After many months I have my functional RCM prototype! I can't begin to calculate the number of laps I swam while planning this out. Or the number of late nights searching threads and images to figure out my best approach.
Originally this was going to be a cheap knock-off of the venerable VPI 16.5. That idea grew into a vision of a Typhoon-16.5 hybrid (reversible direction platter, Typhoon vacuum motor) with some features deleted (auto fluid application) and more worthy ones added (half inch aluminum plinth). And in time, ideas were borrowed from Okki Nokki and Moth.
There is still much to do with electrical wiring and permanently re-building the cabinet. There will substantial effort yet for finishing. But here is what where i stand tonight:
Top view of the machine with VPI acrylic platter, VPI spindle and VPI 16.6 upgrade kit (tube assembly). The platter is not fixed to the motor spindle. I just turned it by hand tonight to test the vacuum system. The noise was not overwhelming. No doubt the aluminum deck and sturdy bracing for the motor contribute to the lower than anticipated sound level.
This is the fluid capture tank. This was the most challenging part of design. I don't care for the VPI approach with the vacuum connected directly to the tank via orifice. I saw lots of pix of water damaged wafer board and rusted out vacuums. No thanks.
Moth had an interesting approach that used a plastic hobby box and PVC piping for the vacuum tower and drain, but the vacuum was created via a sponge-filtered slot in the fluid capture container, the latter being in an air-tight sealed section of the main cabinet. I thought vacuum power would be diminished.
Okki Nokki gave me the idea for the food container receptacle for the fluid capture tank. I don't recall if they used the VPI or Moth approach to creating a vacuum. I decided to go a different route.
In my system, water is pulled from the record surface via the VPI Vacuum Tower and is dropped directly into the fluid capture tank. The vacuum pipe (PVC) runs out the top of the tank and directly to the intake orifice of the vaccum motor. The inlet and outlet pipes hold the fluid capture tank in place.
BTW, my plan to remove used solution is by turkey baster or similar via the Vaccum Tower orifice. I don't care for drain tubes and the possibility for leaving them unplugged allowing fluid to be inhaled by the vaccum. Unacceptable design flaw from a user experience viewpoint.
The following are bottom view pix of the vacuum system.
I put on a crummy record for the test run and thoroughly soaked it. Set the water pick up tube over the record, plugged it in, down it goes and I spin the record by hand and watch the water disappear. Amazing! It Works! It Sucks!
Next question: did water stay where it is supposed to and not get into the vacuum? I checked the board under the RCM. Dry. I gingerly tilted up the box and looked at the fluid capture tank.... water! But no moisture around the vacuum motor outlets or elsewhere. I took out the tank and inspected the outbound tube... bone dry! Success!
So now I need to add switch gear, fuses, 12v dc power supply for turntable motor and a pilot light and some vents and a fan or two and I will be just about home. I'll post more as I progress and perhaps even do a video on her debut.