[Frameworks] looper question

Fri Oct 10 19:31:11 UTC 2014

Assuming you're using a Robert Film Services looper I would double check
that all the rollers and bearings are spinning freely. These things can be
a pain: I installed one that ran perfectly for a few weeks and then started
having problems with slack (we switched the print out every two weeks, so
it wasn't an issue with print age or wear). Eventually we got it back to
good operating condition but it took a lot of troubleshooting: adding extra
rollers after the film left the projector, cleaning the rollers and
exercising the bearings, etc. Another thing to check is that the projector
isn't leaking oil anywhere on the film and the film path is spotless. These
things work great when everything is *perfect*

On Fri, Oct 10, 2014 at 2:01 PM, Amanda Christie <
amanda at amandadawnchristie.ca> wrote:

> i do indeed have permutable arms!
>
> the crazy thing is how much the slack varies within one run of the
> loop.... it will touch the ground, but then go up and go so tight that it
> almost jams.... that's the part that i'm struggling with....
>
> Amanda Dawn Christie
> --------------------------------
> 506-871-2062
> www.amandadawnchristie.ca
> amanda at amandadawnchristie.ca
> _______________________________
>
>
>
> On 2014-10-10, at 3:40 PM, Karl Reinsalu wrote:
>
> I would wrap the film before it touches the ground. The pain is finding
> that you need more slack to get the loop to fit. :(  Do you have
> permutatable arms? (aka: you can change the distance in order to take-up
> slack?)
>
> K.
>
> On Fri, Oct 10, 2014 at 2:10 PM, Amanda Christie <
> amanda at amandadawnchristie.ca> wrote:
>
>> Thanks Karl!
>>
>> to clarify... am i on the right track... to keep waiting... or to keep
>> adjusting?
>>
>> the spaghetti dance on the floor pains me to watch... i want to grab a
>> ladder and wrap another loop around the outside... , but it was too tight
>> when i did that last time, no matter where i put the rollers or the slack
>> control.
>>
>> it is indeed an RFS platter.... my instinct is to adjust... but I was
>> told to wait a bit and watch it... so painful to watch the spaghetti
>> though.... it only seems to be getting looser.... not tighter.
>>
>> Amanda Dawn Christie
>> --------------------------------
>> 506-871-2062
>> www.amandadawnchristie.ca
>> amanda at amandadawnchristie.ca
>> _______________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2014-10-10, at 3:06 PM, Karl Reinsalu wrote:
>>
>> You are on the right track.  In my experience you want the platter as
>> level as possible (RFS Type Platter Looper) to maintain balance.  Never let
>> the loop pull backwards and this usually results in the film binding at a
>> point in the run (not fun).  I've had instances where I have to constantly
>> find the splice and add the slack to the outer part of the loop in order to
>> get the sweet spot. Id suggest keep wrapping and adjust your front and rear
>> feed (if you can) to tweak the tension right when it stops slacking.
>>
>> Best of luck!
>>
>> Karl.
>>
>> LIFT TECH - www.lift.ca
>>
>> On Fri, Oct 10, 2014 at 1:57 PM, Amanda Christie <
>> amanda at amandadawnchristie.ca> wrote:
>>
>>> hello all,
>>>
>>> i have a bit of a looper question.
>>>
>>> i've worked with them in the past, but not extensively... and this is
>>> the first time i've run into this issue.
>>>
>>> we loaded the 35mm looper on monday, and ran it for a bit on monday,
>>> tuesday, and wednesday just to get the right balance and tension... but
>>> wednesday night during the opening, it kept getting more and more slack,
>>> dipping closer to the ground... so i spent the day at the gallery
>>> yesterday, with some fabric on the floor watching it... because i was told
>>> that it was normal that it would take a couple of full days running for it
>>> to adjust to heat and humidity and find it's ideal balance... but it
>>> started getting really really slack and like spaghetti on the ground... so
>>> eventually i stopped it, and added another loop around the looper to take
>>> up the slack... it was fine for a while... but then would fluctuate
>>> extremely... with the loop dropping down to the ground, then tightening up
>>> to as tight as it would go, then back down to the ground... i was hoping it
>>> would just find it's balance... but then it got too tight up at the top at
>>> the loop box, and started to pop up above the internal vertical rollers, so
>>> i stopped it, and removed that external loop again.  now, once again it is
>>> too slack like spaghetti on the floor.... (safely on lint free fabric
>>> though!)
>>>
>>> should i give it a few more hours to tighten up and find it's balance,
>>> or should i stop it, and wrap another loop around the outside (like i did
>>> yesterday, but that was too tight), then release a loop from the inside (so
>>> that it's not quite so tight)....
>>>
>>> is this because it's an older print (only 2 years old) with a few
>>> splices and burns in it from previous exhibitions?  would i be better off
>>> with a brand new print?
>>>
>>> or do i just sit tight and wait for it to find it's happy place?
>>>
>>> any advice from more experienced loopers would be much appreciated.
>>> thank so much!
>>>
>>>
>>> Amanda Dawn Christie
>>> --------------------------------
>>> 506-871-2062
>>> www.amandadawnchristie.ca
>>> amanda at amandadawnchristie.ca
>>> _______________________________
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> FrameWorks mailing list
>>> FrameWorks at jonasmekasfilms.com
>>> https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> --
>> Karl Reinsalu
>> e.mail: KReinsalu at gmail.com
>> _______________________________________________
>> FrameWorks mailing list
>> FrameWorks at jonasmekasfilms.com
>> https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> FrameWorks mailing list
>> FrameWorks at jonasmekasfilms.com
>> https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> --
> Karl Reinsalu
> e.mail: KReinsalu at gmail.com
> _______________________________________________
> FrameWorks mailing list
> FrameWorks at jonasmekasfilms.com
> https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> FrameWorks mailing list
> FrameWorks at jonasmekasfilms.com
> https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
>
>

-- 
Julian Antos
Northwest Chicago Film Society
www.northwestchicagofilmsociety.org
773 827 8991
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/pipermail/frameworks/attachments/20141010/1416be6f/attachment.html>