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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Laser Alignment Kits (Page 1)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2

Author Topic: Laser Alignment Kits Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 12-07-2009 08:02 PM                     Besides the coveted Align-O-Tron, what is another good laser alignment kit? I'm looking to do a complete alignment from lens back to reflector on Super Highlight consoles (X60 light bench) with Christie P35C heads.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-08-2009 07:40 AM                     Kinoton makes a better alignment tool... a bit more expensive but not that bad. I have both the alignotron and the Kinoton and the alignotron's laser diode does not point straight. There should have been facilities inside it to align the diode itself. Its ok for short distance alignment though. Its fairly easy to make one... You can also just make one out of a laser pointer... have any machine shop make you a 70.6mm O.D. alumnium bushing with the proper inner bore to accomodate the laser pointer. If you need 4" then just throw the 70.6mm adaptor with laser pointer bushing into a 4" adaptor. Mark  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 12-23-2009 08:05 PM                     Just received my Kinoton kit, plugged it in and...nothing... The power supply is putting out a little over 5v. I don't see an on/off switch on the unit. Did I receive a defective unit?  |  IP: Logged Victor Liorentas Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 800 From: london ontario canada Registered: May 2009 posted 12-23-2009 08:55 PM                     Jeremy How much did the kit cost?  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-23-2009 09:12 PM                       Yes, and what exactly comes in the kit, if you please? quote: Mark Gulbrandsen You can also just make one out of a laser pointer. Just curious... how can you be sure the laser pointer points straight?  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 12-23-2009 09:15 PM                     $615 if I remember the quote correctly as I haven't yet received the invoice. This should be a visible laser correct? Also, anyone have English instructions. My German isn't so good; well it might be had I taken it. That's what I get for taking French instead. Edit for Tim: It comes with the laser device to mount in the lens barrel much like the Align-O-Tron and power supply with an adapter (from Radio Shack) to plug in to US 110v outlet. I'd post pics except someone ran off with my USB cord for my camera.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 12-23-2009 10:21 PM                        The late Bill Sanders of Christie carried one for years, but stopped. Would work perfectly IF all reflectors were symetrical. Since they are not, it was only good enough to get you close. A crutch. Perfect alignment can be done many ways. Louis  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-23-2009 10:27 PM                     The Kinoton tool is incandescent. Works good though. I have one and use it from time to time. You could have had a machine shop make one with a laser for alot less $$... quote: Tim Reed Just curious... how can you be sure the laser pointer points straight? Easy! Just place it in accurate V-Blocks project the dot say 10 feet away and rotate it. The dot should stay in one place. If not(as with the align-O-Tron)the dot will make it's own circle. quote: Louis Bornwasser Perfect alignment can be done many ways. You can try the many ways but perfect alignment is impossible to achieve unless the reflector itself is perfectly concentric!! Never is...  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 12-23-2009 10:44 PM                     Just so I'm not thinking incorrectly, I should just be able to plug this in and have some type of visible light emitting from it?  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 12-24-2009 02:34 AM                     If it's the same as mine, then you should get a very visible green light emitted from the LED. Perhaps the PSU polarity is wrong?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-24-2009 06:37 AM                     Hmmm my "light projector" uses an incandescent lamp and yes, it is quite visible. As for alignment, I use both the laser and the light projector...it is really the fastest and most accurate method. Use the laser to get the center of the reflector dead center to the aperture and lens. Then use the light projector to aim the reflector EXACTLY back to the film and lens...you just can't beat it. As for concentric...glass reflectors will do much better but every once in a while, you'll get a metal one that will surprise you...then again every once in a while you'll get a metal reflector that practically puts out a spirograph image!  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-24-2009 10:27 AM                       I've always wanted a "light projector". I saw a video of a guy using one once, and thought 'THAT'S the way to align a lamp!' How much does it cost, Steve?  |  IP: Logged Richard Hamilton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1341 From: Evansville, Indiana Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-24-2009 11:00 AM                     A few years ago, I made a trip to Strong to check on 5 Megasystem projectors before they were shipped to China. I was doing the install, so I wanted to make sure the shit was right before they were shipped. One of the guys at the plant was "aligning" a lamphouse in one of them, so I had to watch! When he was done moving the lamp table, yoke, collet around...he got his laser dead on. I rotated the lens holder and it moved the light(laser) around by a few inches. I just told him to get them close, I always redo them in the field anyway. Shipping always messes them up and I check them during the install  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-24-2009 12:02 PM                     I'd have to get a current price in 2010. Steve  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 12-24-2009 07:08 PM                     quote: Pete Naples Perhaps the PSU polarity is wrong? That's certainly a possibility. Anybody know what the polarity should be? I believe the center is positive on the PS plug. I see no markings on the laser itself. I don't want to do any disassemblely of the laser or modification to the PS to find out and void any warranty or ability to be able to return it.  |  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.