Rondinax + Motor = ???

Has anyone else tried to motorize their Rondinax?

Ive got a nice low-volt geared down motor that would give a very slow but continuous rotation to the knob but Im not sure how that would affect development.

Once I get the motor mounted with a bit more permanence than duct tape, I'll shoot a link to a picture of it.

zenrhino said:

Has anyone else tried to motorize their Rondinax?

Ive got a nice low-volt geared down motor that would give a very slow but continuous rotation to the knob but Im not sure how that would affect development.

Once I get the motor mounted with a bit more permanence than duct tape, I'll shoot a link to a picture of it.

Click to expand...

This is an interesting developing tank. Found some instructions and pictures at Dead Link Removed

I have used rotary processing for some time and have had the best results where the rotation can be reversed. Probably not an option for you, butthe instructions say to jerk the wind cycle - probably to make sure the developer is stirred while processing.

Keep us posted on your success......

- Mike

zenrhino said:

Has anyone else tried to motorize their Rondinax?

Ive got a nice low-volt geared down motor that would give a very slow but continuous rotation to the knob but Im not sure how that would affect development.

Once I get the motor mounted with a bit more permanence than duct tape, I'll shoot a link to a picture of it.

Click to expand...

People over the years have indeed added motors to their Rondinax machines. The typical motors seem to have been canibalized from chicken broilers. The problem is: One does not want a continuous movement but a jerky one to make sure that the flows are "random". The joy of the Rondinax is also its portability and small size and both of these get tossed out with a motor unless one makes something like a platform and a geared knob that allows the Ronidax to also be used "manual".

For a motorized processor I just use one of the Jobo things and keep my Agfa machines (I have both 35 and 35U models as well as a Rondix which is something like a Rondinax but **without** a reel(!) and so much smaller and lighter) as what they are.

MikeK said:

I have used rotary processing for some time and have had the best results where the rotation can be reversed.

- Mike

Click to expand...

This is only a needed feature when the motors are too slow and uniform and the reel designs are not quite suited to rotary processing. Jobo--- clearly the leader in rotary processing--- in their last processor (the Duolab) did away with direction change, increased the rotation speed and used a motor drum interface that supplies a bit of "jerkyness". This proved to work quite well--- the fate of the Duolab was sealed by disappointing European market sales (in the US, by contrast, it seems to have sold better) and not functionality or results.