Kinoton FP30E drive intermittent sprocket defect

[Elia Orselli]

Hello!
We have a small screen with 2 Kinoton FP30E used sometimes to screen single reels. The projectionist just asked to check why one unit does not work anymore, but my Kinoton experience is very limited.
I've seen that around 10 seconds after powering up the unit the "BLM-ERROR red LED" lights up. How can we identify the problem (and perhaps solve it)?

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[Neal Scanlan]

Hello Elia
On the front panel you should see a report message which will relate to the nature of the fault. Can you see this and tell me what it is?

[Elia Orselli]

Hello,
Unfortunately the projector doesn't have a front panel installed.

[Neal Scanlan]

Below is typically why you will get a fault indication.
With the power off check to see if any of the rotary parts feel stiff.

Does the projector gate have a light? If the bulb has failed this can also report a fault.

When that LED is active (lit or flashing depending on version), it typically means:

• Abnormal load in the film path
  • Film jam
  • Excessive tension
  • Seized roller or tight loop
• Drive system stress
  • Motor drawing too much current
  • Mechanical resistance detected
• Protective condition
  • System may:
    • Stop the projector
    • Inhibit startup
    • Trigger a fault output to automation

[Elia Orselli]

- gate light is on
- shutter run correctly
- no film loaded (but film sensor is covered for tests)

I suppose it's related to the drive system itself. Does it exist a diagnostic software or procedure to get details from the unit?

Does this led on the driver means helps?
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[Marcel Birgelen]

Probably not going to help you much, my memory regarding those machines has really faded away, but I remember a defective frequency inverter on an F38E, which also triggered a BLM Fatal error... The frequency inverter is from an external brand that's still making similar inverters and has its own limited diagnostics.

[Neal Scanlan]

As you have two projectors you could change over the boards and see if you get the same fault. This might help isolate which part is causing the issue.

[Jerry G. Axelsson]

Elia, how old is the projector? Can you show a photo of the intermittent drive motor? As far as I know there were three generations of Kinoton E-machines for commercial cinema use.
The first generation has a yellow end cap of the drive motor (late 1990:s until early 2000:s) the second generation (early 2000:s up until 2006/2007) one has a blue end cap. The last version E-PREMIERE (2006/2007 until the end of production) looks the same as generation two at a glance but has improved pull-down speed which improves light output. If memory serves these three generations have different motherboards and drive software as well.

[Elia Orselli]

It's a first generation, with the yellow cap:

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[Christos Gartaganis]

You should check if the shutter motor assembly rotates at full speed after switching the projector on. It usually takes 3-5 seconds to reach full speed (24 rotations/sec) after the projector in question has been powered on. If the shutter motor rotates at full speed without any sign of intermittent glitches you need to check the MDE 12 servo motor amplifier. It is fairly easy to replace it with the one from the working projector and check if the problem goes away after the swapping.

Also verify if the intermittent step motor can be easily rotated by hand without any resistance when the projector is turned off. If you cannot rotate the motor manually while the projector is powered off, it needs to be replaced with a new one.