Sachtler Luminariers Fastening Facilities
By Alexander Luganskiy

The Sachtler Company that is well known by its camera tripods, luminariers of different assignment and other products also produces large number of facilities assigned for fastening and control of luminary equipment (pantographs, brackets, tripods, guides, etc).

Understanding the value of quality lightning and opportunities of operative change of light picture of studio, specialists of the company had developed the construction, which allows increasing the efficiency of television production. Sachtler fastening systems differ by module construction what allows maximum flexible use of it. In the range of facilities are the following:

• pantographs;
• brackets for lifting and lowering of few facilities;
• telescopic brackets;
• guides.

It is necessary to point out that listed facilities can carry not only luminary equipment, but also audio-video monitors and other facilities.

Sachtler pantographs are produced in dew series: spring, on ropes, and motorized. Spring pantographs of PF series can have as thrust element two or four springs. That is reflected in the marking of pantograph: "2" number after PF symbols means hat pantograph is two-spring and "4" means four springs. Springs create the effort that balances gravity influencing the luminarier. As a result with applying insignificant effort it is possible to move the luminarier vertically on this or that height. After fastening of the facility on the necessary height pantograph gets fixed to avoid spontaneous lowering or lifting of the suspended facility. Main parameters of PF series facilities are shown in the table 1.

In rope pantographs for vertical moving of luminarier or other loading, fastened to it, rope, which winds around winch through the blocks system, is used what simplifies the pantograph operating. In the rest the load-carrying structure of these pantographs is analogous to spring ones. Distinction of rope pantographs is bigger that at spring ones cargo carrying capacity. Main parameters of rope pantographs are shown in the table 2.

Motorized pantographs can be controlled with the help of HelioCan system (we'll tell later about it). In that case there is an opportunity of memorizing prior settings with loading of them when turning on.

MPF series motorized pantograph

Motorized pantograph MPF1000 has minimum length of 1.28 m and maximum of 10.4 m. With own weight of 42 kg it can carry the loading of up to 60 kg. Pantograph is equipped with electric drive with motor of alternating current; it can be powered from one- or three-phased mains of different voltage and frequency (it depends on concrete drive). Control is done from contactor or reverser with providing of smooth start. Pantographs of that type can be used for suspension of not only luminary equipment, but also monitors, column loudspeakers, cameras, etc. Electric drive is equipped with automatical brake that turns of when no power is received by motor what provides instant reliable fixation of suspended equipment. For stretching/compression of pantograph are applied two ropes with cargo carrying capacity of 600 kg each. For control of pantograph can serve not only HelioCan system, which is delivered separately, but also switcher that is in the set of pantograph. There is also opportunity of remote control through IR-interface.

MPF320 model is a little smaller in sizes. Its length changes in diapason of 0.74...3.2 m, and weight of maximum loading can be more than 60 kg with own weight of 30 kg. Parameters of electric drive and other characteristics are the same as at MPF1000 model. There is also protection against overloading.

One more model in the row of motorized Sachtler pantographs is MPF550, which differs from two previous ones only by weight (33 kg) and diapason of length changing that is 0.92...5.5 m.

Now it is time to tell about HelioCan control system assigned for operating with facilities of Sachtler Company equipped with remote control, and analogous products of other manufactures.

OMT series telescope

HelioCan system represents program complex that operates on the Windows NT platform. This software allows control all motorized suspension facilities with reflection on the screen of computer monitor of position and moving of each connected facility. In general to the system can be connected up to 15 thousands facilities. Transfer of control signals and feedback occurs through RS-232 interface. System allows disconnect, connect and switch the facilities in random order without shutting down of the system. With the help of HelioCan it is possible to control panning, rotation, opening/closing of luminariers shutters, etc. Except for use of standard cable connected to RS-232 port, there is also an opportunity to control through radio, for what special receiving-transmitting equipment is used. HelioCan Lux model allows making calculations of light intensity depending on setting of luminary equipment (situation, slope, level of shutters opening).

Telescopic brackets of OMT series are equipped with electric drive and depending on the model has different boom start. Usually it is 6 and 10 m. Cargo carrying capacity of such brackets is enough to carry not only luminary equipment, but also monitors (sound and video) and other facilities. By the fastening type they can be with movement along guide opportunity or fastened directly to the studio ceiling. Power of electric drive of telescopic brackets of OMT series is done trough the mains of alternating current of 220 V voltage (one-phase) or 380 V (three-phase).

Suspension rail systems with current conducting elements

Brackets for lifting and lowering of few facilities are constructed so, that they can carry few facilities suspended on horizontal guide at a time. Such bracket consists of the facility for ceiling fastening of trolley for setting on the girder, articulated claw, opening regulation module and horizontal guide, which serves for suspension of luminariers or other facilities. Regulation of claw opening is done with the help of rope or blocks system. On the regulation module are settled signal and power cutoff points for connection of the facilities fixed on the bracket. Fastening block can be equipped with rollers for moving of entire system along guide in horizontal plane. Besides suspended facilities are equipped with attachment points with rollers and can be easily moved along tubular guide of bracket and also in horizontal plane but in direction perpendicular to movement of entire system. So the opportunity of luminariers moving along all three coordinates is achieved what provides to the system the flexibility of use increasing by that the efficiency of luminariers application.

RTC series motorized climber

Sachtler Company produces two series of lifting brackets: RTC and GLS. Facilities of RTC series solidly fasten to the ceiling or other load-carrying structure and brackets of GLS series differ only in availability of additional trolley for movement in horizontal plane. Main parameters of brackets are shown in the table.

For all brackets are produced additional accessories: fixating modules, guides for ropes (that prevent curling and meshing of ropes), and also bars for hand moving of brackets and fastened on them facilities. General weight of fastened equipment can achieve 125 kg.

Automated SLT series climber

SLT motorized brackets can carry useful loading of 225 kg. For lifting and lowering of the system serve winches, with the help of which the length of brackets is regulated. Electric drive is equipped with automatical brake and sensor of overloading that prevents falling out of electric or mechanic part of facility while loading. Speed of lifting/lowering can achieve 6 m/min and maximum length of ropes is 13.5 m. Weight of each suspended facility cannot be more than 60 kg. Brackets of SLT series are equipped with all necessary cutoff points for connection of different equipment and its control.

Besides Sachtler Company producer wide range of guides and suspension trolleys.

Guides are done from aluminum profile of circular (UTS series) or difficult rectangular (TVS series) section. For all these facilities there are corresponding connector assemblies, stops, cutoff points and other suspension elements.

Suspension trolleys are equipped with special rollers for movement along guides, stops, which prevent sliding of the trolley, attachment point of suspended facility and fixation module against spontaneous movement.

"Synchro" Company.

next >>