OPTICAL PRINTER K106
& K106r
INITIAL SETUP,
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
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| Optical Printer K106r | Optical Printer K106 |
JK Optical printers are mostly used with Bolex H Series Rex 4 and Rex 5 motion picture cameras. Any other camera can be used provided that camera have 1-to-1 ratio drive outlet and the motor is supplied for that camera.
INITIAL SETUP OF K106 PRINTER
The optical printer K106 is shipped in semi-assembled
condition, only projector is removed from the base and the lens holder with
bellows and X-axis assembly is also removed as a safety precaution. To
re-install the lens holder assembly, carefully slide the dovetail of the
base-block, which is part of Y-axis movement into mating part of a lens carriage
( do not use force), push it in till lead screw will engage with the threaded
insert which is located in the end of the slide.
Install projector mounting plate (projector still attached to) into end of the
square base, use 4 screws to secure it in place. Note that four screw holes are
elongated allowing height adjustment and alignment with the camera aperture.
Electrical hook-up
All power supplies and motor drives are assembled
inside a long 4-inch-square printer base. You don’t need to open that unless
there is a serious problem in printer operation.
There are two 9-pin AMP connectors in the end of the square base. Plug the
camera motor control cable to the socket which have 9 contact pins, usually the
top socket. Rotate the plug till it inserts freely into the socket then twist
the locking ring till it’s tight. Do the same for projector motor control
cable. To make sure that right socket is used, count the contact pins in the
plug and match with equal number in the socket. (Camera socket have 9 pins and
Projector socket have 7 pins)
Plug the cable with 14-pin connector to the control box socket (this plug has
the remote-switch cable attached. Plug the power cord to 120 Volt AC outlet (
make sure that the AC outlet is grounded; this will reduce electrical noise to
low voltage controls).
Turn the power switch ON, LED display indicates "0", if not, press the
preset button in the back of control box, the display should indicate zero.
To prepare Bolex H16 Rex4 for printer
Remove film and lenses and lock turret
with provided plug or clamp. Allow spring motor to wind down then disengage by
simultaneously swinging clutch lever from MOT to O and locking drive release
back at M (down position). Set film speed to 64fps ( to minimize stress on
governor). Next step is to remove the camera mounting block from camera
carriage; with hex-key loosen two screws holding the brass wedge then slide the
block off from the carriage. Secure the mounting block to camera base by
3/8" NC cap screw provided, make sure that the mounting block is in 90
degree to lens axes. Slide the mounting block with camera back to carriage,
locate with lens axes and tighten the screws on the wedge. Install provided
C-mount adapter and secure bellows to camera.
INSTALL CAMERA MOTOR
Note the position of 1 to 1 drive shaft,
engraved red dot should be towards lens, advance to this position using camera
rewind crank. The camera motor in your hand, advance motor one turn by pressing
the camera remote button, the motor will advance and stop to HOME position, in
that position when motor is attached to camera the shutter is in closed
position. engage the motor coupling so that the wider slot in the end of the
coupling aligns with red dot. Install and screw in all 3 mounting screws with
spacer bushings, do not tighten screws yet.
Advance motor few times, if OK go to control
keyboard and program following sequence: Camera (PRESET COUNT) (50) (ENTER)
(RUN). As camera runs continuously observe the movement of motor coupling and
the sound of motor. You can move the motor so that motor running sound is even
and the coupling is in center of the camera shaft, when OK lock the motor into
final position.
There is one more important operation left:
Printer completely assembled, set a light source in place so that there is
½" cap in between the projector’s forward edge and condenser tube. With
16mm module in projector, crank the lens carriage to 1 to 1 image magnification
( set pointer to 4" from projector mounting plate) and camera carriage so
that pointer is 8" from the projector mounting plate. Remove the camera lid
and the film pressure plate, now you can see the gate.
Turn the light ON, remove the lens cap if
applicable, set lens aperture to F:4 and make following observation from the
camera gate: If you do not see the light, the motor is properly installed, if
the gate is illuminated, that means that the motor engagement is 180 degrees
off. To verify, advance camera several times, when motor stops the shutter must
be closed and the shutter open indicator light is off. You can also toggle the
shutter movement by pressing the shutter open/closed key. Redo the motor
installation if gate is open when camera stops.
ALIGNMENT OF CAMERA AND PROJECTOR APERTURES ON COMMON AXIS
It may be useful to observe that the critical
alignment of the common axis is important only, when printing the scene which
includes zoom movement, where the image must stay in the center of the aperture.
