[sdiy] Telharmonium motors, perhaps?

[john mahoney]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gene Stopp" <gene at ixiacom.com>


> Random thoughts which keep popping into my head despite my attempts
to
> suppress them...
>
> Smaller motor = less portamento?

Maybe. The ratio of torque to rotational mass seems pretty important.


> Tone wheel idea - metal disk with "waveform" around the edge, again
the
> smaller the better for inertial reasons?

Smaller = less precision.


> Disk can be made with Dremel tool - any accidental (or intentional)
> asymmetry would be a subharmonic?

You'll get "wow" (subharmonics), flutter, and jitter, I think.


> Can the teeth of a metal tonewheel with a tapehead pickup ever be
made such
> that the electrical waveform has sharp edges? Any tooth, no matter
the
> shape, must approach the head and then move away, meaning that a
vertical
> edge is not possible?

You probably can't get a sharp edge from a magnetic head, but it can
be fast (sharp) on the audio scale. If not, a fast threshold-triggered
switch might sharpen the edges. Or maybe something with a Shottkey
diode? Just brainstorming...


> Optical disk may have less weight, less momentum, sharper possible
waveform
> edges?

I guess "yes."


> <Graham Chapman voice chimes in - "stop! too silly, too silly!">

Don't expect me to stop you!  :-)

I favor the polyphonic approach, in theory, especially with such small
motors. Cherish the minor tuning imperfections!
--
john