Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Can aperture plates be reused?

This is topic Can aperture plates be reused? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Gary A. Hoselton (Member # 3447) on 06-18-2011, 03:15 PM:

Is there a practical way to infill a filed aperture plate, so it can be refiled for new application? Thinking of Simplex XL, and the economics involved.

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-18-2011, 04:07 PM:

Some of our in-house guys will save aperture plates in the event that down the road additional filing will get them back on screen in a different venue. I always considered it rather cheesy, but its not my call. A manager here on the forums purchased some brand new plates last year and filed them to fit the poorly refurbished ones. The screen images looks a lot better now than it did then.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 06-18-2011, 04:44 PM:

XL plates are not that expensive (unless, you have a PR-1050 with the slider plate that works with the TU-2000 turret assembly, then those can be a bit more..), yet if one is good with brazing, one can braze on some more brass strips to the opening for recutting.

But, there is a way, if the cuts aren't too far cut out, and that is to gradually "push" the brass towards the opening, tapping a hammer on end of a flat end punch with the plate on a bench vise or anvil to where there is enough brass pushed over to do a recut.

-Monte

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 06-18-2011, 08:27 PM:

Compared to other costs, this one is really insignificant.(Except on Christie projectors.) I do keep old plates in case I can use one up where I need a larger hole. (Widths larger then 0.825 are already too big!) Louis

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-18-2011, 09:33 PM:

If you have one that is obsolete or a Kinoton or DP-70 then silver soldering is the best route. The DP-70 plate is about 250 USD now... [Roll Eyes]

. I think you could have a batch produced by a metal stamping facility for way less than that!