Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: $2 idea to protect platter brains when moving prints

This is topic $2 idea to protect platter brains when moving prints in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 06-24-2008, 02:10 PM:

Just wanted to share this idea we had for protecting our non-removable brains during print movement. This large plastic bowl was purchased at Ace Hardware, but I'm sure something similar can be found at K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.

Posted by Kenneth Wuepper (Member # 1174) on 06-24-2008, 04:08 PM:

Very cool idea.

A SKULL Cap for the Brain!
[Big Grin]

Posted by Robert LaValley (Member # 4319) on 06-24-2008, 05:29 PM:

Has it been that big of a problem?? dont get me wrong its a cool idea but I would think just being careful would be enough. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 06-24-2008, 06:11 PM:

Being careful is usually enough, but just one slip while setting down a print could snap/bend a post. I'm sure you've heard the saying "an ounce of prevention..."

Posted by Robert LaValley (Member # 4319) on 06-24-2008, 08:23 PM:

True true. I have heard that. And like I said it is a good idea. I guess I'm like alot of new people that have been spoiled by new equipment with removable payout heads. I know the potts platter that I had fixed brains on we were able to make a kit for it so I could put removable brains on it but to be honest I didnt do the work so I couldnt tell you how. But it is another solution although alittle more expensive then 2 dollars too.

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 06-24-2008, 10:20 PM:

You mean, you can't just remove the brain, like we can with our superior Strong platters??? [Razz]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-24-2008, 10:38 PM:

I'd rather pay for an ancient Christie platter like those than get a brand new Strong platter for free. [Big Grin]

Anyway Strong platters from that era have the wing over the cluster rollers in the brain, so both brands have improved since then.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-25-2008, 12:23 AM:

We have the fixed brains in our platter but with 1 screen, there's never really a need to move a print.

Once I contemplated ordering the kit to upgrade to the removable brains, just because some of the parts in the old brains were wearing out....but the price shocked me into buying some new parts for about a fiftieth of the cost.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 06-25-2008, 12:31 AM:

Must have a board with a big "U" cut out in the middle to still scoop the print off the deck.

Posted by Damien Taylor (Member # 4255) on 06-25-2008, 02:59 AM:

Wow, I always assumed the AW3's shipped with removable brains. Although I barely noticed it was one, since it didn't have a lovely patina of deep scratches and drill holes like ours.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 06-25-2008, 06:01 AM:

The cost to go to removable brains on Strong/Potts is not that great. Anything that shows up at our door (used) gets that conversion before going back out. (3 axles & 3 adapters.) Louis

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 06-25-2008, 10:43 AM:

Thats a good idea. I have seen a lot of bent and broken "fingers" on the actuator arm on christie aw3's

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-25-2008, 11:38 AM:

This is the first I've ever heard of a Aw3 with a non removable brain. Even the ancient models at Mira Mesa had removable brains.

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 06-25-2008, 01:55 PM:

Mike, a lot of the AW#'s prior to say about the mid 1980's all had the fixed brains. I ran an eight-plex of them back in 1984.

I think, and Bevan can confirm this, the removable brains came out in 1992-ish.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-25-2008, 02:20 PM:

Cool - The ones I worked with must have been upgraded.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-25-2008, 05:19 PM:

Nah...the AW3R came out closer to 1985...hence many people have not seen the non-removable version. When the AW3R came out, it was not a requirement...you could still order the AW3.

Our company (K-B Theatres) was the first to force Christie into the AW35R (5-deck)...they didn't want to do it due to the deck-to-deck spacing. Sure enough...a lot of work lamp diffusers bought it by hastily removing the centerfeed. Any way...those first two went to the Aspen Hill...right about 1985ish...definitely before 1987 and probably before 1986. I want to say that those two were first Christie removables our chain ever had too.

Christie changed removables a bit after introduction...at first, the deck spindle stuck up a little above the surface of the deck...it was chamfered so a print could slide over it but they got complaints on that one. They then made the spindle flush with the deck and put the spacing on the centerfeed plate itself (cast it in).

Steve

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-25-2008, 07:44 PM:

Yup, our platter is 1980 vintage.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-25-2008, 08:09 PM:

And to make matters worse, the original 1985/1986ish platter axles were sized for a "perfect fit" with no extra slop, meaning the slightest bit of rust and you would have an AW3 instead of the AW3R that you purchased. Later they resized the inner diameter of the axles so the center feeds could fit into the axles with ease.

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 06-25-2008, 11:26 PM:

quote: Steve Guttag
Nah...the AW3R came out closer to 1985...hence many people have not seen the non-removable version. When the AW3R came out, it was not a requirement...you could still order the AW3.

Thanks Steve, so part of my original answer was right.. [Smile]

quote: Brad Miller
And to make matters worse, the original 1985/1986ish platter axles were sized for a "perfect fit" with no extra slop, meaning the slightest bit of rust and you would have an AW3 instead of the AW3R that you purchased. Later they resized the inner diameter of the axles so the center feeds could fit into the axles with ease.

I remember running into a few of those when I was with RCA Service as a tech...and found out how difficult it was to free up the feed plate without damaging it or the platter deck...

But the change made some feed plates fit very sloppily and resulted in timing errors as the plate could rotate about 2.5 or so degrees in either direction....haven't seen that problem in later versions or in the Miniwind I currently own.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-26-2008, 01:45 AM:

2.5 degrees won't make any noticeable difference at all if the platter is even half-assed timed.