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Author Topic: Ultrasonic Splicers Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-18-2003 06:49 AM                     I've seen 'em work, don't know HOW they work. Do they work by creating heat? Or ultrasonically meld the molecules together or what? Or is it just PFM.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 02-18-2003 07:03 AM                        By exciting the molecules in the polyester plastic, the ultrasonic energy creates heat, melting the thermoplastic to create a weld: http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/support/technical/ultrasonic.shtml http://www.metricsplicer.com/ http://www.metricsplicer.com/3001.html http://www.hollywoodfilmco.com/Splicer.htm Ultrasonic splicers are normally used for polyester-to-polyester splices. Kodak is developing methods to allow polyester-to-triacetate splices without using tape.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 02-18-2003 12:02 PM                    Can anyone post an upclose picture of an ultrasonic 35mm splice? Thanks!  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 02-18-2003 12:11 PM                        There's a splice photo and review in the "Reviews" section of Film-Tech under "Metric ultrasonic splicer Model 3001". Most raw stock lab splices are made with an ultrasonic splicer, but by sealing the undeveloped emulsion into the weld, lab splices are usually more discolored than a splice made on processed print film.  |  IP: Logged Mark J. Marshall Film God Posts: 3188 From: New Castle, DE, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 02-18-2003 02:52 PM                    Ah yes. I found it. Thanks! The review says that it looks like a "small" lab splice. Is it actually smaller, or does it just "look" smaller because the film is developed?  |  IP: Logged Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-18-2003 02:52 PM                        ok, here's something i've been wondering. would it be possible to design an ultrasonic butt splicer? it could still use a tiny length of scrap film, say 2x the overlap of a normal ultrasonic splice, as reinforcement on the base side, but the actual film elements being spliced together would be butted together. then there would be no frame loss in making the splice, and if the extra thickness at the splice could be cut or filed off in some way, there would be no frame loss in breaking the splice either. there would probably be some limit to the number of times this could be done in one location, but it would beat losing frames every time. does this sound at all feasible? carl  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 02-18-2003 03:38 PM                        To maintain the proper film dimensions, the splices have to be the same, whether made on raw stock or processed film. The raw stock splices may look like they have a "bigger" overlap at the weld only because the opaque emulsion mixed in the weld looks more obvious. Yes, it whould be possible to butt two pieces of film together, and use the splicer to weld a sliver of polyester base over the butted area to create a splice. Doing it repeatedly, precisely, and quickly is the challenge. The current splicers are designed to cut the film ends to assure exactly the correct overlap. Too little material may not allow a strong weld, too much may leave edges that could get caught or snagged.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-18-2003 07:11 PM                     We have some brand new 35mm Metrics that we'd make someone a heck of a deal on....... Mark @ CLACO  |  IP: Logged

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