Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: maxi 12pc automation problem

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Posted by Kevin Raisler (Member # 1761) on 07-03-2006, 08:31 PM:

I have a projector that shuts down intermittently and quite
(rarely) in the middle of shows, and never when I'm running the booth. Any ideas? could it be a faulty relay? anyone with a similar problem? It sounds logical to blame the automation but I'm stumped on this one [uhoh]

automation : Nuemade Maxi 12x pc with big sky que detector.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 07-03-2006, 09:07 PM:

Kevin,
Since you have never witnessed it, it is hard to determine. I am not familiar with the Big Sky cue detector. Does it sense presence and motion? If so, make sure the sensors are clean. Also check the wire terminations at both the cue detector and the automation. Also, does the platter have a wrap detector? If so is it hooked into the automation to kill the projector?

Rick

Posted by Mike Babb (Member # 1379) on 07-03-2006, 09:13 PM:

This may be a long shot but I had one of these that would occasionally shut down when the bulb struck, perhaps the bulb is blinking out during the show and on restrike it greaks out the automation.

Mike

Posted by Kevin Raisler (Member # 1761) on 07-03-2006, 09:32 PM:

Thanks for your ideas Rick, Mike you may be on to something.. the big sky que detector reads que tapes that are silver rectangles about 1/4" * 1/2" in dimension our automation is set to go through the shutdown sequence after reading 4 individual tapes. Yes rick our platter does have a wrap detector, and it does work and sounds an audible alarm when it trips... my operators are finding the machine in the shut down state with the sound triped back into non-sync and the lamp off. this replicates the shutdown sequence with one missing detail. the tail has not run out of the machine.

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 07-04-2006, 11:27 AM:

I take it you're not hearing the alarm when these intermittent shutdowns happen, and hence, you're not suspecting they've been tripped?

Check all the microswitches. On the platter failsafe, make sure they're mounted tight, and at the proper angle for the switch to make contact. Check the spade plugs on that Big Sky failsafe, too. Clean off any dust or grease. The Maxi 12 is a reliable unit, I've only had to change a few diodes on the matrix and a couple relays over 5 years of using them. It could be a faulty board in the unit, but they're sensitive to any signals they get from the switches, including dirty or sensitive switches.

Posted by Kevin Raisler (Member # 1761) on 07-04-2006, 12:25 PM:

Steve, yes that was my initial reaction. Your post makes a world of sence. I inspected the switches and although I found nothing odvious, I did clean all the connections with alcohol, and made sure everything was tight. Sometimes I suspect my operators of being too agressive when they thread up, maybe there punching the wrap detector switch as they thread at 100 mph? Something tells me I may never know... [eyes]

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 07-04-2006, 12:51 PM:

Especially the SPECO wrap detectors. I can't count how many times I cringed upon hearing people whiz that roller up the track & slam it back down while threading. Strong's design is better, but what a hunk of rollers.