6
D. ANTI-SKATING:
Anti-skating is one of the least understood forces acting on a tonearm. Skating force is
created by friction between the stylus and the record, causing a force vector in a direction
towards the center of the record when the headshell of the tonearm has an offset angle.
Putting a stylus down on a flat, groove less record will cause the arm to move toward the
center of the record. Arm manufacturers have tried to compensate for this force, but that is
impossible because the force is constantly changing as the music and velocity change.
You now have the option of using a mechanical anti-skate for those that want it.
JMW-9T ANTI SKATE ASSEMBLY
You will see three rubber rings on the non-grooved straight shaft; these are used to set
the anti-skating force.
The two rubber rings on the shaft with the grooves are used to set the height of the
monofilament. Set the rubber ring on the lowest groove if it is not there already and slip
the loop of monofilament over the grooved shaft. Push the second ring down to lock the
loop in place on between the first and second groove. Try to keep the monofilament as
level as possible but don’t go crazy, it is not audible and causes no problem if it is slightly
off level.
You can adjust the settings of the mechanism using the 1/16” Allen wrench provided.
Adjust it so the arm can travel to the inner grooves of the record without the mechanism
pulling it or causing it to skip grooves.
Minimal anti-skate force is needed, do just enough to keep the image stabilized and the
cantilever centered in the groove.