Problem with Jobo ATL 1000 programs

Hi everybody! I'm new here.

I just bought a Jobo ATL 1000 and I've some questions.

The times of the ATL1000 programs can't be changed, you can only modify the first step of the developer.
I'm using Fuji X-Press C41 kit right now, and the times they say me are:
-Developer: 3.15 minutes.
-Bleach: 6:30 minutes.
-Rinse: 2:30 minutes.
-Fixer: 6:30 minutes.
-Final rinse: 2:30 minutes.

In the manual of the ATL 1000 they use these times for my process:
-Developer: 3.15 minutes.
-Bleach: 6:00 minutes.
-Fixer: 6:00 minutes.
-Final rinse: 2:30 minutes.

My question is: 1) Is there any way to change times without reprogramming the chip (I saw the post but I don't know how it is done)?; 2) Will something happen to the bleach and the fixer if they are 6 minutes instead of 6.30 minutes?; 3) And what would it happen if I reuse C41 chemicals using the Jobo ATL 1000 program? I mean, Fuji says Bleach and Fix need a rinse, but what would it happen if I don't made the rinse?

Sorry for my English! I hope you can help me because I'm starting to think that I made a bad bought

The processing algorithm is stored in an EPROM. But does failing to call up part of that algarithms means
-) that the ERPOM must be reprogrammed?
-) that the EPROM as such is faulty?
-) that the cause are the surrounding electronics?

The only time that is really critical is the Developer, so you will be fine. Just let the Jobo do its thing...

Rolfe

fujista said:

In the manual of the ATL 1000 they use these times for my process:
-Developer: 3.15 minutes.
-Bleach: 6:00 minutes.
-Fixer: 6:00 minutes.
-Final rinse: 2:30 minutes.

Click to expand...

This should be program #6 "C-41 Standard Program (Kodak Chemistry)". According to the Manual, there is a one-minute rinse between bleach and fix (http://www.jobo-usa.com/images/manuals/ATL_1000_1500_manual.pdf)

AgX said:

The processing algorithm is stored in an EPROM. But does failing to call up part of that algarithms means
-) that the ERPOM must be reprogrammed?
-) that the EPROM as such is faulty?
-) that the cause are the surrounding electronics?

Click to expand...

The chance of any of these issues causing a single step in an otherwise fine-running program to be omitted is about as large as throwing random electronic components into a box, shaking it and ending up with a fully assembled and working computer.

So what then is the probable cause of just one step being omitted?

I wouldn't know. Not a defective eprom, that's for sure.
BTW, an eprom cannot be reprogrammed. An eeprom is a different story.

Edit: seems to me the processor doesn't skip a step and the regular process no.6 is run, which has no wash step between bleach and fix. No defective eprom or other electronics, just a piece of equipment doing what it's programmed to do.

Have you ever run the actual process to see if the rinse is in there but not listed?

(of course with water, not an actual run with film)

If the manual says that for this program there won't be a rinse, then there likely won't be a rinse. In other programs where rinse steps are included, it is explicitly stated.
The omission of the rinse between bleach and fix will shorten the usable lifetime of the fixer, which may or may not be are problem depending on how frugal you are. With any regular use (let's say at minimum one or two films a week) I would consider using minilab bleach and fix, and perhaps even developer too. A lot more bang for the buck than the press kit.

koraks said:

BTW, an eprom cannot be reprogrammed. An eeprom is a different story.

Click to expand...

A EPROM can be erased many times and reprogrammed many times too. (Erasure without successive reprogramming would not make sense either.)

Once upon a time, eproms with a clear glass window were used that could be erased through UV exposure and reprogrammed. These have fallen out of use for 20-25 years or so. It's possible the Atl1000 uses them (dinosaur tech after all), although it would surprise me. Contemporary eproms are read only. Again, you're confusing eproms and eeproms.

I am referring to the classic Eprom with that window. I found a source that says the processor has an Eprom of the reprogrammable version. Maybe that source is wrong and mixing up Eprom and EEprom.

It is quite likely that the ATL1000 uses an UV erasable eprom. That is not going to help much in terms of modifying the software though, as disassembling and analyzing the code will take countless hours and is virtually not feasible. In the rare event of a defective eprom, it could be replaced with a new one with the software from a working ATL1000 programmed into it (read it from the working eprom and program it into the new one), but the functionality will of course still be identical. As there is no indication of defective software in OP's case, this is all a bit hypothetical of course. Essentially, the device can only be accepted "as is", with the exception of the one German guy I found online who used to (perhaps still does?) offer replacement eproms with modified programs. Apparently these are effectively ATL1500 eproms which should work on ATL1000 hardware with a few limitations. This is the only actual software modification that I could find which sounds feasible without investing a serious amount of time into analyzing machine code or reverse engineering brand new software for this machine.

The ATL1000 uses an Eprom to run the software.
They are UV erasable units. The code is quite simple, but alas, Eprom coding machines and knowledge are few and far in between. With such a setup, the machine can be programmed to do about anything (though temp control cannot be changed other than designating 24C or 38.4C per process).
ATL1500 use microprocessor control, which drives the machine and which can program each channel and each step, including rinse cycles and other features.

Unfortunately, neither one of these are available from Jobo any longer, but some able persons could, potentially, reprogram your Eprom to do some neat tricks.