Current iteration of the record player
Current iteration has 1:21.33 gear ratio.
A pulley system was used to change the downward force to a horizontal force.
The mass is attached to a string and wound up a spool to achieve the torque.
Bearings were used on the inside of the gears to reduce friction with the bolt.
CAD model of gear system
The main challenge with the current design is that the spacing between the gears is too tight. The current design causes the large gears to press onto each other, increasing the friction of the overall design. I plan on fixing this issue by replacing the bolts with longer metal rods. Secondly, I intend to add more spacers between the gears, so there's more room for the gears to rotate.
For next steps, I intend to build an arm to hold the record needle and a horn amplifier to project the vibrations from the record. Additionally, I need to design a governor system to help control the speed while the record is playing to ensure a consistent speed. Finally, I plan on redesigning the pulley system so I don't have to manually hold the pulley, as shown in the current video.