VERTICAL ALIGNMENT:
Establish exact 1:1 image via prism in camera gate using suitable calibrated film. Mark positions of camera and lens carriages and of camera and lens carriage hand-wheel cranks. Track lens toward projector about 1 1/8" or more and the away from projector until image is in focus on prism. Mark these positions 2:1 ratio (approx.).
Loosen 3 of 4 screws holding the projector mounting plate. Then observing the image position carefully loosen the last screw and correct the vertical image center by about half by lifting or lowering the projector.
Track camera and carriage back to original 1:1 positions. Reframe image to exact 1:1 using lens vertical adjustment hand-wheel. Track camera and lens to 2:1 positions. Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 until image remains vertically centered throughout 1:1 to 2:1 range. Tighten projector mounting screws
HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT:
Proceed as in steps 1 and 2 above and then loosen the brass wedge which locks the camera mounting slide.
Do the horizontal alignment following the same procedure as in Vertical axis steps 3, 4, 5 and 6. EXEPT, correcting the horizontal error by relocating the camera instead.
When done lock the camera in place.
PROJECTOR FILM TRANSFER AND REGISTRATION MODULE
CLEANING:
Frequently remove dirt and loose particles from
module by swabbing entire film path with film cleaner/lubricant. Check more
often if many splices pass through the film gate.
PERIODIC LUBRICATION:
Approximately every 200 printing hours. Remove a
projector module from the projector. Place 2 drops of sewing machine oil on each
side of activator slide where it contacts two brass slide bearings. Slide should
retract freely by applying tension by finger. And return smoothly under its own
spring tension. Also lubricate the spindle bearings of model K103 film module.
Inside the gear assembly, apply a drop of oil on the switch rollers and on the
activator arm bearing. Using medium weight grease, lubricate the outer flange
surface of synchronizing cam and top and bottom drive gear teeth.

FILM LOADING
Except for reverse action printing and aerial image
projector, projector feeds from the bottom supply film reel (image reads
correctly and appears right side up in camera viewfinder).
See the film threading diagram for correct film path.
Threading a single film:
Thread film around sprockets and between film
lifter plates, around the idle wheel as shown above. Make sure that film
perforation engages with sprocket teeth before sliding a film gate in.
For Bipacking. Tread film separately as shown in image above. For best results
outside film should be of printstock pitch (.3000"). Inside film may be
either print or camera (.2994") pitch. Place the feed and take-up reels of
outside film adjacent to those of inside film, coaxial.
HOW TO GHANGE THE FILM MODULE
The inter-changeable film module consists
of film advance sprockets, aperture, registration pins, film lifting mechanism
and film guide brackets and reels. The film lifting mechanism is activated by
the oscillating arm from the projector power head. The two film advance
sprockets are synchronized by corresponding spindles in the power head. All film
modules for different film formats operates by the same mechanical principle and
the removal and installation requires the same procedure.
TO REMOVE THE FILM MODULE
First unscrew two thump-screws and gently pull
the module out, away from projector. The installation requires more attention.
Use thump-screws to locate the module in place, do not tighten screws yet,
module still loose engage the lifter arm with the corresponding hole in the
slide then rotate the sprockets so that the spindles will engage with projector
drive spindles, the module should slide in against the projector face plate
without using force then tighten the screws.
300 watt QUARTZ LIGHT
The light source is a self standing unit
which consist of a cooling fan, ELH lamp holder, light intensity control, AC
volt meter, light condenser tube and plug-in power cord for 120 AC power outlet.
Set this light unit so that the light tube is in center of the linear line of
image bath, in X and Z axis. Leave ½" cap in between the light tube and
projector face plate. Use spacers for alignment if necessary and tape or screw
mount in place. The main switch turns power On/Off to a cooling fan and to
dimmer switch which is push activated, therefore the lamp cannot be ON without
having cooling fan ON. Use replacement lamp # ELH 300.
CONTROL SWITCHES AND KEYBOARD
OPERATIONSwitches located in the back of the control box have following functions:
Projector FWD/REV. Camera FWD/REV (lever up is FWD). Reset (push button) cancels all programmed functions. Projector count reversing switch, this is installed and used to change frame count direction in conjunction of 35mm gate. A 14 pin AMP connector is to plug-in a power and control gable from the printer base. A key pad on this unit has four modes of operation, following is a description of the modes and then a description of each key function within that mode.
NOTE 1: Keys pressed will activate only when pressure is released.
MODE 1: MAIN MODE
FUNCTIONS OF INDIVIDUAL KEYS IN THE 'MAIN MODE':
MODE SELECTION KEYS:
(PGM) - PROGRAM - Key used to enter the PROGRAM MODE.
