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Author Topic: Can I double up on The Alpha Platter System? Michael Dolan Film Handler Posts: 77 From: Deerfield Beach, fl. Registered: May 2008 posted 06-11-2008 12:42 PM                        I have splice double features that alternate showings together on a Christie AW3 plenty of times without a problem. But will the alpha platter hold the weight of 2 movies on 1 platter since it is alot thinner then the christie's Has anyone successfully done this before FYI. The movies I want to combine will be Kungfu Panda 5 reels and Indiana Jones 7 reels making it a total of 12 reels trailers and 2 10min. preshows.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 06-11-2008 12:59 PM                     You can load two movies on a Strong Alpha Platter with no problems. I do it all the time. All 52 inch platters were designed to hold 4.5hrs of film. -Monte  |  IP: Logged Jason Burroughs Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 654 From: Allen, TX Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-11-2008 03:14 PM                     I too have done it on a Strong Platter, but now wouldn't think of doing it without a platter ring. Otherwise you risk having to pick 2 prints up off the floor.  |  IP: Logged Michael Dolan Film Handler Posts: 77 From: Deerfield Beach, fl. Registered: May 2008 posted 06-11-2008 03:23 PM                        quote: Jason Burroughs but now wouldn't think of doing it without a platter ring. Good point didn't even think about having to pick up 2 movies. I know he is not going to go for the platter ring so I guess I'm stuck again doing it the hard way  |  IP: Logged Timothy Eiler Expert Film Handler Posts: 126 From: Litchfield , Minnesota, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 06-11-2008 03:47 PM                        We've been running 2 movies and 15 minutes of intermission tags for more than 10 years without platter rings. We just use 5-7 suction cup and have never had a problem  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 06-11-2008 08:27 PM                     Course, using a length of film and a clothespin to make a band wrap does wonders on holding these big prints from ends flying as well....  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-12-2008 09:09 AM                     The Alphas aren't as robust as Christies and some others but they are stronger than they look. The curved outer edge creates stiffness to resist warping. The extruded metal battens underneath add strength. No, they won't hold up if you stand on them but they are plenty strong enough to hold all the film that fits on the deck.  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 06-12-2008 09:59 AM                     The weight is no problem. Just watch out if you try to separate the prints onto different rings. The second print with large inside diameter running onto a small ring is prone to being thrown off. You should have a support ring on the outside of the payour roll and taping the ring to the table would be a good idea. Going the other way - paying out off a ring and taking up on the outside of a print roll... this usually gives brain wraps and you may be sitting spinning the payout platter through the whole show. This is a consequence of the power system on this platter, the payout platter can only turn a bit faster than the take-up platter.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-12-2008 12:55 PM                     Avoid that problem all together. Just break the "outside" print down onto 2 or more 6,000 foot reels then rebuild it as a separate print on another deck. It should only take 15 - 30 minutes if you work smartly.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 06-12-2008 01:00 PM                     ..or build one, the scoop that one off using a pizza board and put it on another deck, and continue the 2nd print. I never had any probs with doing the dbl build and having the first feature leave the big middle for the 2nd. (why I like phase control brains for this trick - smooth payout)  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 06-12-2008 01:45 PM                        With a christie aw3 you can actually load one print on top of another on the same platter deck... I would NOT try this with an alpha though!  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 06-12-2008 02:40 PM                     Have to remember that even though film is heavy when we carry it vertically (3 hr print in clamps and carrying it down our side, is almost 100lbs), but with the 100 lb weight spread out horizontally and in that large of diameter, it's really not that all heavy for the deck - why the deck can handle that much film, yet we would easily destroy a deck standing on it-being vertical.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 06-12-2008 05:20 PM                        quote: With a christie aw3 you can actually load one print on top of another on the same platter deck... I would NOT try this with an alpha though! I've had to do this with trailer packs. Sometimes when we get a print from another theater, they remove the trailers before the last run and take it up right to their Strong platter ring (I think only Strong platters are allowed in Art houses since they are cheap-o both in price and in quality). I build up a new pack o' trailers and load it onto a ring and put it on top of the other print. You do have to be careful on payout because the film will want to land on the wrong side of all of those stupid little rollers Strong places around their brain.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 06-12-2008 09:44 PM                        AW3 if you double load; invert a McDonalds straw and plug it onto the feed out sensor fingers. Alternatively, use a 70mm feed sensor arm.(You can then remove this as soon as you are "normal." Louis  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 06-12-2008 09:59 PM                        Thats a really really really good idea about the straw!  |  IP: Logged

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