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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Large Format Forum   » Megasystems 15/70mm intermittent projector (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Megasystems 15/70mm intermittent projector Paul Trimboli Master Film Handler Posts: 274 From: Perth Western Australia Registered: Dec 2002 posted 11-07-2004 04:30 AM                     I was just looking at the pictures page and on the 2001 Show East pictures there is a picture of a 15/70 projector that has dual intermittents, how??!! I was lead to belive that 15/70 at the speed it moves would not stand up to being run through a machine with sprokets ( I know IMAX has input and output ones, but I mean for the actual movement side)? And how does it work having a gate, or does it run on a cushion of air in the gate like a rolling loop? Anyone got any more information on one?  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-07-2004 10:40 AM                     Megashredder you mean... I heard that they only got it up to 12 fps. A totally rediclous idea in and of itself... the amount of moving mass is incredible at 24fps........ Gord also knows something about this attempt.... Mark  |  IP: Logged Richard Hamilton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1341 From: Evansville, Indiana Registered: Jan 2000 posted 11-08-2004 10:57 AM                     Mark, Only 12 fps? Surely you are joking!! Actually that machine was a prototype that actually never ran film at speed. We set it up to jog the film at the show. When we ran it at speed with no film for any length of time, the sprockets either disintegrated, or the intermittents locked up. A lot of time and money went into this project that never should have been! I bet it sits collecting dust now, I don't know because I am no longer there. It was hard to keep a straight face at the trade shows and talk about this machine. Rick  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-08-2004 11:01 AM                     Originally cinemecanica tried a vic 8 on its side with similar results  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 11-08-2004 04:24 PM                     The V8 was used for a World's Fair and used a single intermittent.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-08-2004 04:50 PM                     I believed it was called the shred-a-mecanica  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-09-2004 08:22 PM                     quote: Richard Hamilton Actually that machine was a prototype that actually never ran film at speed Well then I guess the Megasystems person that I talked to in the booth mis-Informed me didn't he.... Its no wonder they went the route they did. You're right though even 12 fps would be difficult. Were the sprockets titanium they probably woulda held up very well... alumnium... never. Mark  |  IP: Logged Richard Hamilton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1341 From: Evansville, Indiana Registered: Jan 2000 posted 11-10-2004 12:20 AM                     quote: Mark Gulbrandsen Well then I guess the Megasystems person that I talked to in the booth mis-Informed me didn't he.... Its no wonder they went the route they did. I'm curious who you talked to? That machine was only shown at a couple of shows a few years ago. Showeast, showest, and I believe Cineasia. I remember meeting you at showest, but there was never any discussion about the 15/70. I'm not sure why any one would say that it can only run at half speed., it doesn't make sense. Also what route did we go? Megasystems projectors are still here, just not the prototype15/70. Rick  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-10-2004 05:30 AM                     quote: Richard Hamilton Also what route did we go? Megasystems projectors are still here, just not the prototype15/70. It was at Showest for sure, a man with black hair is abaout all I can tell you and it was before the show actually started. As for the route Mega went... Basically saved by big brother so they did not suffer any further big losses.... The basic idea of the dual movements is great but the execution of the equipment really sucks..... Mark  |  IP: Logged Paul Trimboli Master Film Handler Posts: 274 From: Perth Western Australia Registered: Dec 2002 posted 11-10-2004 07:17 AM                     So a system with dual intermittents would work? But what effect would it have on the film?? Why not use a stepper motor movment? When you say the sprockets disintegrated, you do not mean the perfs right, the actually sprockets!!!!??? How fast are they turning?  |  IP: Logged Neil Robinson Film Handler Posts: 28 From: Coxhoe, Durham, UK Registered: May 2004 posted 11-11-2004 08:51 PM                     I work in a theatre in the UK that has a Megasystems 8/70 projector, thankfully it is only used occasionly it is the biggest pile of junk that I have ever worked with, are there many of these projectors in use in the USA and what is the situation obtaining spare parts as I understand Megasystems went out of buisness.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-11-2004 09:21 PM                     Strong has always built the Mega stuff and parts should be available through your Strong Dealer.... and you WILL need some of them on occasion. The dual intermittent concept is good but as built the projector has poor light efficiency and is pretty temperamental at times. Timming of the dual movements is SUPER critical! Fortunately there are not very many of these systems in the world..... Had some other company built these projection systems they would probably be more reliable and built much better. The Ballantyne Intermittents used in them do not have case hardened parts(star/Cam) as do most modern intermittents. This is unfortunately the way the original Ballantyne was designed...... From my experience the Iwerks linear loop is a ton better although it also has its own little tempraments you have to be able to deal with/put up with. Phil Hill of this site is the one that really worked to get the LL to the stage its at today. The LL is the most light efficient 8/70 projector out there because of its equivelent high speed pull down. Mark  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 11-12-2004 08:52 AM                     I have sold and installed both the Mega and the Linear loop systems and serviced the Kinoton 8-70....they have their unique quirks. When Mega was in operation, they received the projector from Strong and then spent hours and days on each machine doing QC upgrades and checks. Most of my problems with the system was lamphouse optimization, communications from the projector control box and operator error...nothing major in a special venue situation. The Linear loop was rock steady due to the fixed registration pins in the gate ; after dealing with correct air pressure based on film stock and operating enviroment the only weak link was the control box, which was designed to be swapped out if it "hiccuped" in the timing of the components. Kinoton 8-70 is a great machine; the unit is very logical in layout in finding service problems. Most hassles on this machine has been operator error ( to the point of having a sprocket shaft and bearings destroyed by poor threading ) and good power input.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-12-2004 09:47 AM                     I always like the original odessey/super70 ballantyne 8 perf 70machines  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 11-12-2004 09:58 AM                     Those just keep on clunkin', don't they Gord?!  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

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.