Tonearms without anti-skate, damage to records?

@mijostyn ​​@dover 

Re parallel trackers, look at the Simon Yorke Aeroarm (no longer available).

Effective mass of the arm is around 25% of a typical 9 inch pivoted arm because it is only 2.5 inches long.  Why do most other designers of parallel trackers keep the length near 9 inches just because most pivoted arms are 9 inches?

I have closely observed the cantilever of 6 high-end cartridges mounted on my Aeroarm and there is no sideways torsion whatsoever.  Tracking is totally secure at the low end of most manufacturers' recommendations.  van den Huls track securely at 1.6g.  Lightweight Ortofons like A90 and A95 are a match made in heaven with Aeroarm.  I will never go back to pivoted arms.

@dover   Please explain why you think the skating force does not change linearly as the record is played.  Surely it is just a question of geometry?

@rsf507

@dover I prefer weight on a string 

Can you explain how you determine the 25 - 30% via this method?

Yes - you can use scales to measure the actual falling weight, it won't be exact because there will be some loss due to the mechanism ( usually friction ). However it is more accurate than most sprung or magnetic antiskate mechanisms.

2 examples - 

FR64S - this has markings on a pivoted rod that you slide the weight along that denote 0.5g increments in antiskate.  I actually measured using strain gauge scales the falling weight at each increment and was surprised to find the markings very accurate. Measuring the falling weight ( with the platter removed ) at various points across the record showed very little if any deviation as the rod went off horizontal.

With this arm I set the arm up such that the rod that the weight sits on is horizontal at the mid point of the record ( to minimise deviation ) - seems to work well.

Kuzma 4point - recently installed a van den hul Grand Cru with a specified antiskate force recommended by van den hul of around 0.2g - the only way I could achieve a level this low was to use a piece of bluetack carefully trimmed and measured on stylus scales instead of the metal weight - even Franc's custom small weight could not get this low. 

@dover   Please explain why you think the skating force does not change linearly as the record is played.  Surely it is just a question of geometry?

I never said that.

On a linear tracking arm there is no skating force.

On a pivoted arm it varies across the record.

Some Rega arms rely on magnetism for anti skate, therefore no adjustment. Are you certain that your arm does not have a similar anti skate configuration?

This is how the unbranded (actually Rega) arm works on the Avid Ingenium plug and play.

If a turntable/tonearm has the means to set or adjust anti skate, then I’m using it.

What’s all this about the weight swinging back and forth? Mine barely moves at all when a record is playing, no distractions, I don’t get it.

I’m in the  “I hate antiskate camp!” I mean no disrespect to any who believe in it and use it. More power to you.  For me, I’ve never heard a difference, seen a difference and have always had problems with skipping, miscuing etc. I use the bare minimum if it’s availability on a tonearm. That’s my two cents.