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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » cleaning and basic maintenance time table

   
Author Topic: cleaning and basic maintenance time table
Martin Ubilluz
Film Handler

Posts: 21
From: boca raton,fl / United states of America
Registered: Apr 2006


 - posted 06-11-2006 05:23 AM      Profile for Martin Ubilluz   Email Martin Ubilluz   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I was wondering what every ones time table for cleanng stuff like how often do you guys clean port glass, lens, platter, or how often do you time you platter speed cards those are just a few gime more and how often you do it

thanks

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Stephen Furley
Film God

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


 - posted 06-11-2006 05:43 AM      Profile for Stephen Furley   Email Stephen Furley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Port glass once each day before the first show, lenses when they get dusty, mech and gate before each reel, sound optics at the start of each day normally.

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Martin Ubilluz
Film Handler

Posts: 21
From: boca raton,fl / United states of America
Registered: Apr 2006


 - posted 06-11-2006 06:17 AM      Profile for Martin Ubilluz   Email Martin Ubilluz   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
PORTGLASS DAILY? what do you do for sound optics

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Stephen Furley
Film God

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


 - posted 06-11-2006 07:02 AM      Profile for Stephen Furley   Email Stephen Furley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote: Martin Ubilluz
what do you do for sound optics
Just a puff of air from a rubber bulb blower normally; there shouldn't be anything more than a bit of loose dust on them.

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Diane Linton
Film Handler

Posts: 15
From: Palm Bay, FL. USA
Registered: Mar 2006


 - posted 06-11-2006 09:33 AM      Profile for Diane Linton   Email Diane Linton   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
We have daily tasks to do, and those are usually done once a week. Platter speeds are only done when the speed is off. Though that is annoying when you are trying to start a show. How do you test your speeds otherwise?

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Chad M Calpito
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Apr 2006


 - posted 06-11-2006 10:15 AM      Profile for Chad M Calpito   Author's Homepage   Email Chad M Calpito   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Everything is done at a minimum of once per week according to our maintenance schedule. Sometimes, things are done twice depending on if things need to be cleaned twice. The projector heads are cleaned multiple times, usually between shows and after the last show of each movie. The platter speeds are adjusted when necessary and usually done by our in house Technician on Mondays when he comes in.

An example of something that needs additional cleaning would be our port windows since they do tend to get dusty. But, it's not all the time that we clean our port windows more than once a week, but, film presentation is always important. I personally also like to make sure that the lenses are always clean as well, including checking the heads as well as sound heads. [Big Grin]

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000


 - posted 06-12-2006 11:30 AM      Profile for John Pytlak   Author's Homepage   Email John Pytlak   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I know that many theatres depend on having a schedule of maintenance, to remind operators when things need to be done. But things like cleaning lenses and port glass really should be done on an "as needed" basis -- if you see dust or haze on an optical component, CLEAN IT. If the lens and port glass are clean, leave them alone. Dust, dirt and haze are best seen with an image being projected --- ideally, you should barely see any image on the surface.

Reserve cleaning of lenses with liquid lens cleaner and wiping to cases where there is a haze deposit or fingerprint on the lens. Liquid cleaners can get into the lens if misused, and rubbing coated optical surfaces should be done as little as possible. Loose dust should be gently brushed away with a soft lens brush and no rubbing. Compressed air has a way of getting dirt particles into the lens, or into inaccessable places.

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Glen Rich
Film Handler

Posts: 55
From: Nedlands, Western Australia
Registered: Feb 2002


 - posted 06-12-2006 10:36 PM      Profile for Glen Rich   Email Glen Rich   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The following is the maintenance/service schedule guidelines issued by me for the Boxes that I'm responsible for...

DAILY:

Check projection head for dirt, dust and caked emulsion, and clean as required (NOTE: projector and platter systems should be scrupulously clean before any film is run).
Run projector, check oil levels and add if required.

Check lenses for dust, dirt and clean as required.

Turn on and check SPECO and Christie long play film platter systems, (especially check all lay on rollers), for dirt, dust and caked emulsion, clean as required. Check the center pay out unit of the platter system for dirt, dust and caked emulsion and clean as required.

The Xenon lamp in each projector is to be started at least 5 minutes prior to first scheduled screening to alleviate any flicker as the lamp is “warming up”.

After each screening the projection head of each projector has to be cleaned of caked emulsion and dust then threaded for the next session.

Each day all bench tops, MUT’s, lamp houses, and sound racks are to be dusted, and each day the port glass for each projector and slide machine is to be cleaned inside and out.

Any repair to film or equipment is done as required.

WEEKLY:

Check and clean Optics on each of the projectors sound heads. (NOTE: if a print is particularly “dirty” this may need to be done daily.)

Check and adjust Dolby levels for each Cinema.

Each plate of the SPECO and Christie long play film platter systems in all Bio boxes to be cleaned with cleaning fluid and cleaning clothes, (NOTE: no abrasives are to be used.) .

Dismantle and clean 35mm film tape splicer using white spirits or similar cleaning fluid, (i.e., shellite) and a stiff brush. The Splicer must be gum free to operate effectively. Clean out all ‘sprocket holes’ in the tape splicer.

MONTHLY:

Before servicing isolate equipment from mains power by switching off circuit breakers and removing fuses. Turn OFF rectifiers. Always double check.

All the lay on rollers on each of the SPECO and Christie long play film platters are to be taken off their shafts checked for wear and damage and each half cleaned of all accumulated caked emulsion and dust with cleaning fluid and a stiff brush, each shaft is also to be cleaned before the rollers are replaced. (NOTE: the rollers must be taken off their shafts to be cleaned effectively.)

