Rega’s Moving Coil cartridge design is unique in its
approach to achieving an ultra-low mass generator which is undamped (no
tie wire) using a unique rhomboid pivot for the cantilever powered by a
purpose designed, exclusive to Rega, Neodymium magnet system.
This type of design requires a zero-tolerance engineered cartridge
body which is Rega’s area of expertise and with the Apheta 3 and
Aphelion products these bodies are machined from one piece of the
highest quality aluminium. This is a difficult and expensive process
requiring all of Rega’s forty-four years of experience to achieve. In
particular, the “zero” tolerancing of the body is required in the
alignment and dimension of the pivot pad mounting hole and the magnet
mechanism mounting hole relationship.
The Ania Pro body uses a unique polymer/ 40% glass combination
called Polyphenylene Sulphide (PPS-Fortron). The special attributes of
this material are its hardness and stability in shape and dimension
post moulding, both critical for the performance of Ania. Now came the
challenge. Rega designed and prototyped using SLA systems in just a few
months, proving the validity of the design direction.
Now we had to design a production mould tool capable of extreme
accuracy and long life. PPS is a difficult polymer to mould and requires
special attention to how the mould tool operates. Couple this to an
almost unmouldable complex shape of the Ania body and a very
considerable challenge faced the Rega engineers and the toolmakers
chosen. The toolmakers are of the highest technical skill level, using
the most accurate Swiss EDM CNC machines, their regular customers being
the military and medical industries, routinely working down to a micron
(one thousandth of a millimetre).To achieve this intricate body shape
required the most complex high pressure injection mould tool
that Rega has ever designed. The tool has eight major parts, four of
which must move in perfect synchronicity with each other to achieve each
cartridge body. The design and manufacture of this “work of art” took
an entire year to produce and was made exclusively by the most senior
toolmaker requiring all his lifetime of artisanal experience.
Combine this special PPS body with its high specification stainless
steel inserts, a unique rhomboid pivot system, a tried and tested high
performance, diamond tipped elliptical stylus cantilever with low mass
moving coil generator assembly and you have new market leading
musicality, performance, speed, clarity, and detail as never before at
this price.
