Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Franklin Designs Suck-O-Matic masking motors

This is topic Franklin Designs Suck-O-Matic masking motors in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-16-2010, 11:53 PM:

We got screwed with a bait-and-switch on these MDI knock-off motors at a couple of locations I service. Besides their desire to randomly switch formats during the movie and asinine waiting times between format cycles...can anyone tell me how to change the masking stops on one of these things WITHOUT the remote?

Yup you guessed it, the remote is nowhere to be found! If there is no other way, the motor is effectively useless. Has anyone had the unfortunate luck of dealing with these that know of a work-around?

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 11-17-2010, 09:58 AM:

Brad, You're on your own with MDI, I've done quite a few installs with Marcell and Francois, and every thing was done great. Now that Ballantyne bought them, who knows whats going on.(I don't feel like dealing with Ballantyne). MDI showed me a remote a few years ago during an install, and I just told Francois that it is to be hard wired to the booth.

I've known and worked with Bobby Franklin and his wife for a long time, He is one of the best. I hope you can get this resolved. I tried calling him, but he is out on an install. If I can help, let me know.

Rick

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 11-17-2010, 10:54 AM:

I believe Brad is talking about a Franklin motor, not an MDI motor, but it's early here.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-17-2010, 11:33 AM:

You misunderstood Richard. I've had zero problems with the MDI motors. Its the one thing from Strong that I can recommend to a client and know it will be a reliable workhorse.

Its the knock-off motors that Franklin did after he left MDI that are bad. SURELY they put enough thought into the concept that people will lose their remotes and have an alternate way to reset those stops. If anyone knows how, please post here or email me!

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-17-2010, 09:24 PM:

Bobby's crew just installed two of them in an addition I did over the last couple of weeks. They work great... I really suggest just calling Franklin Designs and ask if there's someone there that can assist you. If not that person will call you back. Bobby has a Toronto connection where all his motors and screen frames are built so I suspect someone from there will call you back. Perhaps you have a bad controller board or something else going on. I had a bad board in an MDI motor once... they sent out a new board that I installed and it never acted up again. Bobby has a very good reputation in this biz and does some of the best work I've ever seen. Just call them...

Mark