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Author Topic: Neumade Platters Mike Heenan Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1896 From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 01-23-2004 09:12 PM                     (This is Will Kutler using Mike's account) Well, I'm sitting here at Farrelli's Supper Club with Mike Heenan, and wanted to comment about these Neumade Platters. I have seen these in operation at one other theatre, and in my opinion, are excellent machines that are by far better then other brands on the market! First, these platters are running dead quiet. You literally cannot hear the motors run! The entire take-up carriage assembly is by far more beefed up than other brands. A nice feature is that the adjustable carriage has a positive locking mechanism on the tree, it does not rest on pins like other units. A down side to the Neumade design is that the carriage can be a little difficult to thread, but this is easily solved by marking the rollers with decals (1-6) I LOVE THE ROLLER VBEARING ROLLERS! They run dead quiet! Neither theatre where I have observed these units in operation have ever had problems with the roller bearing rollers dumping film on the ground due to over spinning. Another nice feature about the Neumade roller design is it forces you to thread through the rollers. Also, the Neumade design definately helps to prevent film from jumping off the rollers, or riding on roller flange, resulting in a scratched print. The payout heads are simple and straight forward. I do believe that this design is less likely to have some of the problems associated with other brands. The platter center rings are also by far better than other brands. What is nice about these is that if the ring accidently comes off the print, it can, unlike other brands, be easily reinstalled, and the tension against the print can be adjusted.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-24-2004 02:10 AM                     Oh yea, I can introduce you to quite a number of people that really dislike them. Mark  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 01-24-2004 03:16 AM                     Will ... what exactly prevented you from logging Mike out and logging yourself in to post that message?  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-24-2004 09:39 AM                    Dept. of Homeland Security has been called!  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-24-2004 02:33 PM                     I had to install many of them a few years ago and we called the the neurotic platter rather than the neutronic They sucked. They throw prints have a painted deck that builds up static like anything (especially up here in the cold dry north) The opitcal control had major problems with the deflector falling off and on and on I think all of them are now in the skip RIP  |  IP: Logged Mike Heenan Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1896 From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 01-24-2004 04:28 PM                     I've never used any other brand of platters, but we've never had a brainwrap or any sort of static problems, etc with these platters. I like them and have no complaints. Perhaps if I've used other platters my opinion may be different, but these platters have been good to us.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-24-2004 09:24 PM                     good enjoy them then I put them in the dumpster and replace them with the strongs automatically  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-24-2004 11:56 PM                     I'm with Gord on this one for sure. I can't begin to tell you how many payout heads on the Neurotic platters I've had to upgrade(?) in the last year. Damn reed switchec . A Potts or Strong Alpha is a far better choice. Mark @ CLACO  |  IP: Logged Will Kutler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1506 From: Tucson, AZ, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 01-25-2004 12:52 AM                     Hi Adam.... Sorry about the mistake. I thought I had logged in under my own name. I have to strongly disagree with Gord and Mark on this one! These platter decks were not painted. The overall structure is all heavy guage metal,and is much more beefed up and sturdy than a Strong or Christie! These platters were running very smooth and dead quiet, unlike Christies!  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-25-2004 01:48 AM                       I noticed problems with the little microswitches in the units upgraded from Reed switches (no relation ). They weren't very "robust", as Gordon would say. And very difficult to replace. Once everything was in and aligned, though, I can't say they were that much trouble during operation. But the feed plates left much to be desired and were the unit's Achilles' heel (sorry, Bob ).  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 01-25-2004 01:16 PM                     As with any product, the Neumade platter has gone through changes. There are two basic designs. The older models have a takeup speed carriage on the side of the mast; the payout head had reed switches. The newer model has individual takeup arms under each deck and the payout heads use a optical reflective design to regulate payout speed. I only used one of the old model, so I can't really comment on them, but the 120 (or so) of the new model we have operate well. They are structurally very strong (the newer model supports running 70mm film.) Each deck has it's own control electronics, so one failure won't take down the whole platter. In fairness, it should be noted that the design pre-dates polyester film: about 6-7 years ago, they reworked the payout head and stopped painting the decks to accommodate polyester film. It's easy to swap out motors or change control electronics. Neumade tried going with all-plastic (bearingless) rollers, but wisely returned to rollers with bearings. Generally, I would say it is a sucessful product. Fault can always be found in anything if you look hard enough.  |  IP: Logged Gregory N. Jones Film Handler Posts: 27 From: Newtown, CT, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 01-26-2004 08:52 AM                        Usual "lovefest" from Gordon and Mark concerning Xetron/Neumade... Will, thank you for the favorable input on our Neutronic platters. As John has noted, over the years, the Neutronic platter has gone through a lot of changes from a major redesign of the payout head (1995)to switching to unpainted decks (1996). The "new decks" (1996 Gordon) actually are pre-scored to prevent film from flying off of them. (Brad commented favorably on this at SHOWEST last year). The reed switches Mark mentioned are actually from the old XNR platter (last made in mid 80's)which are no longer available. We have also upgraded the take-up control boards, slider bar assembly, the pin block assembly and motors over the last couple of years.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-26-2004 09:46 AM                     Greg, Hardly a "love fest" as you say if you look through some other posts where Gord and I are at each others throat. Frankly, I can't even begin to tell some of the plain stupid woes I've experienced with your equipment,old and new. I do have some interesting photos and experiences though that document some of it. As Brad is aware I have even written reviews of some of your equipment for this forum that I've ultimately withheld since many would consider it equipment bashing. Perhaps though its time to post some of my photos/experieinces here while we're on the subject of Neumade. Mark  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 01-26-2004 01:56 PM                     I haven't had a chance to actually use a Neumade platter in a regular booth installation to comment very much, but having the decks grooved from the manufacturer is a major plus. ALL platters should come grooved, or at least be user-groovable such as the AW3. (Greg, now if you can only make that deck 52 inches instead of 54 inches. )  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-26-2004 03:42 PM                        I threaded a late-model Neumade once. It seemed like a nice design--very simple and efficient. I have no idea how they hold up over time or how easy/difficult they are to time.  |  IP: Logged

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