UFO Sighting...

hagtech · « **on:** 16 Sep 2004, 07:17 am »

Uniform Frequency Orbiter, that is. Another new kit/2 product! The UFO is a strobeclamp - combination speed strobe and weighted record clamp. You can build it with a thick aluminum base or a hockey puck (I'm not kidding), depending on the load your turntable bearing can handle.

The concept was pure brainfart. It came from far in left field. But the idea now seems so logical I can't understand why nobody has done this before. Or perhaps they have and I just haven't heard of it.

The UFO's strobe lights (blue LEDs) move with the strobe pattern. Everything rotates together. All in one piece. And it looks so cool in action, especially with the lights down. It really does look like a UFO hovering over your record.

The UFO should be compatible with every turntable. It has a pushbutton on/off switch at the top. Batteries contained within. Strobe pattern has dots for 33.3, 45, and 78 rpm. Accuracy is crystal controlled.

http://www.hagtech.com/ufo.html

Availability in 3-4 weeks, just ordered production circuit boards. All it needs is a fancy metal or wood housing to make it look really slick.

jh

JohnR · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Sep 2004, 01:03 pm »

Jim you never sleep!

Are there supposed to be a bunch of LED's in the bottom board ?

mgalusha · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Sep 2004, 02:27 pm »

Oh I have to have one of these. Very cool.

hagtech · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Sep 2004, 06:46 pm »

Quote

Jim you never sleep!

You're telling me.

The LEDs are on the top board. They shine down on the strobe pattern at the bottom. LEDs spin at same speed as pattern, all one solid assembly.

The idea came from a discussion with Thom Mackris (Galibier Turntables, see new Stereophile). I have been designing a motor controller for him (to be shown at RMAF) that uses internal rechargable batteries, has built-in charger, strobe, fuel gauge, and precision regulation. The idea is that the strobe light would shine through the tape (he doesn't use a belt) that drives the platter. The tape would then contain the strobe pattern. Cool, yeah? At Hagtech we specialize in innovation. Anyway, he was trying to tell me about a different strobe system that put LEDs fixed all around the TT. I completely misunderstood and visualized the UFO. Why would the LEDs have to be still? They can move all around. Afterall, we're working at the speed of light.

Meanwhile, I've been trying to find a way to get a housing for this. Came up with the concept below. Center shaft is hollow so you can fill with shot and oil.

But vendor quotes showed the piece price in reasonable quanities was about $75. Just for metal. That put retail at over $300. A bit too high I thought for a record clamp. I might still do it. For now, I'll offer the idea as a half-kit. It's just too good to sit on.

jh

erimille · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Sep 2004, 07:02 pm »

Quote from: hagtech

Meanwhile, I've been trying to find a way to get a housing for this. Came up with the concept below. Center shaft is hollow so you can fill with shot and oil.

Very cool!

How heavy should a record clamp be? If it doesn't have to be too heavy, I might experiment with this design in wood. My MMF-5 clamp is prelly light. That being said, I'd love to replace this with a UFO

damn.... and here I was about to buy the cornet!

--eric

hagtech · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Sep 2004, 05:55 pm »

I think wood could make a fantastic clamp. Solid hardwood with enough dug out to make the board fit. You can mount batteries on bottom of top board if that helps. Or wire in some other switch. I added a 3.5" diameter strobe pattern on the web page for downloading. Kit/2 comes with two circuit boards; one with circuit, the other with pattern.

Record clamp mass depends mainly on the bearing quality and capacity of your TT. The MMF-5 probably can't take a lot of weight. It uses a screw type clamp. Good clamping action with low mass. However, it doesn't offer any damping.

More robust tables should be able to carry a bit of weight. But I would caution you to err on the side of caution. No point wearing out the bearing prematurely and adding noise.

The kit/2 can be built using a standard hockey puck for moderate weight and high damping qualities. Odd what a perfect fit is is. Sometimes synergy is the result of fate. You can also build using a 1/2" thick (or more) round aluminum ingot (as shown in photo). This is a nice non-magnetic base that offers more weight. Buy the thickness you need. The 1/2" was about $12 from McMaster-Carr. Details to be in assembly manual. You will need your own 9/32" drill bit.

The metal is nice, but I'd love to see some examples of expensive polished wood. Maybe we should have a contest? Hmmm, what should the prize be?

jh

Julien43 · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Sep 2004, 07:50 pm »

I salivate all over the keyboard looking at these very fine finished projects!

SHIF · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Sep 2004, 08:10 pm »

Quote from: hagtech

The metal is nice, but I'd love to see some examples of expensive polished wood. Maybe we should have a contest? Hmmm, what should the prize be?

First prize...a Trumpet of course.

This is cool and I need one, perfect timing (pun intended).

eweitzman · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Sep 2004, 04:06 am »

Does the UFO really need any base at all? Couldn't you just use it to check and adjust the table speed, then put it away?

How do you drill a precisely centered hole on a hockey puck?

- Eric

hagtech · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Sep 2004, 04:49 am »

Yes, you can use it purely as a strobe, just for checking angular velocity.

Haven't tried the hockey puck yet. I have some arriving any day now (they don't sell 'em here in Hawaii). If you drill off-center. Try again. They're only a buck.

jh