A visit to Flux Magnetics

[docb]

Had the great pleasure to spend a little of last week's vacation at Flux Magnetics. Proprietor Greg Orton most graciously allowed me to take a few photos to share of his amazing tape head manufacturing lab while he described the painstaking and incredibly precise process of making the world's best tape heads...

[docb]

Here is a major repository of the most advanced audiophile knowledge. Left to right - Bob Hodas, world renowned room tuner, Greg Orton, tape head builder extraordinaire, and Paul Stubblebine, reel tape and mastering maven.

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This is a two track head under construction, or rather half a head which will be united with its other half and then end-capped and potted. There can be as many as a staggering 200 custom made lams in that tiny coil stack, a number confirmed with one of the many stereo microscopes used in the lab. Nearly invisible wire used to wind coils and insulating materials measured in microinches that can disappear with an errant sneeze makes watchmaking seem like tractor repair in comparison.

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This is the coil winding station. Coils are hand wound, hand tensioned.

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One of the lapping machines. Once assembled with the aid of exceptionally precise jigs a head is lapped exactly enough but not too much (which would ruin the head). A final polish is performed by hand at another station. Inductance checks are made along the way to assure that the head will perform to specification.

[docb]

A trio of finished heads. The workmanship is unparalleled with absolute precision used from the machining of the frame pieces, to the use of super accurate assembly jigs, to the application of the master builder's experienced touch at the critical moments of the process. Greg is a national treasure and we need to find a way to preserve and pass on his extraordinary skill and depth of knowledge.

[High and Outside]

Greg is a national treasure and we need to find a way to preserve and pass on his extraordinary skill and depth of knowledge.

Amen, brother.

[ironbut]

Wow!
That is awesome.
Thanks for sharing the pic's Doc.
Now I have a face to to think of when I'm cleaning my Flux 2 track repro head.

[c1ferrari]

The workmanship is unparalleled with absolute precision used from the machining of the frame pieces, to the use of super accurate assembly jigs, to the application of the master builder's experienced touch at the critical moments of the process. Greg is a national treasure and we need to find a way to preserve and pass on his extraordinary skill and depth of knowledge.

Extraordinary!  Great pics and comment -- good stuff.