Agfa D-Lab 1 question

I hope this is in the right sub-forum. I work in a local lab in Missoula Montana and our Agfa D-Lab 1 has gone out of commission. I'm not sure of the particulars of what is wrong with it, the owner of the shop knows and I'm asking on his behalf. Question is: Do you all know of any technicians that work on these bad boys so we can get our in-house processing back in order?

HI, I am not based in the USA but you could contact this company and they may be able to point you in the right direction.

https://www.serranorey.com/agfa/106-afga-d-lab-1.html

Can you find out what the actual problem is?

foc said:

HI, I am not based in the USA but you could contact this company and they may be able to point you in the right direction.

https://www.serranorey.com/agfa/106-afga-d-lab-1.html

Can you find out what the actual problem is?

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Hi. Thanks for the response. Ill give them a call. So, basically, the machine is showing a film jam error, we've disassembled sections of it and have not found any loose bits or jammed sections. It's clean, so through troubleshooting it the best guess is that it's a sensor issue within the electronics.

If we could possibly bypass the sensor without too much trouble that'd be great but having a fully functioning machine would be best.

I think Foc gave a good advice. Sad enough the last manufacturer of the D-labs meanwhile gave up on these and changed the matter of business.

If the machine is giving a film jam error but you can find no film in the racks/rollers then you have a faulty sensor either at film entry to the developer tank and/or at the exit from wash/last wet tank to dryer.

How it works is basically one sensor detects the film entering the dev tank and it times the film until it exits the last wet tank and enters the dryer, second sensor. If the timing is more than the time proscribed for normal processing ( I suspect around 8 mins wet and 1.5 min dryer on the D Lab1), it will alarm a jam.

These sensors are there for a reason and if you have a film jam with sensor bypass, you will have a serious problem and possible damage to the processing racks/rollers and not to mention all the customers' films damaged.

Here is a link to the service manual



Locate the sensors and see if you can get a replacement from an electronic store or online. If you can locate them, then buy more than you need. Better to be looking at them than for them.

Let us know how you get on, please.

monkowa said:

I hope this is in the right sub-forum. I work in a local lab in Missoula Montana and our Agfa D-Lab 1 has gone out of commission. I'm not sure of the particulars of what is wrong with it, the owner of the shop knows and I'm asking on his behalf. Question is: Do you all know of any technicians that work on these bad boys so we can get our in-house processing back in order?

Click to expand...

Old thread, but the place to call for support for Agfa machines in the US is Elite Technical Services (formerly Integra). They're very helpful and will give advice for about $140/hr on the phone or via email. They have most parts in stock. You can also contact Limitech in germany who have an even better parts selection.

I have a Dlab-1 in New York that is still going strong doing about 100-200 rolls every single day. I have fixed most things that can go wrong with it and am happy to offer advice if needed.

Glad to hear there is or was a dlab in Montana, hope you were able to get it up and running!

ilikecameras1010 said:

I have a Dlab-1 in New York that is still going strong doing about 100-200 rolls every single day. I have fixed most things that can go wrong with it and am happy to offer advice if needed

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Congratulations on your film volume and that you have the knowledge (and access to knowledge) for your repairs and willing to share your advice.

BTW what film processor(s) are you using?

Edit: BTW I am a retired minilab owner.

foc said:

Congratulations on your film volume and that you have the knowledge (and access to knowledge) for your repairs and willing to share your advice.

BTW what film processor(s) are you using?

Edit: BTW I am a retired minilab owner.

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We use the built-in processor on the d-Lab.1 for C41 which has proven to be shockingly reliable. We also have an AGFA FP 1-44 E6 machine that we have converted to B&W, which gives us a lot of trouble. We're currently expanding the lab and will be acquring a Konica film processor and a Microflex dip & dunk!