STP distance. Is it critical ?

Dear Raul, If I understand the design of SME V then the designers assumed the exact position of the stylus in all
carts. Otherwise thy would make slots in the headshell.
The actual carts are some kind of 'movenig targets'in this
respect. So to get the right eff. lenght or those null points one must 'slide' the arm and consequently change the SPD. If I understand J. Carr correctly one should recalculate the geometry for the 'deviant carts'. BTW in some other models SME changed the headshell.

Regards,

Dear Raul, This is a kind of student-teacher situation; me
being the student asking the teacher if he is not'forgeting something'. We assume that all designers start with pivot-spindle (exact)distance. For the eff. lenght however they must assume éxact position of the stylus. As J. Carr stated there is no standard position or norm for the stylus. That is why those 'slots' in the headshell are needed. To compensate the (lack) of the standard.Ie to get the stylus where the designer ímagined its position.

Regards,

Dear Bill, Not so sure if the math. is so sure (see fundations). Enyway the math is not subjective. But we all
are trying to get the stylus on those null points. But if
we use,say,SME V with holes and not slots how are we (pre)
supposed to get there without changing the SPD? Ie I assume that eff.lenght is pivot- stylus distance.

Regards,

Dear Bill, J. Carr proposed 'éasy way' out for the SME V:
recalculate the geometry (thread reg. SME V?).
My (other) question. According to SAEC engeneers the balance in all 3 dimensions across the radius is of much
importance. Can you explain this claim?

Regards,

Dear Tketcham, I quoted Carr in my post from memory but the
thread is:'Allignment tool for SME V + Shelter'. To prevent any suggestion of 'belittling' the SME V I need to
add that all the owners , Carr included, are very fond about their tonearm. However even Carr admited that because of those holes in the headshell one needs to adjust the geometry to accommodate 'some carts'.As he put
it:'Simply recalculate and readjust the overhang,likewise
for the offset angle (the ...difference between screwhole diameter and srew diameter should be enough to accomodate the majority of carts)'. Well simplicity as well as complexity are persons-relative so I bought Triplanar because of my math.
While this thread is already complex I don't believe that
adding 'the range of tracking errors that sound similar'
will help to simplifid the issues.

Regards,

Dear Tom, For those that are not blessed with mathematical talents: order the Mint tractor. That is what I deed.
Regarding your 'similarity argument' I am sorry but I was not able to resist the 'çhalenge'. In Holland we have the
saying:'from the rain in the drip'. To put it paradoxicaly
the identity relation is 'similar' to the similarity ralation. But the subject of identity is so 'easy' that nobody wants the demn thing. It is not part of logic nor mathematics or physics. So the philosopher got this subject for free . Your lucent Quine was nearly drown trying to explain this 'bathing in the same water in the same river' puzzle from some old Greek.

Regards,

Dear Tom, I also admire Quine but your problem is,uh, similar to the war that was meant to end all wars. To my
mind this is the lanquage issue. The capability of speakers to generate from limited lanquage resources a unlimited amount of sentences and questions. And this process starts very early. Look at those 5-6 years old kids. They look like asking-machines. While we of course are crazy obout them it is a wonder that we don't get crazy from them. But they have also the capacity to remember our answers so no wonder that at certain age they
refuse to listen to us. If our analog hobby survives for,say, 20 years I am sure that even then there will be
questions about the right geometry and the best way to adjust cart/toneamrm combo.
Best regards,

Dear Tom, To defend my advise reg. the Mint tractor I need to add as follow. According to Yip from the Mint tractor the spindle diameter on diff. TT's varies from 6.4mm to 7,3mm. So your 'universal tractor' is not such a good idea.
Yip has the data of the most TT's, tonearms and carts. So every tractor that he produce is meant for a specific combo. I own two of those and am very satisfied with the result. But more important the others seems also to be very
fond about their Mint tractors.
Regards,