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September 2023 — Slow progress and a new venture
Another month of steady but unspectacular progress here at Bool Audio. The 4th axis preparations are continuing and there's no single big milestone to report, so this is a shorter update than usual. Away from the workshop, I've also started a part-time role at a new musical instrument shop opening on Fore Street in Exeter — The Music Depot — which stocks sheet music, pianos, acoustic and electric guitars and accessories. If you're local it's worth a visit.
Ongoing work
Work continues on the 4th axis upgrade and on assembling tonearm cables for the eBay store.
The silver-plated copper shielding on the cable boots is ready for the Switchcraft RCA plugs. The DIN plug bodies currently fit the 5mm Belden cable — we hope to produce a version accepting larger diameter cables in the future.
The manifold for the 4th axis is also underway, which will connect the main servo and power cables to the new rotary axis.
This is what the DIN plugs look like before they are installed on to the Belden cable, currently they will only fit the 5mm diameter cable. We hope to produce one that will accept 1/4" and 8mm cables in the future.
Each plug body has M18x1.5 threads and O-ring grooves machined in to keep coolant out of the electronics.
Tonearm Update
The prototype has been in use for several months now and is performing really well. Some parts are still in a raw state and not yet anodised, but it's musical, tracks well, and is telling us everything we need to know before the production run is finalised.
Here it is on the LP12 playing Bonobo's Black Sands album with the transparent record clamp fitted.
The cue mechanism — designed and made in-house — uses the standard piston and spring method with silicone oil damping for smooth, controlled lowering.
More to share next month — hopefully the 4th axis will finally be making an appearance.
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