Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Intermittent shoe spacing?

This is topic Intermittent shoe spacing? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Wolff King Morrow (Member # 2226) on 06-18-2005, 05:27 AM:

In the manual for the simplex 35 Millennium 2000, it states that the shoe clamp should be spaced one film thickness from the face of the intermittent sprocket when installed. I checked these and they are actually touching the face when closed, where the spring post determines how much pressure is applied. Should I re-adjust the lock screw to allow a hairline gap (one film-thickness), or are the shoes suppose to be touching the face like that?

My instinct is to go strictly by the book and re-adjust them, but why would someone have installed them to touch the face if that is not correct procedure?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-18-2005, 07:18 AM:

I would set one that way and then check image steadiness and see how it goes. I've never had a brand new machine arrive from the factory set up that way. Some people do set them that way but it may require a bit more gate tension and this will cause premature gate band/runner wear..... something has to stop and hold the filum whilst its projected.... this can slso lead to very uneven wear of the shoes. I normally adjust them to just make contact with very slight pressure spring deflection and this generally results in a bit better image steadiness whilst running the bands at as low a tension as is possible to get that good steadiness. This is all in the friction department and the design is all a compromise one way or the other anyway(not that it is a bad design).

P.S., except for getting part numbers I would reccomend ignoring that book..... your projectors will last alot longer if you follow your own rigorous maintainance routine...... and change your oil very often and use equivelent synthetics if possible! Remember that manufacturers also love to sell replacement parts!

Mark

Posted by Wolff King Morrow (Member # 2226) on 06-18-2005, 07:42 AM:

I'm obsessive about the oil and general maintenance. I brush out all the teeth, runners, and rollers after each and every show. I get teased by other projectionists, but I'd feel too much like some sort of pig if I threaded a dirty projector.

Anyway, I got a wild hair up my ass and wanted to check all alignments and tension, so the manual got me worried when I saw my shoes were aligned to touch the face. BTW, picture seems rock-solid with current setup.

Posted by Olivia Coleman (Member # 3193) on 06-18-2005, 05:26 PM:

I work the same machines, Wolff. Have you had any problem with prints shedding? The shoe tension can cause that if it's too tight but yes it can also make the film jump if not tight enough. I know we keep ours at one film thinkness and not on the face of the intermitten. I kinda like the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." As long as your film is not being damaged and your presentaion is good, I wouldn't adjust it.

Do you have a technician for your theatre? If so, I would talk with them first.

Posted by Wolff King Morrow (Member # 2226) on 06-19-2005, 02:56 AM:

No technician other than calling a UCS specialist, but I tend to only do that when I cant solve the problem myself (which I've only had to call twice in 2 years).

At any rate, it hasn't caused any film shedding problems, so I may leave it as is.