Oil is to be applied to each cinemas projector:

To the sound drum shaft and the pay out and take up spindle shafts.

To the clutch felts on each of the take up spindle shafts.

To the lamp exhaust fan motor on the outside of the Strong X-60B lamp house’s. (NOTE: the oil points are at either end of the motor on top.)

Also to the internal lamp house exhaust fan motors in the Strong Super Lume-X lamp houses in both cinema 1&2. (NOTE: the oil points are at both ends at the top of the motors. Take care to clean up any excess and spills.).

QUARTERLY:

Before servicing isolate equipment from mains power by switching off circuit breakers and removing fuses. Turn OFF rectifiers. Always double check.

Each projector is given a full service entailing:

Draining each projector head of oil and replacing with clean T60 turbine oil, or equivalent projector oil. (NOTE: using another or heavier duty type of oil is not recommended as it will severely affect the projectors performance.)

From Each Projector Head Remove the Following:

All film guide rollers
All lay-on rollers
All sprockets
All drive belts
Film gate, backing plate, and aperture plate

The guide rollers, lay-on rollers and sprockets are to be cleaned with white spirits (or similar cleaning fluid, ie, Shellite) and a stiff brush, then dried with a cleaning cloth.
The shafts that they were removed from are to be cleaned of any dirt, dust and greased with Vaseline or similar lubricant. Then replace the lay-on rollers and sprockets. (NOTE: all shafts are to be greased without exception.)

The film gate is to be dismantled and the interior cleaned of accumulated emulsion dust and dirt using a stiff brush and cleaning fluid, then re-assembled and the pressure bands tension checked and adjusted if required.
The backing plate is to be cleaned with white spirits and a stiff brush to remove any accumulated caked emulsion and dirt, then dried and polished with a cloth.
The aperture plate is to be cleaned with white spirits and a stiff brush and dried with a cloth.

The drive belts are to be checked for cuts and burrs. Excess accumulated grease from the projection head is to be removed. (NOTE: if there is any doubt as to the reliability of any belt for continued long term operation they are to be replaced.)

For Each Projection Head:

Each Projector head is to be given a thorough clean with cleaning fluid and cloth, to remove accumulated caked emulsion dust and dirt from normally inaccessible areas of the head, before replacing removed parts.

Remove the outer of each sound drum and carefully clean the sound head and arm of accumulated emulsion dust and dirt. Clean the back of the sound drum.

Check the spring tension of all torque springs.

Check lens turret for ease and smoothness of operation and adjust if required.

Check dash-pot oil level and add oil if required. (NOTE: only dash-pot oil is to be used.)

The Air filter on each of the Rank/Cinemeccanica projectors is to be replaced.

For each Lamp-House (including Slide Machines):

Open and remove the Xenon lamp to a bench top. (NOTE: REMOVING AND REPLACING XENON LAMPS IS DANGEROUS DUE TO POSSIBLE EXPLOSION HAZARD. Safety glasses, gloves and jacket must be used, no exceptions. The Xenon is to be placed in a safety cover as it’s removed from its lamp-house fitting.)

Clean the interior of the lamp house removing all accumulated dust.

Clean and check the Mirror/reflector. Clean using warm soapy water, and then polish with cleaning cloth.

Check blowers and filters and clean as required.

Replace the Xenon; take care to check all connectors and fittings are correct and tight. (NOTE: in all Lamp house’s take all care to have the positive end of the Xenon pointing towards the screen.)


Completion of Quarterly Service:

Check and make sure the only spare parts are those that have been replaced.

Check the oil level in each projector head. (NOTE: take care not to over or under fill as damage can occur.)

Run each projector to check operation and;

Run Dolby and Surround test films to check operation of amplifiers for and the operation of Left, Centre, and Right speakers (main and hi-frequency) and Surround speakers in all cinemas.

Whilst running Dolby test film, check and adjust Dolby levels as required.

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Grant Davies
Film Handler

Posts: 7
From: Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Aug 2000


 - posted 06-13-2006 01:22 AM      Profile for Grant Davies   Author's Homepage   Email Grant Davies   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Skate's and bands are cleaned after each session

End of night is a full projector clean skate's, bands, sprockets, sound heads and back of lens (wax and oil deposits) also the top of the lamp house and projector.

Film path rollers are dusted weekly on a Thursday morning, as well as all platters are wiped down and port glass is also done. Lamp counter checked and alignment of lamp/mirror.

Audio racks and inside lamp houses are done once a month, whilst the lamp house is being cleaned the lamp and mirror are checked both hours and burn. Skate's and bands are also checked monthly. Analogue and digital sound levels are checked and adjusted accordingly with dolby loop.

Every two months all rollers are pulled apart, cleaned, lubricated and put back together. Lenses are checked for focus between W/S and C/S and adjusted accordingly. inside the Projector is cleaned as well.

Projection room is vacuumed and mopped twice weekly and air-conditioning filters are taken out and washed monthly.

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Chad M Calpito
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Apr 2006


 - posted 06-20-2006 06:05 PM      Profile for Chad M Calpito   Author's Homepage   Email Chad M Calpito   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
After reading the responses, I am impressed. I will make it a point to implement some adjustments and additions to the cleaning & maintenance schedule were I work at. Honestly, I am gettin a lot of neat and wonderful ideas and insights. [Big Grin]

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