my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » More Christie AW3R problems (Page 2)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: More Christie AW3R problems Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-01-2003 10:10 AM                     If you are using Christie drive wheels quit using them and buy your drive wheels from Edw. Wolk. They are a bit larger, made from a different material amd last far far longer than any of the factory drive wheels. Amazingly they are also a bit less expensive. Mark  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-01-2003 10:59 AM                     If Wolk's are larger, than that is bad as it will magnify any "jerkiness" of the platter. Take a look at the 80's drive wheel. it is smaller in diameter and even if the timing is off makes the platter run extremely smooth. I don't know why Christie increased the size in the first place, as that was a foolish move. I would be happy to send one of the older GOOD drive wheels to Wolk if anyone knows a contact there who could remanufacture those.  |  IP: Logged Michael Rourke Expert Film Handler Posts: 159 From: San Luis Obispo, Central Coast of CA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-01-2003 12:02 PM                     Yes Brad, I have replaced cards in the tree when neccessary. I replaced the LED card on all but one, there are a few decks with new motor control cards, and there are more than a few with new control sensors. I have had platters go down because of the MUT selector switch as well, I have one deck with one of the new fangled MUT switches. I haven't replaced any of the density filters, resistors or the transformer, but everything else has been swapped out at one point or another.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-01-2003 12:25 PM                     Ok, Christie recently changed over to an infared led instead of their "red" and "green" visible leds. If you mix the parts, you will experience EXTREMELY jerky payout and all of the symptoms you are describing. This is most aggravated when you use the new led cards with the new infared leds and don't change out the filter. It's a wonder you can ever make it through a show like that. If you change out either the led card, or the led, or the light filter, you have to change ALL of them. That's your problem.  |  IP: Logged Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 03-01-2003 01:43 PM                    ok this may be an off the wall response here but on the platters at the four screen, do all the decks have nicks in the platter surface. Anything that could catch the edge of the film as it raps back on. In theory this could cause air to become trapped between the layers of film causing the film to be loose.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-01-2003 01:58 PM                     That can certainly cause print throws and jerky payout arm movement, but I think Michael's problem is more in the electronics. BTW, I just noticed when skimming over your previous posts that you said you were using a green led with the older style led card, and somewhere else you said you had not changed out any filters. With that combination, it sounds like you got a defective led. It happens. Christie has great customer service and should change it right out for you.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-01-2003 03:40 PM                     Brad, Send a drive wheel to Don Markus at Wolk if you want to, or call and talk to him as to the differences. You might even see him at Showest. Never had much trouble with jerkiness using Wolk drive wheels. I'll get you a measurement on them. Perhaps they're not much larger than the Christie but they seem to wear alot better(Last Longer) than the Christie rollers do. Seems like Christie just can't leave well enugh alone for some reason. Why on earth would they change to Infrared LED's?? They once had a platter system that worked just peachy keen. Brad, since you are the AW-3 Guru it would be nice if you made up a chart of the differences of the various versions of them, and also included your reccommended timming methods for them. Mark  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-01-2003 04:18 PM                     I may do that at some point. There are a number of quirks and tips for every piece of equipment out there, but my AW3s run so smooth there is no need to even bother tucking the tail. (That's no exaggeration, we gave up on securing the tail about 3 months ago at two local AW3 theaters. It's just not necessary they run so darn smooth!)  |  IP: Logged Michael Rourke Expert Film Handler Posts: 159 From: San Luis Obispo, Central Coast of CA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-02-2003 02:45 AM                     I very recently got an order of 4 LED cards, and 6 control sensor assemblies, so these LED's should be the ones you are talking about. So I need to change the filter? Crazy. I have pretty erratic payout, but not too bad. I recently changed a control sensor at my seven plex and had problems timing that platter afterward. So, now anytime I need to replace a control sensor assembly I need to replace the filter too? That's a pain. Okay I will get a bunch of filters and get to work. Thanks Brad, for letting the cat out of the bag.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-02-2003 02:50 AM                     The new style of filters are linear. (They look like lines that get wider on one end.) You can use these filters with either kind of led, but you HAVE to use them with the new infared leds. You might just want to make a day of it and change them all. Also, once you install a new led card with the soldered on resistors (instead of the trimpots), you have to upgrade to the new filter and infared leds on all decks if you want things to work properly.  |  IP: Logged Michael Rourke Expert Film Handler Posts: 159 From: San Luis Obispo, Central Coast of CA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-02-2003 03:08 AM                     Thanks again Brad, now go get some sleep! Here's another update on the deck that stopped altogether, I replaced the motor and the motor socket, The socket had the little ground lead blown off it. After I replaced them the deck would still not work, making me worry that the damage was extensive. I think the problem was originally with the motor, which wrecked the socket, then the MUT selector switch. So, I replaced the switch with a spare and now the deck works again. [ 03-12-2003, 02:28 AM: Message edited by: Michael Rourke ]  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.