Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Mounting DTS readers on Kinoton FP-30.

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Operations » Film Handlers' Forum » Mounting DTS readers on Kinoton FP-30.

Author

Topic: Mounting DTS readers on Kinoton FP-30.

Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 09-22-2013 02:47 AM

The DTS-6D manual contains an engineering drawing of the bracket for Kinoton, the 'L' shaped D617, but it didn't seem to make sense; the mounting holes for the readers weren't in the right place. Yesterday I happened to look at the DTS for 70 mm manual; there's a drawing of a DP-75 and the brackets don't go where I thought they did, they mount on the front of the column, not the side.

However, in this position the readers would still prevent the use of 6k reels and while the council will allow me to drill a couple of holes to attach the brackets they insist that it must still be possible to use 6k reels.

I thought of extension brackets, or mounting the readers on the wall, but I think I may have found a better solution. The 70 mm manual shows a 'breakaway' system to enable a quick change between 35 mm and 70 mm readers where there isn't room to mount both at the same time. This consists of a D628 adapter plate which attaches to the brackets, and a spacing block (D626 for the 35 mm type) which screws to the back of the reader. The two parts are joined by a single thumb screw.

It occurred to me that by using these, 35 mm only, I could leave the readers off the machines most of the time, and quickly mount them when a DTS print was to be run, probably no more than once or twice a year. The 6k reels would clear the brackets with adapter plates installed. Is anybody familiar with this system? Would what I propose work? Are these parts still available? The Datasat website mentions the timecode readers but seems to give no details about mounting hardware.

| IP: Logged

Dave Macaulay
Film God

Posts: 2321
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 09-23-2013 09:56 AM

You can mount the reader anywhere it will fit, if there's a film path to and from it. Extra rollers are fair game. I've used the FP20 brackets and they do work but the setup looks pretty strange - probably a DP75 is similar. Is there any spot available in front of the column that would avoid your 6k reels and be out of the light path? (hopefully you don't have a turret!) I believe the only restriction is that the reader has to be before the aperture, but I'm not sure about that - I don't know how you could enter a negative offset though. I would want it mounted to the projector frame since the offset would be a bit variable if it was on the wall (the projector can be moved after all), plus there must be some maximum offset possible - how close is the wall?
You can try asking Datasat if the brackets are still available but I think it would be better to make something yourself and avoid the shipping cost and waiting. Do they still make Meccano?

| IP: Logged

Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 09-24-2013 01:38 AM

I don't think there is anywhere that the readers could be permanently mounted without either putting them very high, out of reach without using steps, or moving the projectors back to put them further forward. This cannot be done as there is only just room to squeeze through between the back of the lamphouses and rectifiers and the rewind bench as it is. Another factor is that anything which we propose to do to the machines has to be approved by the owners of the cinema. Something which looks makeshift is much more likely to cause problems than something using official DTS parts. The Kinoton 'L' bracket (D617) is fine, and if the 'Adapter panel (D628) is attached to it and the 35 mm 'spacing block' plate (D626) is attached to the reader then the readers could be attached and removed easily and without tools. The DTS equipment is only likely to be used occasionally, so the readers could just be attached when required. I've studied the DTS engineering drawings for the parts, and measured the projectors, and the brackets with adapter plate attached will clear Cinemeccanica 6k plastic reels, which have thicker flanges that the Kinoton wire type; there are about equal numbers of each.

I don't know if the D626 and D628 are still available, but I think they would provide the best solution if they are. To be honest, 6k reels are unlikely to be used in future, but we are required to keep the option available. There will only be a handful of shows on film each year, with each shown only once or twice, so they will probably be run on 2k reels.

| IP: Logged

Pete Naples
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1565
From: Dunfermline, Scotland
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 09-24-2013 07:48 AM

There is a pukka bracket available from Kinoton, of course I can't find a picture of it right now [Mad]

| IP: Logged

Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 09-24-2013 09:57 AM

I'm sure that they do, at a price, Pete.

It's not the bracket that's the issue however, but being able to quickly attach and remove the readers when required.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.