If you'd like to order, please drop me an email to jhawk@mit.edu and let me know how many 16mm, 35mm, and 70mm dies you would like, and how many scribers you would like. It'll be first-come first-served (if you commented previous to this message in the thread, you can keep your place), and if I get too many responses I'll have to draw a line.

I don't know that I will be making any 70mm, but I'll certainly consider it.

--jhawk

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At the moment I'm only planning to make fixed-position dies, since that's what I have a clear design for and know how to produce. Though I suppose on further reflection, making adjustable positions wouldn't be too terrible, though it seems like the alignment might be rough.

I think, initially, I'm going to make fixed position dies, and then I might experiment with adjustable ones if I'm still feeling motivated.

Some design thoughts: I guess you'd want to adjust both the horizontal and vertical positions, rather than just one...that complicates doing it a fashion that would be truly square. As I see it, there are 2 options:

1. The alignment holes are in a seperate piece in the top of the die, and that piece bolts down to some captive nuts in the base. Loosen both bolts, adjust the exact position of the die, and then lock it down. The problem with this is it's hard to guarantee that you're positioned squarely (i.e. that the mark will be in the same place in all 4 frames).

2. There are two pieces, stacked, on top of the die base. The top piece has slotted holes such that it can only move (say) in the x direction. The lower (middle) piece has slotted holes such that it can only move in the y direction. The top piece bolts to the middle piece, and the middle piece to the base.

Just to confirm, Brad, the application is so that you can go over dark cues that are too hard to see, yes? Have you tried scribing them freehand, without a die? I haven't tried that, but it seems worth investigating...

--jhawk

Perhaps you could design it so that it is on a track that could slide lengthwise on the film, to permit vertical positioning? Then there could be a few different holes to use that vary in horizontal position. I can get you some film with printed cues if that would be of any assistance.

OK, sure, you can have two-piece design with slots in the y direction (or a track if you want to go to way more effort...), and no freedom of movement in the x direction except for having more than one hole. It doesn't seem like you could accomodate more than 3 or 4 horizontal positions, unless you were willing to accept not replicating them across all 4 frames and having to re-register the film in the die 4 times.

I'm surprised that you think there are a small number of horizontal positions, though. Anyhow, you could measure them yourself with a caliper. Sure, if you want to mail them to me that would be fine, though my receipt of your film does not guarantee that I'll make the custom part .

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I have a 16mm "Q" maker from the 1950's TV era. You insert the film where you want the Q to appear, close the lid, turn the knob, and there you go. Nice quality.

It definitely turned out that having the slot 3mm wider made registration annoying, so my version has two registration pins, one at the top and one at the bottom.

--jhawk

--jhawk