frazer Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Hello I've noticed that a lot of movers have Pan and Tilt locks on them, but I don't totally understand the reasons for them. I can understand their advantage for rigging and transporting as it stops the head swinging around losely, but do they have another purpose? I really can't see why you would want to lock the pan or tilt off on the fixture and not at the desk during show control. Can anyone enlighten me? Frazer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Pan & Tilt locks are purely for ease of maintenance and rigging. It's a lot easier to strip a head down if it's not moving around while you're doing it! On many heads, they should be OFF when being transported.If the head can move, knocks and bumps simply cause it to rotate about the bearings.If it's locked into position, then a bump will try to bend the locking mechanism and bearings, and may succeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Lawrance Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 You've answered your own question. The lock is purely for transport and rigging reasons. As soon as the fixture is in the air (or where ever it is going to be used) flick it off and it is ready for action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frazer Posted March 1, 2007 Author Share Posted March 1, 2007 Ok, thanks guys. Looks like thats that question answered. Can you damage the units if you try to pan/tilt them with the lock on? Or are most of them clever enough not to do that? Frazer Edited: To add the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Can you damage the units if you try to pan/tilt them with the lock on?Usually not - the motors simply aren't powerful enough. Most heads with closed loop position control will try to move, and then give up showing an error code if the lock is on. Heads that use purely open loop control *may* overheat the motors/motor drivers if you keep trying to make them move with the locks on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danjshelton Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Although you can't damage the motor's (as Tomo says on a closed loop system) it makes a horrendous noise and the person who powered them up (as long as this is on stage!) is usually alerted quite soon to the fact the locks are still on! The amount of times I've had the locks on for servicing and then powered up the fixture for testing to get a very unhappy noise from the fixture! Think I would have learnt to check the locks by now! just seem to get a bit to involved in the problem with the light and seeing if it's been fixed! Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.