have Mike New's prototype version

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...988#post148988