Automation

Ramping Up

June 17, 2013

The summer is in full swing

Interns

Our summer team members, Jon & Kody, are learning lots of new skills. We decided that we’d take the opportunity teach the guys about machining processes while stocking up components that we manufacture for our Pushstick, Revolver, and Spotline. We bought a pile of aluminum stock and steel shaft material…

Lathe

Jon is learning how to single-point thread on our lathe…

CNC

Kody is learning how to operate the Tormach CNC mill to make various parts (bearing housings, tension mounts, etc.)…

Busy Summer

Both Kody and Jon are fast-learners, careful, and competent. They are doing great work here and seem to be enjoying the opportunity to learn some skills that aren’t common in typical scene shops. In the coming weeks they’ll get a chance to do some electrical & electronic work. Should be fun!

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Creative Conners Business

New Round-Trip Bins

By Peter on

May 22, 2013

- Creative Conners Business

We pack better

We’ve recently upgraded our round-trip bins for our rental Stagehands and we’re so jazzed about how they came out that we’re offering them as a new product. If you need a better solution for storing your Stagehands between shows, then these might be just what you’ve been looking for. The bin is heavy-duty black plastic, and measures 28″ x 21″ x 16″ high. The bin includes a 2-part high-density foam insert that is custom die-cut to perfectly cradle your Stagehands during those lonely weeks in storage. We’re selling these round trip bins for $125 plus shipping. If you’d like to get some for your controllers, just drop me a line at sales@creativeconners.com.

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Creative Conners Business

Summer Help

By Peter on

May 15, 2013

- Creative Conners Business

Two New Additions

This week we welcomed two new additions to the staff here at Creative Conners, Jon Haupt and Kody Green. Jon is a graduatre student at UConn (and a student of Gareth’s automation class last semester) and Kody is an undergrad at Webster University and will be a senior next semester. We have always been very busy during the summer and it will be great to have the extra help. Unfortunately, Jon and Kody will only be with us for the summer before heading back to school, but the extra sets of hands will be a welcome addition for a few months.

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Machinery

New Machines!

By Peter on

April 30, 2013

- Machinery

Introducing Spotline Hoist

We’re excited to announce that the Spotline hoist will be joining our growing stable of machines. Spotline is specifically designed for vertical lifting, and with a redundant brake and integrated electrical brake testing, this unit can safely handle big loads without counterweight-assist. With full Spikemark integration, and fast and quiet operation, Spotline is the perfect choice for your hoisting needs. It ships with a 5hp gearmotor, capable of lifting 500lbs at 36in/sec, letting you automate your flying pieces without the hassle of rigging a counterweight-assist system. Spotline can be mounted to the grid for direct lifting, or can be used in the traproom for automating elevators. Click here for more details.

Spotline by Creative Conners. Vertical lifting made safe and easy.

Introducing Trickline Linear Actuator

Trickline is a linear actuator made for Stagehand and Spikemark. If you’ve ever struggled with the accuracy, performance, and noise of pneumatic cylinders, Trickline is the machine for you. This guy is accurate, quiet and ready to tackle trapdoors, pop-up props, or sliding steps. Before you wrestle with another air hose or hissing valve, grab some Trickline instead. Trickline boasts 150lbs of line pull at 18in/sec and the integral linear bearing is rated for 150lbs of dynamic load. We can customize the length up to 20 feet, and custom motor options are available if you’re looking for more speed or more line pull. Trickline starts at $7995, but during our Spring Fever Sale, prices start at $5995. Click here for more details.

Trickline by Creative Conners. Linear motion without the hassle.

Spring Fever Sale

We just kicked off our Spring Fever Sale, so if you’ve been waiting for big savings, the wait is over! We’ve got some great deals: Stagehand AC – $3495 (save $1500) Pushstick deck winch, and Revolver friction drive: $11,995 (save $3000) Spotline Hoist: $14,995 (save $3000) Deck hardware and Spot Blocks: 10% off. There’s more on sale. Click here for details.

