I'm building a turntable, and was wondering what motor should I use? I'm a huge newb so my knowledge goes as far as belt drive vs direct drive. I really don't know much.
I also need some help on how to control the motor speed. What can I connect to the motor to switch between 33 and 45 rpm?
I also need some help on how to control the motor speed. What can I connect to the motor to switch between 33 and 45 rpm?
You can use a synchronous motor with manual belt switching between two pulley crowns.
Or, a DC motor with a variable speed controller circuit.
Hi either kind can work, but the DC servo ones or even direct drive ones would be much easier to do. If you could get sometime like a Dual 701 with an intact drive system and platter it would be ideal (just getting scarce and costly). Some Technics would work as well. This may not IMO be a good starter project as it can be challenging to achieve a high level of performance from a diy endeavor. You might consider posing the question on the vinylengine.com forum as there are many folks there that have done this and could guide you along the way.
consider a turntable rebuild project first
Depending on what your background might be.
This will get you started and comfortable working around turntables. Now, in particular Lenco, Ariston, Heybrook, Dual, etc., can all make excellent projects. Most are dirt simple. All they require is some time and a little patience. If the turntable has a fancy electronic supply and repairs are needed, it can get expensive.
One of the best to consider are the old AR turntables, although they are getting harder and much more expensive to find now. Do you have a table? Many direct drives seem to do well in a Kaneda or Albert Porter style plinth. As far as the mechanical parts go, motors can be taken apart and rebuilt and lubricated (depending on the make and lode of the turntable), resistors and capacitors changed to new ones (caps are used to provide a phase shift so that the turntable motor (if AC powered) gets spinning in the correct direction. If DC powered, then a simple DC power supply of the correct voltage can work. Make sure that the turntable is for your home market, so that the motor (if AC) spins at the correct speed and voltage. If not you may have to find an alternative wiring for the turntable or create an AC power supply at the correct frequency to feed to it.
Few belt drive turntables use DC motors stock, but Origin Live (and a few others) have created a whole industry supplying DC power supplies and motors.
Don't forget old idler wheel tables. They do have their charms and would be my personal choice. Dual, Lenco and Garrard are but a few to look out for. Don't worry about this project as an end all turntable, just have some fun. Better can come latter.
One thing I would highly recommend is to do or have done is a tonearm re-wire from cartridge clips to RCA jacks. that you either do or have done
Depending on what your background might be.
This will get you started and comfortable working around turntables. Now, in particular Lenco, Ariston, Heybrook, Dual, etc., can all make excellent projects. Most are dirt simple. All they require is some time and a little patience. If the turntable has a fancy electronic supply and repairs are needed, it can get expensive.
One of the best to consider are the old AR turntables, although they are getting harder and much more expensive to find now. Do you have a table? Many direct drives seem to do well in a Kaneda or Albert Porter style plinth. As far as the mechanical parts go, motors can be taken apart and rebuilt and lubricated (depending on the make and lode of the turntable), resistors and capacitors changed to new ones (caps are used to provide a phase shift so that the turntable motor (if AC powered) gets spinning in the correct direction. If DC powered, then a simple DC power supply of the correct voltage can work. Make sure that the turntable is for your home market, so that the motor (if AC) spins at the correct speed and voltage. If not you may have to find an alternative wiring for the turntable or create an AC power supply at the correct frequency to feed to it.
Few belt drive turntables use DC motors stock, but Origin Live (and a few others) have created a whole industry supplying DC power supplies and motors.
Don't forget old idler wheel tables. They do have their charms and would be my personal choice. Dual, Lenco and Garrard are but a few to look out for. Don't worry about this project as an end all turntable, just have some fun. Better can come latter.
One thing I would highly recommend is to do or have done is a tonearm re-wire from cartridge clips to RCA jacks. that you either do or have done
If you go AC synch motors, Hurst and Premotec are the most popular, although they are not exactly high spec motors. Music Hall, Rega and Pro-Ject all use the Premotec motors. They are small (2W) and quiet, but not a lot of torque. They also have .125" shafts.
The Hurst motors are larger (and noisier) and the bearing supports the rotor only at the top (the bottom of the rotor is unsupported). The Hurst motors generally have 3/16" or 1/4" shafts.
There are commercial AC motor controllers available as well as a number of DIY kits.
The Hurst motors are larger (and noisier) and the bearing supports the rotor only at the top (the bottom of the rotor is unsupported). The Hurst motors generally have 3/16" or 1/4" shafts.
There are commercial AC motor controllers available as well as a number of DIY kits.
Hi, I use Maxon 226761 with a pulley I bought (do not know where any more). Motor controller Maxon lsc 30-2. Works perfect.
And Linn.
What is the downside of not having a lot of torque?
Only that it takes a second or two longer to get up to speed, surely? (So it is not an issue.)
Regards,
Andy
downsides to smaller motors (with less torque)
Hi guys,
FYI (on topic for this thread): several turntables also use the Crouzet motors. I have one someplace. If I can read the model number I can post it, and its intended purpose and specifications.
Regarding large vs. small motors (or large torque vs. small torque motors): we can all make suggestions, however, there have been quite a few takes on this from various manufacturers:big motor/heavy platter; small motor/heavy platter; big motor/light platter; and small motor/light platter.
What are there pros and cons to each? Ask yourself what you could prove regarding the performance in terms of speed stability, and what sort of control is needed to maintain a constant (as in stable) speed? For me it is ensuring there is enough angular momentum so that it can easily overcome any drag due to whatever drive system used (whether belt, DD, idler) and the drag created by the stylus riding the groove. So think about conservation of momentum and what that takes. And the answer is...either a relatively high torque motor and a smaller mass, or a (relatively) lower torque motor and a much higher mass (relatively). Personally for me (or at least my way of thinking, all else being equal) is a high torque with a heavy platter. And that screams to the obvious answer as to my preferred turntable drive system(s).
The DD and Idler drive types. They allow for the smallest percentage of parasitic losses due to friction of the bearing and stylus drag as long as the platter is of suitable mass (particularly for DD types), while being able to overcome speed stability problems without too much control (which is one of the cruxes of most direct drive systems). Of the two, I'll stick with idler drives, because the platters are relatively heavy, with motors that are quite powerful (and hence more torque).
Hi guys,
FYI (on topic for this thread): several turntables also use the Crouzet motors. I have one someplace. If I can read the model number I can post it, and its intended purpose and specifications.
Regarding large vs. small motors (or large torque vs. small torque motors): we can all make suggestions, however, there have been quite a few takes on this from various manufacturers:big motor/heavy platter; small motor/heavy platter; big motor/light platter; and small motor/light platter.
What are there pros and cons to each? Ask yourself what you could prove regarding the performance in terms of speed stability, and what sort of control is needed to maintain a constant (as in stable) speed? For me it is ensuring there is enough angular momentum so that it can easily overcome any drag due to whatever drive system used (whether belt, DD, idler) and the drag created by the stylus riding the groove. So think about conservation of momentum and what that takes. And the answer is...either a relatively high torque motor and a smaller mass, or a (relatively) lower torque motor and a much higher mass (relatively). Personally for me (or at least my way of thinking, all else being equal) is a high torque with a heavy platter. And that screams to the obvious answer as to my preferred turntable drive system(s).
The DD and Idler drive types. They allow for the smallest percentage of parasitic losses due to friction of the bearing and stylus drag as long as the platter is of suitable mass (particularly for DD types), while being able to overcome speed stability problems without too much control (which is one of the cruxes of most direct drive systems). Of the two, I'll stick with idler drives, because the platters are relatively heavy, with motors that are quite powerful (and hence more torque).
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