Precise pivot to spindle distance


Hi!
Does any know a protractor on the market with better resolution than Feickerts. I have a Breuer 8C which demands exactly 231.44 mm according to instructions.
Believe 1mm on Feickert, correct me if I´m wrong.
How much impact on sound I don´t know. Maybe I´m getting paranoid but really want to be certain about wright distance (or not).
Just interested in the P2S distance.

Many Thanks!
clabe

Showing 4 responses by hdm

I'm not sure if this will help but you can go here:

http://www.conradhoffman.com/chsw.htm

and download Conrad Hoffman's excellent arc protractor generator. It will allow you to generate a custom protractor for your arm with that exact P to S distance among other things. Your choice of Lofgren A or B or Stevenson.

Worth a try as it will cost you nothing.

It's all I use anymore. Very effective and incredibly easy to align a cartridge using this arc protractor.
Clabe: Depending on the alignment protocol the cartridge may not end up being square in the headshell. For example, I use a tonearm designed for Stevenson alignment but use Lofgren A. If I used Stevenson, the cartridge would square up in the headshell (but it would sit significantly further back in the headshell which would be problematic for me plus there are advantages to Lofgren A). Using Lofgren A the cartridge is angled in toward the spindle fairly significantly.

Use the Mint, align the cantilever and don't worry too much about the angle of the cartridge in the headshell. The Breuer is probably designed with one alignment protocol in mind and you are probably aligning with another, which is not a problem.

You could use the Hoffman Arc Protractors to print of multiple protractors though to confirm that one of the three methods (Stevenson, Lofgren A or Lofgren B) would give you a cartridge squared up in the headshell.
Quoted from the Vinyl Engine thread on the Hoffman downloadable protractor:

"For what it is worth:

I recently purchased a new turntable and the distributor aligned the cartridge (on a Michell TecnoArm - a highly modified Rega RB250) with the effective and very expensive Dr Fieckert device.

I printed off your new Stevenson 222mm protractor, and find that the cartridge is perfectly aligned with this. So I can be quite confident checking with your protractor at a saving of some $300.

Incidently, printing on mylar film for OHP transparencies is much superior to printing on paper."

Not a comparison with the Mint, but with the Feickert. I'm sure there are some comparisons/confirmations with the Mint as well. Accuracy can be confirmed following the printing. It is very accurate with any decent laser printer. And not particularly difficult or tiresome I might add. It's the easiest protractor that I've ever used.
Yes, Clabe. I'm sure you're fine as the Mint has an excellent reputation and is supposed to be an outstanding protractor. I was not really clear on your question initially and did not realize you had the Mint protractor, but now that I know your concerns, one thing that you could do to alleviate any fears you have:

If you know the alignment protocol that Yip has used on your Mint protractor (Stevenson, Baerwald (Lofgren A on Conrad's software) or Lofgren B) you could then essentially generate a protractor using Conrad Hoffman's generator with the same data (inner radius, null points, P to S, overhang etc.) and confirm your alignment. Chances are that is what will happen (although the Mint does have a reputation for being extremely precise) and you'll have even more peace of mind when you're enjoying that champagne!!!!