Need help and advice on a VPI 3D arm


I was wondering if anyone else has had this issue with the new 3D arm? I bought a new Prime table 4 months ago to try the new 3D arm I also have a Classic stainless steel arm to load another cart on to compare the two back and fourth, last night I was going to switch the cartridges on the two arms and could not set the azimuth on the 3D arm, to get the azimuth right I had to tilt the drop counter weight plus the Soundsmith intuitive way off of center and it is causing the side weights to rub against the adjustment column and is very tilted, after walking away from the setup 3 times I pulled the arm, pulled the side weights off so it would sit square on a level marble counter top and set it flat on the surface and eyeballed it, this thing has lost its shape, the barrel of the arm has a gradual bend downward and the cartridge shell portion of the arm is rolled down and in. This is really throwing off the geometry of the cart in the arm. I placed the stainless steel arm out in the same way and its barrel is perfectly straight and it's head shell is straight as well, it's only issue is that it is slightly off on the azimuth but that can be adjusted out easily. The fact that the barrel and the headshell on the 3D arm is so far off I certainly can not trust my setup to be accurate. I store whichever arm is not being used in a VPI holding case for the 10 inch arms and it has not been dropped or subjected to any drastic temperature changes. I am going to call VPI on Monday but if this is an issue with these arm wands I certainly don't want another one. Let me also add that I believe that this has been a gradual demise of the arm and that I do love the arms sonic signature so would hope VPI has an answer. Tooblue
tooblue
So if we use a tonearm for toilet linkage it may or may not bend, check with your plumber:).  Sorry I couldn't resist!
Just received my new arm from VPI and it is quite a bit thicker at the headshell portion of the arm, the counter weight stem is also without any groves and flat spots that the original arm had. Have not mounted a cart on it yet because the Soundsmith knurled mounting screws that I used with the XYZ Universe are not long enough now that the arm is much thicker at the mount. I will shave some of the knurled cap of the screws down on the underside to lengthen the screw portion and mount it this weekend. 

Have not mounted a cart on it yet because the Soundsmith knurled mounting screws that I used with the XYZ Universe are not long enough now that the arm is much thicker at the mount.

I experienced the same issue, though not with Soundsmith mounting screws. The 3D arm has a very thick headshell, and none of my mounting screws for a Ortofon cartridge were long enough. I ordered some more hardware, crisis averted.
My 3D arm began bending too. I sent pictures to them and they sent me the new one with the thicker head shell. Now I too need longer screws.