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Author Topic: Can I double up on The Alpha Platter System? Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 06-13-2008 05:50 PM                        quote: Jack Ondracek For theatres that don't use the cleaners, does that equal a "suckage point" for some practical reason? If you use DTS the lack of back tension can cause time code reader problems.  |  IP: Logged Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 06-14-2008 02:17 AM                    quote: Sean McKinnon If you use DTS the lack of back tension can cause time code reader problems. Never had that issue with specco platters. I have had time code problems but it was never related to back tension issues.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 06-14-2008 02:34 AM                     The amount of backtension doesn't matter with dts. All that matters is that whatever the tension is that it is consistent and doesn't "bounce".  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 06-14-2008 04:09 AM                     And this is where I come onto the stage with this program - to get the booth operations in my area turned around (which it took me a few years to do..oh what a mess when I came on board... scratching prints from what Brad mentioned, broken MUTs with rollers all twisted out of alignment due to hard breakdowns..et.al. ) to where I managed to get managers to care about their theatres get booth operations on an even keel to where presentation factors did definitely improve along with some basic care of preventive maintenance (I still do their bulb changes for they're still spooked on bulb explosions). quote: Brad Miller With the price difference being less than $1000 between one of these shitty platters and a Christie I have to ask myself, what are these morons in purchasing thinking? One small circuit that I take care of has four locations - two of them used to be Cineplex Odeon locations, whom dealt with STRONG on their installs. The owner is one of these people who began the company as a business to have his own business - but, not knowing anything about theatre business in itself. Thus, he hires individuals that has/had theatre experiences,but unfortunately not in the professional area we know of. - but mainly from "mom and pop" operations. The main operation individual had connections with one local supplier that mainly dealt in STRONG, thus with the first location that was built, STRONG units were installed (the Cineplex locations came later after Cineplex left the area..) for the main sake of budget operations (and the supplier managing to get a deal from STRONG on this one package, not bothering to mention Christie, which were more expensive and anything expensive was taboo to even think about) - from down to having three machines as PR-1014s and the other 3 being PR-1050s to microswitch brains since the phase control brains were more pricier. The other location has 8 Mil2000 units, but still microswitch brains for the platters. . [ 06-14-2008, 05:53 AM: Message edited by: Monte L Fullmer ]  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 06-15-2008 10:16 PM                        Another reason to hate Strong platters and lose much sleep over them is that they work with the horribly designed horizontal make-up tables. Horizontal. Seriously, who is the person who originally thought that this would be a good thing? The person who came up that idea is likely no longer alive. However that can be viewed as a blessing since the world will no longer have to worry about being infected with his ideas. But the sad thing is that Strong never bothered to change the design... instead just adding more "texture" to the surface.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 06-16-2008 04:23 AM                     Then, you also can't stand those early SPECO/Drive-In MUTs made with that wood veneer material - and those also used horizontal reelwork... Now, those were hideous MUTS to work with. With those MUTS, I only did filmwork with the middle platter and NEVER tried using those obnoxious braces with rollers attached to work on other decks. Nah, to keep the film from spirling from the edge of the reel during buildups, one just simply tuck the film inbetween the reel's upper flange and the filmroll before using. There's ways to master a STRONG MUT - just gotta figure it out...  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 06-16-2008 04:54 AM                        The only way to "master" a Strong Mut is to modify it by adding a plate or shelf to put the splicer on as you break down movies (there is no space for one since Strong hates their customers). Then you must add a 10-28 allen-type set screw for handling split reels. Then you have to build a platter clutch. Then you need to modify both the platter and the MUT so that power and control is combined into one easy-to-use cable. Then you need to make it so the reels mount vertically and not horizontally. Then you need to add a fake wood grain finish. A lot of work that should have been done when the thing was designed in the first place. Horizontally-oriented tables also take up MUCH more floor space. In the US we need all the space we can get for our fat asses!  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 06-16-2008 08:24 AM                     Oh...I must be the only one that had no problems with the SPECO MUTs (yes the early ones). I made up and broke down from all three decks though the top deck was the worst as the mechanical leverage was a bit too strong and it could pull the table over. One could set the back tension in several ways on the feed side...including with teh clutch but also a suitable sponge would apply the desired friction. Personally, I've always found the SPECO platter to be vastly superior to the Potts Alpha or AP. Steve  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 06-16-2008 09:57 AM                        quote: Brad Miller The amount of backtension doesn't matter with dts. All that matters is that whatever the tension is that it is consistent and doesn't "bounce". Well, the way I figure it is your more likely to have a bounce in [ayout with no back tension. With back tension there is less likely to be a bounce and a smoother more even payout.  |  IP: Logged Geena Phillips Expert Film Handler Posts: 198 From: Norcross, GA / USA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 06-16-2008 10:52 AM                        Funny... the rollers around the brain are the only thing I LIKE about those stupid Strong platters.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 06-16-2008 12:16 PM                     How I work with the STRONG MUT is to have the table facing the platters, then stand, facing the right end of the table (yes, the workspace on the MUT definitely sucks if facing the table normally..), that way the splicer can have room in that work area, my left hand is on the speed control knob and my right hand can reach the top or middle platter if I need to brake it down. Thus, as I slow the speed control down, my right hand is the brake to slow the deck down. One of my ways to master a STRONG MUT ..  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-16-2008 02:52 PM                        quote: Brad Miller Sorry, but these platters just downright fucking suck. And yet, you use a Strong platter to display your safety rings on the flyer! Was this a subtle dig at Strong?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 06-16-2008 04:37 PM                     Well crap, I didn't mean for it to be subtle! Maybe I can redesign the flyers to say "are you stuck with these damned things?"  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 06-16-2008 07:55 PM                        It doesn't matter which way you face the Strong MUT, there is no space for a splicer if you are unloading film. The best place to put one is on another deck. Make sure the other deck isn't a-spinnin' first!  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 06-17-2008 05:20 AM                        It is possible to make a small shelf to fit over the arm holding the non-powered spindle. This allows a place to put the splicer when you ship out. (They make a very expensive version of this that swings away.) If there was enough demand, I would put this into production myself. Louis  |  IP: Logged

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