(VERIFY) - VERIFY - Key used to enter the VERIFY MODE.
(RUN) - RUN - Key used to enter the RUN MODE.
COUNTER KEYS:
(PROJ TOTAL) - PROJECTOR TOTAL - Press to display the projectors total count.
(CAM TOTAL) - CAMERA TOTAL - Press to display the camera total count.
FUNCTION KEYS:
(CAP SHTR) - CAPPING SHUTTER - Press once to enable and again to disable.
(PROJ INDIV) - PROJECTOR INDIVIDUAL - Advances the projector one frame.
(CAM INDIV) - CAMERA INDIVIDUAL - Advances the camera one frame.
NOTE 2: Any key not explained above has no
function when in the MAIN MODE.
NOTE 3: If the individual button on the motor or
the projector is pressed the counter will be updated and then display the count
for that device. Also the external input trigger may be activated from the
connector on the rear panel of the unit. This will have the same function as the
run key.
MODE 2: PROGRAM MODE
NOTE 4: The PROGRAM LED, on the left side of the key pad, indicating the PROGRAM MODE.
FUNCTIONS OF INDIVIDUAL KEYS IN THE 'PROGRAM MODE':
(PGM) - PROGRAM
This key may now be used to exit the PROGRAM
MODE. After using this key the PROGRAM LED will no longer be lit indicating that
the unit is no longer in this mode.
(NUMBER KEYS 0 THRU 9)
Use to enter data when the data parameter has been
defined. (Pressing a function key then the number values desired for that
function.)
(.) - DECIMAL - (The decimal point doesn’t show in the LED display but is functional when key is pressed) Should be used only with exposure time and delay time specs.
(CLR) - CLEAR - Clears the currently entered data, in the event of a correction.
(ENTER) - ENTER - Enters the currently programmed data into the programs memory.
(EXP TIME) - EXPOSURE TIME
Selects the desired exposure time in increments
of 0.1 seconds. The minimum open-shutter exposure time of 0.175 (for Bolex H 16
Rex. 120 rpm motor = 1/6 of the second exposure time ) is automatically
accounted for. "0" exposure time = this value.
NOTE 5: The K104 Sequencer does not take advantage of this feature. Using this key will enter the value but it will have no effect on the operation of the unit.
(CAP SHTR) - CAPPING SHUTTER
In this mode this key no longer selects the capping
shutter. Instead it can be selected to enter a value pertaining to a delay time
after the sync switch has been activated by the camera or the projector.
Entering a value of 1 will then delay any further action by the camera or
projector for about 1 second. This value is default at 0, which is the fastest
speed at which the camera and projector can sync back and forth. NOTE: this may
be useful for instance when very fragile film is being used through the
projector, to carefully observe the alignment before any further action.
(PROJ TOTAL) - PROJECTOR TOTAL
Loads the projector total counter with any value selected by the number keys.
(CAMTOTAL)- CAMERATOTAL
Loads the camera total counter with any value selected by the number keys.
(RUN) - SCENE
In this mode the RUN key is used to start the programmed scene.
PROJECTOR AND CAMERA SEQUENCING KEYS:
The following keys are all in the two left hand columns
(next to the LED’s).The farthest left keys all relate to projector functions.
The next column of keys all relate to camera functions. There are three types of
executable runs modes that can be selected using these keys.
(PRESET COUNT) - PRESET COUNT
Presets the desired number of frames to be
exposed or advanced. Preset count must be entered in order to run programmed
scene. If the CAMERA PRESET COUNT is used then the run will stop after the
camera has exposed that many frames. If the PROJECTOR PRESET COUNT is selected
then the run will stop after the projector has advanced that many frames. If
both are selected the camera will override.
SCENE is the term used for each continued event to be printed.
CYCLE is the repeating sequence during printing one scene (one combined camera and projector cycle). In step mode enter the cycle number which indicate the total number of projector frames. In skip mode enter the cycle number of total camera frames.
1 - ALTERNATE (whole number ratios) where camera
exposes number of frames then projector advance number of frames completing one
cycle, this cycle will repeat till preset count is full.
The programmed camera frame number indicates how many times the frame number
programmed to projector is to be printed.
2 - STEP Fractional ratios where the camera can expose some projector frames more than one time. Camera prints each projector frame ones EXCEPT: Programmed camera frame number indicates, how many times frame number that is programmed to projector is to be printed.
3 - SKIP Fractional ratios where the camera can miss exposing some projector frames. Camera prints each projector frame ones EXCEPT: After number of frames programmed to camera is printed, projector advances to frame programmed to projector skip count.
