Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Strong brain modifications?

This is topic Strong brain modifications? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Christopher Meredith (Member # 3767) on 07-07-2006, 09:06 PM:

I read somewhere on this site about a modification being done to the Strong brains to allows them to be unthreaded without p[ulling the film back through it. The issues preventing this by default are the intake arm having the metal bracket on the top and the guide roller that shoots the film up from the platter having a bracket, to which the keepers are attached, on the top (at least in the older microswitch ones that we have).

I've already figured out that you can simply take the latter roller assembly off and remount it upside down but I'm having a harder time figuring out what to do with that intake arm.

Anyone have any tips or experience with doing this?

Also, I've been trying to figure out ways to reduce the number of contact points between the film and the brain. There are a lot of plastic-on-plastic rollers in these brains and a lot of nooks, crannies, and hard to reach areas which makes them pretty hard to keep clean. Even after completely disassembling the brain and cleaning all the crap off with Filmguard, those little plastic rollers are still a little gummy and I would just rather eliminate as much hardware as possible. Has anyone done this?

Thanks!

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 07-07-2006, 09:30 PM:

The Strong platters can't get up to speed fast enough to be able to remove the guide rollers. Yeah they are a major pain in the butt, but that's just something you will have to live with.

If you search the archives, you will see a few modifications I have done to Strong platters that you may or may not like. Regardless, check with your technician before you do anything to get his ok.

EDIT: the thread with the pictures is here.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-07-2006, 11:40 PM:

quote:
Strong brain modifications

Many of us have been hoping for that to happen to the execs there for decades!

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 07-08-2006, 02:19 AM:

quote: Christopher Meredith
I'm having a harder time figuring out what to do with that intake arm.

Anyone have any tips or experience with doing this?

You have to live with that arm being that of the bearing assembly and that middle guide roller..and leave all of the outboard rollers on there so you won't have any potiental brainwrapping, or film being sucked in that intake arm. Just make sure all of the rollers spin freely.

Just don't "knot" up the end of the leaders (by folding up the film many times over. If you have to knot the end of the leader up, your ring is way out of round and the area of the ring that overlaps has a wide gap...rebend the ring inward so the gap closes..) and you can pass that end of the leader thorugh the arm assembly with no problem.

And when laying the brain down, lay it down with the connection plug up so it won't get all busted up.

Gotta have to live with STRONG products - granted, not the best out there, but their units will do the job when needed.

-Monte

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 07-10-2006, 03:05 PM:

Mark: I think it has happened already, but, unfortunately, it was DO IT YOURSELF and they didn't read the instructions first! Louis