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Small winches


Munro

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I'm on the hunt for some small winches that I can use to lift a light-weight, led structure which will remain 4m clear of the floor at its lowest. Each structure will need 4 winches, lessening the weight further, total weight for each structure being around 4kg.

 

I found something similar to what I think I'm looking for here: http://wahlberg.dk/s...ble-w-4-m-wire/

 

Need to be able to hire something similar in the UK, any ideas?

 

I'm also unsure about the DMX control element. I remember reading in the past that DMX was not great practice for control of elements like this which potentially have the ability to wreak havoc. If I were to go down this route, I'd hook it up to a separate lighting desk to prevent stepping through the cue list and causing the set elements to reposition. Any thoughts on this? What alternatives are there to simultaneously control 16 of these winches?

Edited by FÂTFRÕGGĘR
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I'm also unsure about the DMX control element. I remember reading in the past that DMX was not great practice for control of elements like this which potentially have the ability to wreak havoc. If I were to go down this route, I'd hook it up to a separate lighting desk to prevent stepping through the cue list and causing the set elements to reposition. Any thoughts on this? What alternatives are there to simultaneously control 16 of these winches?

 

DMX is not allowed for controlling something that may become hazardous/dangerous etc- pyros, stage traps/trucks etc etc...If the lowest your piece is going to come is 4m off the ground, that implies that it will be rigged somewhat higher. The winches in question only have a 4m drop on anyway, so the the most that can go wrong would seem to be an embarassing unplanned lowering- the maximum speed is stated as 30cm/s- slower that one is allowed to move even an occupied tallescope, so again, hardly hazardous for the activity in question. (Think evil henchman getting flattened by the steam-roller in Austin Powers!)

 

Personally, I'd be perfectly happy to use the linked product for dropping in sensible practical fittings from, for example, a studio theatre grid. I wouldn't go to the trouble of a second console- assuming the main console has the capabilities, I'd program it sensibly, and probably have an 'inhibitive' submaster set up to prevent unwanted drops outside of when it is supposed to come in.

 

Ian

Edited by IRW
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The specification for DMX specifically says not to use it for anything hazardous or where mis-function could be hazardous. So you are on your own to determine the safety of your proposed system. Can you come to a written and reasoned decision that the worst possible condition would still fail to a safe condition. No-one care about the system failing to work as expected but putting person(s) or things at risk is totally unacceptable. However I do like your find as part of a well considered solution.
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Each structure will need 4 winches, lessening the weight further..

 

If the winches remain synchronised. Will your floaty light structure withstand hanging on 3 or 2 (or 1?) of it's hanging points if they don't? (Otherwise a DMX glitch could mean self-destruct.)

 

Need to be able to hire something similar in the UK, any ideas?

 

Don't know, but think PRG might have something along those lines.

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Some lighting department colleagues tested those winches last year as an option for flown practical lamps, rather than bothering the stage department every time with lines and pulleys. There response was positive, apart from one aspect. (And this is where my memory gets a bit hazy, as I wasnt directly involved during the testing, just in the room overhearing the results.)

There was something odd about the In and out limits being reset when the unit was powered off. I think you could set the in/out limits via DMX, but these wouldnt be retained once the power was lost, So you would have to set the limits of the unit every time the unit was powered back on. I will add that this is my vague recollection, and I wil try and find out a bit more info and re-post.

 

Neil.

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You may be interested in the thread I started in lighting http://www.blue-room...showtopic=66125 Called a 'fascinating effect' the kinds of costs we got were eye watering.

 

There are chinese alternatives for kinetic stuff (all the usual caveats apply) but might prove usable for such small loads we were quoted $200.00 per unit plus delivery DMX controllable we are still looking at it using Madrix to control them!

 

It would depend on the arduousness of the the project and your attitude to chinese equipment!

 

Madrix have a video of a kinetic ceiling being used on an Audi event

Edited by Andrew C
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What you get is a long email asking for all kinds of details they are very expensive if the Hire charges are any guide for the event we were looking at Over £40khttp://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif

 

I hope you were looking at hiring more than one?

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  • 3 years later...

Hello BR,

 

Dragging up a bit of an old query, but did anyone ever get any further with this?

 

I'm after a couple of DMX controlled winches that could be used for an essentially non load-bearing use.

 

Think: using a line to swag open/close some lightweight curtains on a window element. The curtains would obviously be fixed at the top, so the line only needs to take a nominal (sideways) load (say 1kg) and there is no danger of failure causing injury (other than being hit by some d0m3stic curtains).

 

Of course this could be done with some fishing line and manual operator - and budget may ultimately dictate that - but it would be nice to automate this for this particular case.

 

Total travel distance would need to be a couple of metres.

 

Usual disclaimer for using DMX to control safety-critical elements etc (particularly scenery moves) fully understood.

 

Ideally to purchase, but hire could be an option if necessary.

 

Hope someone has some bright ideas!

 

Cheers,

Barney

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If they're d0mestic size curtains then google motorised curtain track. You can get a system for less than 200 quid. Add a DMX controlled relay for another 20 and job done.
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