MORE ABOUT MODES
:MODE 1 (ALT COUNT) - ALTERNATE
COUNT
This is for whole number ratios (1:1, 5:2, 3:7
etc.). Loading the CAMERA ALTERNATE COUNT will set the camera to expose that
many frames per cycle. And loading the PROJECTOR ALTERNATE COUNT will set the
projector to advance that many frames per cycle. (After power on, both the
projector and camera ALTERNATE COUNTS are default to one.) Note the LED next to
these keys. This is to indicate this type of run.
MODE 2 (CYCLE COUNT) - STEP or
CYCLE COUNT
Used to enter the step count that the camera
will expose for before each alternating PROJECTOR and CAMERA CYCLE COUNT.
MODE 3 (SKIP) -
SKIP CAMERA
Used to enter the number of frames the projector will
skip before each alternating CAMERA CYCLE. Note the LED next to the SKIP key.
This is used to indicate this type of run.
VERIFY MODE
This mode is used to verify any data that has
been entered in the PROGRAM MODE. Using the VERIFY key to enter this mode and
then any key, explained in the PROGRAM MODE, will then display its data. Then a
delay for a few seconds before returning to the MAIN MODE again.
Note 5: the PAUSE key is a
toggle. If this function is off the verified number will be zero.
If it is on the number will be 255.
RUN MODE
When this mode is entered the computer will run
the programmed scene. Note: The Camera or Projector PRESET COUNT
must be entered which equals the total number of frames of programmed scene.
Only two keys are active during a run. The pause and the stop keys. Pressing the
pause key will halt any further operation until the pause, stop or run key have
been pressed. If the PAUSE or run key are pressed the computer will
continue with the programmed scene. If the STOP key is pressed the
running scene will be aborted. The VERIFY MODE can be used while a run is being
paused. Any of the programmed data can the be verified before continuing or
aborting the run. If the stop key is pressed during a run the scene running will
be aborted.
PROGRAMMING EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 1:
In this scene the CAMERA will advance first and expose the first frame in the projector, projector will advance one frame and then camera will expose the second projector frame. This alternating cycle will continue till the camera frame count is 50. NOTE: When pressing the RUN key, the CAMERA will expose the current PROJECTOR frame at the beginning of each cycle.
EXAMPLE 2:
Run one scene of ALTERNATE COUNT
for total of 100 camera exposures, using 25 projector frames.
Power on - (PGM) CAMERA (PRESET COUNT) (100) (ENTER) PROJECTOR (ALT COUNT) (1) (ENTER) CAMERA (ALT COUNT) (4) (ENTER) (PGM) (RUN)
EXAMPLE 3:
Run one scene of ALTERNATE COUNT
for total of 100 camera exposures, using 200 projector frames.
Power on - (PGM) CAMERA (PRESET COUNT) (100) (ENTER)
PROJECTOR (ALT COUNT) (2) (ENTER) CAMERA (ALT COUNT) (1) (ENTER) (PGM) (RUN)
EXAMPLE 4:
Run one scene of CYCLE COUNT (this
mode is the same as a STEP MODE) for exposing the projector frames 1 and
2 and adding one extra camera frame for every third projector frame.
Power on - (PGM) CAMERA (PRESET COUNT) (50) (ENTER)
CAMERA (CYCLE COUNT) (2) (ENTER) PROJECTOR (CYCLE COUNT) (3) (ENTER) (PGM) (RUN)
This mode is useful when changing the silent film speed (16fpc.) to sound speed
(24 fps.)
EXAMPLE 5:
Run one scene of SKIP COUNT In this
mode the camera will expose projector frames 1 and 2 and skip frame 3. Each
sequence will skip every third projector frame.
Power on - (PGM) CAMERA (PRESET COUNT) (40) (ENTER) CAMERA (SKIPCOUNT) (2) (ENTER) PROJECTOR (SKIP COUNT) (2) (ENTER) (PGM) (RUN)
EXAMPLE 6:
Run one scene of SKIP COUNT for
total of 50 camera frames using 100 projector frames. Each sequence will skip
every third and fourth projector frame.
Power on - (PGM) CAMERA (PRESET COUNT) (50) (ENTER) CAMERA (SKIP COUNT) (2) (ENTER) PROJECTOR (SKIP COUNT) (3) (ENTER) (PGM) (RUN)
EXAMPLE 7:
Rewind 300 camera frames using preset
count.
Set camera switch to REV. and press camera (PRESET COUNT)
(300) (ENTER) (RUN)
EXAMPLE 8:
Rewind 300 projector frames using
preset count.
Set projector switch to REV. and press projector (PRESET
COUNT) (300) (ENTER) (RUN)