@bdp24 wrote
I have no direct experience with Wayne's rings, but "Universal" periphery rings are not totally flawed. If the periphery ring is completely concentric and balanced, the outward force away for the center of rotation (spindle) will be equal around the ring's circumference (offsetting opposing forces), therefore, preventing movement even on a frictionless surface. Most issues with "universal" rings can be eliminated with the careful application and use of the centering tool required to center the ring to balance the forces.
With respect to cost of manufacturing a periphery ring, please note that to produce a ring you must start off with a solid piece off material and remove approximately 90% of the material. Machining is quite complex to ensure the required tolerances and to prevent warping. The former TTW Audio, who manufactured universal rings and whose primary business was precision parts for the aerospace industry chronicled in great depth the machining challenges of periphery rings.
Well then, if the Wayne's ring doesn't use the platter edge to secure it in place (as does the VPI), there is nothing to keep it from sliding around on an 11.5" platter when the latter is spinning, which is just what the OP discovered. Sounds like a fatally flawed product! Glad the OP posted this: I was thinking of getting one for my 11.5" TNT-5 platter. For some reason, VPI never made a ring for that size platter (afaik).
I have no direct experience with Wayne's rings, but "Universal" periphery rings are not totally flawed. If the periphery ring is completely concentric and balanced, the outward force away for the center of rotation (spindle) will be equal around the ring's circumference (offsetting opposing forces), therefore, preventing movement even on a frictionless surface. Most issues with "universal" rings can be eliminated with the careful application and use of the centering tool required to center the ring to balance the forces.
With respect to cost of manufacturing a periphery ring, please note that to produce a ring you must start off with a solid piece off material and remove approximately 90% of the material. Machining is quite complex to ensure the required tolerances and to prevent warping. The former TTW Audio, who manufactured universal rings and whose primary business was precision parts for the aerospace industry chronicled in great depth the machining challenges of periphery rings.