Who here has filed projector gates wider and higher?

[slashmaster]

I was wondering if anyone here has filed a projector gate wider and higher? If so did you have any problems? I just measured the dimensions in my Elmo 16 cl. They are 9.43 by 6.86, according to the wikipedia a regular 16mm projector should be 9.60 by 7.01 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16mm so I have filing to do just to get it to what it should have been from the factory. then there is the (TV station aperture) of 9.65 by 7.26 an even bigger jump. Are there any problems I could run into trying this?

[wolferic]

I have done it on an Elmo FP-C super 8 projector. I wouldn't say I was 100% successful since it was my first attempt, but it did achieve the desired result of allowing me to see the ENTIRE image - and a bit more! Now you can see the edge of the sprocket hole as well as the bottom of the preceding image and the top of the next. This is not a big issue as this projector is for transfer, but if it was strictly for projecting it would be quite annoying.

Go slowly. 16mm is bigger than super-8, but filing the edges without getting any burrs requires a fine file and a steady hand. Stop and check your work often: once you have gone too far there is no going back. I started with the corners and when they were deep enough I flattened the sides, but when viewed on the screen you see all the smallest mistakes...

Best would be to try to have a new gate fabricated, but failing that maybe you can find someone who can laser-cut the opening or possibly use a CNC machine for real accuracy.

I wish you luck, and please report back any successes (or otherwise)

[slashmaster]

Thanks Wolferic. Did you get the 4 corners sharp or are they more rounded than when it was new? THat's one of the things I've been concerned about, even if I have a fine square file the corners might look rounded blown up. particularly with super 8. By the way, my elmo has some kind of lens with some kind of prizm so that the image turns one color if focused too close and another if focused too far. Is your elmo like that?

[wolferic]

interesting elmo you have... what model is it? I don't remember any prism that affected colors, but I mostly shoot and project tri-x anyway.

regarding the corners, they are decidedly NOT sharp right angles, but on the super-8 they always seem to be kind of rounded off anyway. Biggest problem for you I think is keeping the sides parallel to each other, but it should be a bit easier in 16mm.

good luck. keep a spare gate handy ;)

[slashmaster]

interesting elmo you have... what model is it? I don't remember any prism that affected colors, but I mostly shoot and project tri-x anyway.

regarding the corners, they are decidedly NOT sharp right angles, but on the super-8 they always seem to be kind of rounded off anyway. Biggest problem for you I think is keeping the sides parallel to each other, but it should be a bit easier in 16mm.

good luck. keep a spare gate handy ;)

It's an elmo 16-cl. I think all of them are like that. It's not a zoom lens but you can see there is more than just 2 pieces of glass in the lens. it gives a purple tint when focused too close and a slight green tint focused too far. All the manuals for this projector I found online seem to say nothing about it. I get the feeling it's a trade off. You can focus quick from far away but the maximum sharpness is reduced because of this prism. I'm wondering if an Eiki lens would be sharper.

I should be able to keep the sides parallel enough. I've got a digital gauge.