DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
RTU : Main inspiration of this design was to crate as precise as possible tangential tracking tonearm. It's working principle is based on Thales theorem and the rule that given three non-collinear points it is possible to draw only one circle that has finite radius and passes through all three. According to these rules arm tube is tangential to the groove of LP.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
RTU : The main focus while designing this tonearm was to create compact, functional, high quality and unique tonearm. Our achievement was to create completely different from others tangential tonearm.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
RTU : We will continue manufacturing this tonearm model.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
RTU : It took 4 years to design and produce this tonearm.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
RTU : Our company creates tonearms and turntables, and Reed 5T tonearm is our first appearance in the tangential tonearm domain. We decided to pursuit an inspiration.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
RTU : We already are producing this product ourselves.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
RTU : Intention to compete in the worldwide market in this kind of products sphere.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
RTU : There were no designs that helped to design our work.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
RTU : The target customer for this design is a true audio passionate.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
RTU : This design sets apart from other similar concepts with the idea to use different kind of linear tracking, and with compact tonearms design.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
RTU : Reed is our brand name, and 5T can be explained like this: number 5 is used because tonearm has 5 rotation axes, and T means tangential.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
RTU : We used a designing program Solid Works to design this project. Also we use a 3D printing for this product prototyping.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
RTU : The most unique aspect of this design it is the working principle which is based on Thales theorem and the rule that given three non-collinear points it is possible to draw only one circle that has finite radius and passes through all three. According to these rules arm tube is tangential to the groove of LP.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
RTU : One of our design team members has engineering skills.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
RTU : The role of technology in this design takes one of the main roles. Tonearm is equipped with high quality electronic parts: laser, sensors, connectors. Also newest 3D printing technologies were used while creating prototypes for this design.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
RTU : We took notes to the analysis of our analytical research of similar products in the market which leaded to create compact tangential tonearm. While creating this tonearm a lot of practical research and technical experiments were made: absolute tracking error analysis; linear sensor array and laser experiments; research of suitable motor, which leaded to design and built necessary motor for ourselves; ergonomic and aesthetic form research - 3D printing for prototypes was used.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
RTU : The main challenge of this project was to design absolutely new design of tangential tonearm. Also to find suitable electronic and mechanical parts that implements our idea to use mathematical ideas that this tonearm working principle is based on.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
RTU : We decided to submit this design to an international competition, because this is the best way to make sure that our design is unique and aesthetic. We want to offer for our customer best quality designs.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
RTU : Designing this product improved us with more experience to create other products like this.
