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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Microswitch-controlled Brains
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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today
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Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-10-2008 02:19 AM
Any big fans of microswitch brains here on the forum? Anyone?
I hate 'em! I installed a bunch o' phase control Strong platters in the theater that I am at now many years ago (make and model of platter was NOT my choice, but anything was better than the ORCs we had). They worked pretty well considering that they are Strong platters and are therefore purposely designed to suck ass. But as you know, the LEDs in phase control brains wear out after 4 or 5 years or so and must be replaced. This happened before I returned to this location. When they did start to wear out, the manager at the time (who is also a registered sex offender and was stealing from the company in many ways) ordered the microswitch conversion kit. Only a registered sex offender would be this retarded. He was fired for extreme stupidity.
Usually they work OK, but some times they stick ON or OFF in the middle of a show FOR NO REASON (other than that they are STRONG). This causes the "tension-safe" on the platter to engage and shut off power. The projector keeps pulling film happily through even though the film is piling up on the floor. That is because we use the shitty FP-350 Optical failsafes or whatever they are called (any fans of this failsafe??? Anyone???). The film dumps down and the failsafe doesn't care. Since the payout deck is controlled by the take-up variac (who thought of this idea originally? I bet he was an asshole) the film is wrapping like a mofo on crack. Since Strong brains were designed by people with Down Syndrome™ and have a bunch of little rollers around them, you can get really thick wraps on the order of multiple inches. Eventually the failsafe will decide enough is enough and stop the projector, but not until the film is literally tied into knots inside the brain.
NOTE: This always happens when the guy who rents our theaters for Bollywood movies is telling me what trailers must go on his crappy film and in what order. This trailer is attached to the start of reel 1, the next trailer is attached to the start of reel 5, etc. He also complains to me that the auditorium he is in is too small, like I have anything to do with that or even give a rat's ass. I just nod and walk away.
MORAL OF STORY: Microswitch brains suck. The designers who work at Strong suck even more... or at least the ones who worked there in the past. Change the design for cryin' out loud! Oh, and the FP-350 failsafes also suck.
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Monte L Fullmer
Film God
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Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 08-10-2008 03:30 AM
Agree. Microswitch brains DO suck! Had two brains run wild on me in one night (major backwraps) .. and I had replaced these switches less than a year ago.
You get booth clowns that pull the ring out on an angle and with a microswitch brain and that filmroll not centered, a good case of thrown prints towards the end of the presentation is apparent due to the 'off and on' action of the brain.
But unfortunately, when theatre owners rather go cheap and use micros instead of spending the extra for phase controls, you pay what you pay for.
..Yet, I've got 4 phase controlled brains that I converted back from the micros and they've been working great for over 4 yrs now.
Platter decks are made to turn on a continual motion, not to be shut off and turned on all the time - why I love the AW3(R) platters.
oh well ...
Only prob I have with FP-350's is that one of the wires that is attached to the terminal strip at the end loves to break loose for some odd reason, causing the automation not to function. Otherwise, with routine wiping underneath to clean the sensors, they've been a pretty dependable failsafe unit.
..and it does help if you change out your cues from time to time since they do wear out. Plus, it all depends HOW you're putting the cuetape on for the FP-350 to sense: You take a half-in strip of cue tape and wrap it around the edge of the film soundtrack side inbetween the sprocketholes.
-Monte
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