U47-style bodies - who can make one?

[Skylar]

just round the corner of my studio is gleyer galvanik. They do since the 50ies all the work for neumann. I spent 60€ for two mic bodies plus grills.
when I put it on the desk they allready new what to do. They have different treatments for grill than for the body, I can find out what they
do precisely, if this is an help.


nicholas

Nicholas,

Are you saying that you bought two mic bodies + grilles for 60€ total?
If gleyer galvanik will let us do a group order for U47 bodies, we will buy them.

I hope I'm not misunderstanding you.

~Skylar

 

[Skylar]

Or are you talking about just the finishing (anodizing/plating)?

 

[Moby]

Or are you talking about just the finishing (anodizing/plating)?

I hope this is not 

 

[Nora]

nicholas said this in an other topic

"round the corner of my studio is the manufacture who did the galvanization for neumann since the 50ies. I could ask how the grill was galvanized "


So i think this is a misunderstanding


arno

 

[bradb]

right, just coatings...

 

[Skylar]

nicholas said this in an other topic

"round the corner of my studio is the manufacture who did the galvanization for neumann since the 50ies. I could ask how the grill was galvanized "


So i think this is a misunderstanding


arno

Okay, then...

we're still chugging folks.

 

[ioaudio]

making the grille is not so simple from what i gathered.
i think that the construction for the headbasket is made from seperate parts because of the way it is put together - you need to solder inside the round part, and i would guess you finish the dome before you connect it to the rest - but i dont know how this was done.
the wire mesh´s thickness is usually 2 times it´s wire diameter. we have 3 types to add up for calculating the support.
additionally i think the top-ring for the dome is not just a 2d strip - there´s also some support for the screen.

the neumann m147 headbasket i have is much stronger/rigid than cheaper models, i think it´s about the quality of the grille alloy (brass or bronce/tin-bronce) and the way it´s soldered together (not just on a few points or glued)
i would say 100 bucks/housing will not do, not with the grille.

thank you dave for the pics/measurements!
it would be great to reveal some more details.
could you make a very close up macro pic from the grille with some reference measurement so we can find about the wire mesh width and diameter?
for reference, i have made such a foto from the m147 grille. a lamp was inside the headbasket.

 

[Skylar]

making the grille is not so simple from what i gathered.

I think I agree with you.
I'm thinking about ways to solve this riddle...


Dave,

Fabulous work! Thank you!

I've got a couple of measurement requests that should help to piece together this puzzle.

 

[craptical]

I´ll do some more measurements as soon as I can, but I´m afraid Ye Olde Father Christmas has to visit first! I can try the same method as ioaudio with the grille, but I will also ask my friends at the local metal shop if I can borrow a micrometer caliper to get at least outer mesh gauge as precise as possible.

Skylar: Note that the section of the inside mounting flange just above the pattern selector is thinner...

If you need any other measurements, just PM me.

/Dave

 

[e.oelberg]

Skylar,

well its neumann, who they work for, its just for the finish, its Germany, it's well done but they charge 60 €  for two mic bodies plus grill. The bodies are being sandblasted, galvanized and covered with a protection lacquer. The grill gets a more  reflective finish. I'm going to pick them up in january, then I could post picture. When I dropped the mic bodies at the shop, they had a Neumann mic body there. Maybe a prototype, looked pretty close to a U47 and he pointed at it to show me what they would do with my mic bodies.


nicholas

 

[onlymeeee]

Dunno if these pics are any use

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Original-Anodizing-Process-f-Neumann-U47-U67-U87-Mics_W0QQitemZ110318711472QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110318711472&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

Also, don't know if you've been on dan alexanders website already, but there is some info on there also
http://www.danalexanderaudio.com/micinfo.html

 

[Moby]

Dunno if these pics are any use

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Original-Anodizing-Process-f-Neumann-U47-U67-U87-Mics_W0QQitemZ110318711472QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110318711472&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

Also, don't know if you've been on dan alexanders website already, but there is some info on there also
http://www.danalexanderaudio.com/micinfo.html

Above price is for one anodising job on U47/48 shell or grille only!
Wow, 195$ just for anodizing  How we gonna make it complete for 100$ per body :-\

 

[Skylar]

The anodizing / plating for these parts should run us no more than a few dollars per part (as long as we're producing 100 or so).
Any more than that is an unreasonable price in my opinion.

I honestly don't see a reason why we shouldn't shoot for $1/part for finishing services, be it plating or anodizing.


The eBay seller offering that service is most likely assuming that people who have enough $$$ to own a U47 would pay $195 to have it refinished.
Gleyer Galvanik is way overpriced as well.

 

[FerrariT]

The anodizing / plating for these parts should run us no more than a few dollars per part (as long as we're producing 100 or so).
Any more than that is an unreasonable price in my opinion.

I honestly don't see a reason why we shouldn't shoot for $1/part for finishing services, be it plating or anodizing.


The eBay seller offering that service is most likely assuming that people who have enough $$$ to own a U47 would pay $195 to have it refinished.
Gleyer Galvanik is way overpriced as well.

How much farther are we to be headed towards production?
Your speaking of plating the headbasket correct?

I'd really Like an unfinsihed body if that would be something the group wouldn't mind looking into?
It'd be nice If I could paint it!

 

[seavote]

wouldnt mind unfinished. but please take the time to get the head basket right.

 

[Jeremy.Starseed]

Looking very good...I'm reading the MK7 thread as well, next to this, and am hoping there is still a way to get a transformer/CB kit.

I'm looking to make three of these. Great work!

 

[craptical]

OK folks, some measurements:

Flange inside headbasket thickness: 3 mm
Thinner section is trimmed (milled) down by 1.6 mm
Capsule mounting plate thickness: 1.5 mm

To the wire mesh: I had no way of getting my caliper inside the basket so I only have outer wire measurement, this is 0.6 mm +/- 0.05 mm (but it looks very "in the middle" on my caliper). I will try and get hold of a micrometer caliper as well to check, but as the mics were built in Europe an even 0.6 mm is kind of logical...

Large pic:http://www.twin-x.com/groupdiy/albums/userpics/U47_mesh.JPG

Pic taken with EOS350D, standard lens. If needed I can borrow a macro and re-shoot.

Best,

/Dave

 

[craptical]

Looks like 0.61 mm measured with micrometer, could be 0.6 before plating? Chrome and matte the same, though the metal frame is shaped a little different. However, I checked a Wagner (chrome): 0.5(!) mm wire in outer mesh and a little tighter/narrower(correct english?) pattern, innermost mesh also looks skimpier than the originals... Top dome is shaped differently as well. Are his domes/bodies made by Flea?

Comparison L-R: Matte w. KK47, Wanger, Chrome w. M7 (dented top)

Larger files in my GroupDIY album.

 

[Moby]

Can you please take a pic of head basket inside so I can show to my machinist how are the "rings" connected with verticals? I hope you understand what I'm talking about 

 

[rodabod]

Wanger

Hah!