Joe -- I don't know why those Simplexes are without flywheels -- I'm assuming they are 5-Star soundheads? The flywheels serve three purposes -- one is to slow the start-up, two is to extend the slow-down, and third is to smooth operation when running at speed. I think the combination of starting and slowing too fast is causing problems you describe, just as Paul states, where the platter sees a huge supply of film and is just reacting on the take-up side when the projector stops. I would never run a Simplex without the proper flywheel, you're just asking for long-term trouble.

The larger take-up rings won't change what happens on the take-up side of the AP Platter. The takeup runs the variac that supplies power to both take-up and payout on an AP-style. The larger ring does help stabilize payout since its rotational speed is reduced, but the take-up isn't affected.

We did supply one large and one small ring with (I think) the DMC Platters, our first digital control type, but got complaints from customers that they only wanted one type and that was the small one. When the SCDC became the standard platter, we went with two small rings again. I never understood that myself, because the extra 20-minutes or so of film capacity is seldom critical and I like the slower speed of the platter. We didn't do it because it was "cheap", we did it because that was what our main customer base wanted.

On new platter orders, customers have the option of substituting one large ring for a small one. This applies ONLY to SCDC platters, as they have the independent take-up and payout controls. AP-style platters technically need the same (or close to the same) diameter on both take-up and payout sides to operate correctly -- they can tolerate some difference, of course, but not on a regular practice.

Pat

Will Strong substitute BOTH small rings for large rings if requested? (That would solve the issues on the AP models.) If the answer is yes, at what point is the cutoff for substitution? Date of order? 14 days from receipt of platters? End of warranty period?

BTW, Joe has phase control models. What are the options there?

What is the price difference between the small and large rings? Are we talking just a buck or two, or $20?

I'm tellin' ya, a couple of minor changes to the platter design would solve these issues. Is Strong interested in improving their products? (This question keeps getting dodged, so I'm asking again.)

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I don't have much a problem with "bumping", and neither does our equipment, if it's done reasonably and with knowledge of effects. I've seen operators bump 5, 6 times or more and that's simply excessive. That current inrush, motor strain, belt stretch, etc., just adds up faster. A good operator should be able to bump, WHEN NECESSARY, one or two times and get where he needs to be.

In your car, you have every right to do all the jackrabbit starts and stops you want, but certainly you realize that you're going to be going through brake pads and clutches (and tires and suspension parts, etc.) faster too, right? Is that a "reliability problem" or an "operator problem"?

This effect is going to be harder on these machines Joe has without flywheels. That startup and slow-down is going to be quicker and harder on components.

As to a reliability factor, come on. Any projector, whether it's one you like or don't like, is better off running than doing start and stop, start and stop, over and over again. The worst effect on a Simplex is probably stretch of the motor/soundhead drive belt in normal operations. But again, without flywheels, hard starts could have some effects on the mechanism itself. The machines should have flywheels, so why blame the equipment because somebody took them off before Joe got to them?

Automation. While I understand the desire for a "start cue", the fact is that the greatest majority of operators I've ever dealt with, whether here in the US or overseas, do not use it unless they have an Endless Loop or are running interlocked. It seems easy to thread up on 5 or 6 or 7 every time. The great majority of automations are certainly designed that way and that type of operation is described in manuals as the normal method of operation.

An automation or some sort of control without a motor switch? I don't think so.

Pat

I'm melting, I'm melting...

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Pat: In many ways I can understand Brad's frustration over the 'question dodging.' Brad wants everything to be perfect and when he sees a flaw in something, even a minor one, it bugs him.

It's not my fault the original people who bought the equipment for this theater went with Strong. However it is now my problem to continue to maintain it from this day forth. Unless Strong is willing to buy back their equipment so the theater can put something else in, I expect support from them whenever problems turn up. This is not asking too much from any company. If they cannot take care of their customers once the sale has been made, far be it from me to stand in the way of anyone posting their problems publicly. I'll probably be first on the list.

Maybe my mind is going, but I don't remember any bad blood from Ted. Ted has always been around supporting THX and is now at Dolby cheerfully willing to assist in any way he can. I fail to see the similarities here. Pat is selling various products, and from everything I've seen in the last month once he has your money, if it doesn't look like there is a forthcoming sale in the immediate future, you can take a walk off a cliff. Please prove me wrong Pat. Your lack of assistance helps neither of us.

Now...does anyone want to take a stab at why half of my SCDC platters are wrapping film between 180 and 360 degrees around the brain and half are running normally?

I'm not going to confirm or deny your accusations against Strong and Pat. I don't want to distract from my main point which was that threatening Pat with deletion of his account isn't going to solve this problem.