Creative Conners, based in Warren, RI, responded to the need from production company Stage House to have more surface contact between Creative Conners’ Revolver stage turntable mechanism and a drive ring mounted to the underside of the turntable. As a result, the company has modified their Revolver to provide better engagement between the 8” friction wheel of the machine and the drive ring of any existing turntable. The new design also gives operators easier access for maintenance on the friction wheel.
More details from Creative Conners (www.creativeconners.com):
Responding to the need from production company Stage House to have more surface contact between a Revolver and a drive ring mounted to the underside of the turntable, product engineer Royal Marty experimented with relocating the bearing plate on the friction drive machine. Previously mounted above the 3″ friction wheel, the bearing plate was moved below it to offer 3/4” additional contact between it and the turntable drive ring.
This change necessarily meant the encoder would shift up to maintain proper alignment with the drive ring, but did not compromise the Revolver’s slim 9” height profile. In addition to the improved contact, which insures less slippage, the bearing plate relocation makes maintenance much simpler, specifically when the friction wheel needs to be replaced. Seeing how well this worked for the Stage House job, and always looking for product improvement, Royal and Creative Conners president Gareth Conner decided to make the change permanent for the stock machine.
Current product literature and images are being updated to reflect the change, and all future Revolver purchases will have the new raised friction wheel placement. The second Revolver with the improvement is presently being prepped for shipment to Towson University this month.
The Revolver has been an ideal machine for edge driven turntables since its launch in 2008, and got even better with an improved spring loaded suspension mount for the encoder in 2011. The 5hp friction drive machine still comes prewired to connect to the Stagehand Classic motor controller, and has a maximum rim speed of 36”/second, but can be over sped to achieve a rim speed of 72”/second. The price also remains the same. It is available for purchase ($20,000 plus shipping) or rental ($200 / week plus shipping and prep). Revolvers from the rental stock will see the improvement gradually as their wheels need to be replaced, at which time a new frame will be swapped in allowing for the altered bearing plate placement.
