Thermaphot ACP 505 set-up

[Tom Kershaw]

This post is probably best directed at someone with experience with the Thermaphot ACP series machines.

I'm in the process of trying to set up my Thermaphot ACP 505, but not having much success in trying to get it to pull paper through the system. The gears turn and infrared heater runs but inserted paper gets dented and stuck or jammed in the developer bath, testing with 8x10 and 5x7 ILFORD Multigrade IVRC Glossy. An initial attempt with 12x16 paper ran through to the fifth (third wash) bath; but the paper was still dented or folded-up.

I'll post some detailed images later in the morning.

Any ideas?

Tom.

 

[Mike Wilde]

It sounds like there is a rack that is mis-aligned. Sometimes there is a plastic finger on a rack that will get broken, and then slightly protrude into the path of the paper. The other option is that a piece of rack that is supposed to direct the paper onto or between the next roller is missing, or potentially installed backward or upside down. If possible, pull the whole assembly from the tank, and feed paper into it, turning the gear drive by hand. this should give you a better idea of where the grief is coming from. I don't have direct Thermaphot experience, but have wrangled kreonites and fujimotos.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

The Thermaphot racks are fairly straightforward. There are some stainless steel guides and there is a plastic cover on the top side of the racks that may help guide the paper. Each roller is spring loaded against its opposing roller. If there are flat spots on the rollers or some of the springs are missing. (Springs on each end of each roller pair), then it is possible to crumple paper. Also, be sure to feed the paper in with emulsion surface down. Repeat..feed paper with emulsion (picture) side down. The plastic cover I am referring to is the one that fits down inside the top of each rack, and not the overall plastic cover, that fits over the whole works before you put the lid on. I don't have the exact model thermaphot you have, does yours have the separate wash/dry module? Or is that integrated into the whole machine. If it is a separate wash/dry module, it has to "mate" with the develop/blix portion of the processor as the main processor "drives" the wash/dry module. There is no drive motor in the wash/dry module. There is a "dog" and receptical for the drive to the wash/dry module.

In effect, the paper is "pushed" thru the whole machine, rather than "pulled" The first roller grips the paper and "pushes" it to the next roller which grips it and "pushed" it to the next, etc.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I should have replied more quickly, I've been printing with the Thermaphot today. The problem was that one of two paper guide bars had become separated from the developer and blix / fix rollers. Once I'd inserted the guide bars back into position the machine worked. The ACP 505 machine is one unit, i.e. washing and drying are integrated.

Tom.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Replenishment

The latest step of the familiarisation process has led me to discover that while the developer replenishment pump is working, the bleach / blix pump doesn't draw solution up into the machine. I checked that the pumping wasn't an air issue by drawing the developer from an open mixing jug. The blix hose appears to be a replacement as the hard straight plastic section of the developer hose is missing and the colour of the hose is different to that specified in the Thermaphot users guide.

Does anyone have experience of dealing with Thermaphot ACP replenishment pumps?

Tom.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I have had to take my replenishment pumps apart and clean them. It is not difficult.

 

[schlger]

The latest step of the familiarisation process has led me to discover that while the developer replenishment pump is working, the bleach / blix pump doesn't draw solution up into the machine. I checked that the pumping wasn't an air issue by drawing the developer from an open mixing jug. The blix hose appears to be a replacement as the hard straight plastic section of the developer hose is missing and the colour of the hose is different to that specified in the Thermaphot users guide.

Does anyone have experience of dealing with Thermaphot ACP replenishment pumps?

Tom.

probably you have solved the problem now. If not, I have an initial question: Does your machine have hose pumps or membrane pumps? Recently I went through a large repair proces of a ACP 300, bought used. I replaced the replinshment hoses and the silicon hoses in the pumps.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

schlger,

Could you detail what you had to repair?

Tom.