Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: How to use the Christie gauge block

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Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 06-24-2007, 11:17 PM:

I recently ordered the gauge block for aligning the lateral guides, but I need instructions on its use.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 06-25-2007, 09:02 AM:

Contact Christie, they should have this info sheet. Louis

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-25-2007, 10:36 AM:

While information sheets are nice they don't incluse the actual experience and fineese that one needs to properly use it. The only way to really learn is to do. The gauge block is marled and quite easy to figure out but you will find that it takes some fineese and feel to get things just right.

Mark

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 06-25-2007, 10:48 AM:

I do not know if Christie changed the design, but one needs to exert caution when aligning the lateral guide rollers.

Christie over-engineered the rollers by using inexpensive jewels (artificial rubies) sandwiched between the guide roller shaft and a set screw. They then used a perpendicular set-screw as the means of locking the previously mentioned set screw in place. Not the best or most appropriate design.

Anyhow, Christie has had problems with hardware on the gate and trap assembly loosening up, and their suggested fix was Locktight.

I actually had one projector whose tapped holes for the lateral guide set screws were very sloppy to the point where the set screws actually loosened up during a show and the lateral guide assembly actually fell apart.

Cheers

K

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-25-2007, 10:56 AM:

Boy... the dead has arisen! Will, I'm getting really tired of that same old loose screw story. Of the hundred or so Christies I've serviced I've never had one fall apart in the middle of a show. The lateral guides will loosen up as the rubies wear but thats about it... the lateral guides in any projector including old Simplex's also loosen up if not properly maintained. Christies machining is about as good as it gets in this industry and is way ahead of everyone else. Had you done your job correctly you'd have replaced that trap or properly repaired it and you'd have replaced the threaded insert that is in the mainframe that the gate assy screws into. These repairs are of the most basic type. If you can't do those simple things we can all be glad that you aren't doing any repairs at all any more.

Mark

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 06-25-2007, 12:28 PM:

Until now my method of "aligning" the guides was to use a feeler gauge to just give enough clearance on the outer half of the guide off the outer gate rail. But it was in another thread that someone (I believe it was Monte) mentioned the gauge block that Christie uses, so I ordered one, but it had no instructions for use. As for set screws coming loose, this has been a problem in the past for me aswell until I started applying light duty threadlocker.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-25-2007, 12:49 PM:

Out of the over 100 that I service they all stay tight without threadlocker. Its possible that repeated heat expansion and contraction of the alumnium trap part is causing this, its also possible that the screws are just cheap or they may have the wrong tip on them... pointed vs. conical tip. but there's really nothing wrong with using blue threadlocker IMHO. I use it all the time. The red stuff is a no-no.

Mark

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 06-25-2007, 01:29 PM:

I've seen mods with these traps with 3/32" bearing "steelies" - being a good subsitute for the rubys if lost or worn. Just keep the rubys lubed with any teflon spray (Tri-flo is a good lube to use) to lube the rubies or steelies, but after awhile, you'll get lube buildup on these traps and good stuff to clean is rubbing alcohol with a small natural bristle paint brush.

But, true, I've never had any probs of setscrews loosening causing ruby loss or excessive wear.

Sorry, If I had a Christie to show you how to use the block, I'd take snaps to show you, but now I'm surrounded with all sorts of STRONG palore.
-Monte

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 06-26-2007, 12:40 AM:

Contacted Jim Graten at Christie and he walked me through all 3 functions of the gauge block. What a nifty little gadget.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 06-26-2007, 03:26 AM:

..now you can share what you've been taught by Jim to the rest of us that could use this device with the Christies..

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 06-26-2007, 11:02 AM:

As soon as I get my camera back I will post picks showing how to use the gauge block.