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Spotline Hoist

The Finished Spotline Hoist

By Peter on

April 24, 2013

- Spotline Hoist

Exciting Stage Automation News

We finished up our first Spotline hoist today, and it’s shipping out today to Webster University to be part of their automation inventory. The Spotline has a redundant Mayr brake on the load side to complement the brake built into the SEW Eurodrive gear motor. The attached electrical panel is for field-testing the brakes. The drum is aluminum, 8″ diameter and made in our shop on our CNC mill. The Spotline will lift 500 pounds at 36 in/sec.

Now that we’ve finished the first one, we are going to spend some time optimizing the engineering for production work, and you should see the official product rollout in early summer. If you’re interested in pre-ordering a Spotline (maybe before your fiscal year ends?) drop me a line at sales@creativeconners.com.

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Automation

UConn Visits The Shop

By Peter on

April 2, 2013

- Automation

Entertainment Automation Education

This semester Gareth has been filling in for Jack Nardi, teaching the automation class at UConn while Jack’s on sabbatical. For this week’s class, Jack and the students visited our shop here in Warren, RI. Gareth gave them a tour of the facility, showed them some of the major tools used in fabricating our gear, and demonstrated some of the processes that we go through to turn bits and pieces into machinery and electronics. When the tour was over, the class split up into teams and they set up and cued a Revolver, a Pushstick and a Curtain Call. Gareth said that the students enjoyed it very much, and there’s no substitute for hands-on teaching. Gareth demonstrating the mill:

The students from UConn's automation in theatre class visit the Creative Conners shop

Royal demonstrating the Tormach CNC mill:

Royal and Gareth discussing the workflow of machine design:

Colleen and Erika working on a Pushstick deck winch, while Jack and Jason rig a Curtain Call traveler:

It was a pleasure having the students and Jack visit our shop.

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Automation

Gareth’s talk at USITT

By Peter on

March 26, 2013

- Automation

USITT Gabfest

Gareth and I went out to Milwaukee last week for USITT 2013. It was a great conference and we had a good time catching up with our friends, meeting some customers in person and talking to new people. Gareth spoke at ‘Turntables On A Budget’ with Scott Bartlett. Scott gave a great talk about different construction techniques and materials choices if you’re tight on money and need a revolve. Gareth spoke about our products, how they integrate with revolves and how affordable they are, especially the rentals. It was also really cool to hear a lot of people talk about the Creative Conners system as the emerging “Industry Standard” for automation in live theatre. A big thanks to everyone who spreads the word! All in all, a great time. See you all in Texas in 2014!

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Uncategorized, USITT

Creative Conners at USITT

By admin on

March 19, 2013

- Uncategorized, USITT

Time to Teach Some Tech

Gareth and I will be attending USITT in Milwaukee later this week and Gareth will be a presenter at “Turntables on a Budget” Thursday at 1:00. If you’re going to be at USITT and want to meet up, drop me a line at ian@creativeconners.com. Always great to meet our customers face-to-face!

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Machinery

Custom Linear Actuators in New York City

By admin on

March 8, 2013

- Machinery

We Do Window Displays (at least the automation)

Last year we did a custom job for Cigar Box Studios for their window display at the Ted Baker store in Manhattan. We made 4 custom linear actuators that came out great and have been running non-stop for about 8 months.

Shop Test

Yesterday we found this video of the shop test:

Our actuators handle the items that are traveling up and down. Here’s a video that we posted to YouTube last year showing the actuator being tested before going to New York:

These actuators are for sale, so let us know if you’re interested in getting a couple for your theatre!

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Machinery, Tips

Introducing Motor Calc!

By admin on

March 5, 2013

- Machinery, Tips

Motor Specifier Tool

Big news today! Over the last week or so, Gareth has been putting together a sweet calculator for figuring out all of your gearing and capacities when designing machines. We’re calling it ‘Motor Calc’ and it just went live at http://motorcalc.creativeconners.com. Please check it out and let us know what you think. Motor Calc works best in Webkit-enabled browsers like Chrome and Safari.

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