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Learn & Practice

Trainee introduces students or professionals learning new skills to essential principles of stage automation. Learn about mechnics, electrics, and control.

Building the Trainee kit is the perfect facsimilie of setting up a full-size live entertainment automated system. With the use of the Scenic Automation Handbook, go beyond reading about automation and get moving.

Answer questions like:

How does a motor work?
How does a speed reducer work?
How can you convert rotary motion into linear motion?
What is a relay and how does it work?
How do you control a motor with pushbutton?
How can you use limit switches to position motorized scenery?
How can you automate motion by replacing the pushbutton signals with a PLC or Stagehand FX?

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Scale Sized Automation

Trainee can be built, dissasembled, and re-built over and over. Perfect for Stagecraft or Intro to Automation classes. It is a 1/4″ scale model theatre box made of birch plywood and includes a fun-sized deck winch. Trainee can accomodate up to 3 deck winches.

Each Trainee includes:

1/4″ scale model box
DC Gearmotor
Timing Belt
2x limit switches
2x 3PDT Relays (DIN Rail mountable)
Detailed assembly and wiring schematics

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Trainee kits ship in as little as 3-5 days. Order now.

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Electrical & Mechanical Fundamentals

Get hands on with a variety of electrical skills. Each Trainee includes a wiring diagram and electrical schematic. Technicians practice identifying common schematic symbols and how to interpret and translate drawings to real-world components.

Discover how limit switches and relays function as well as experiment with the defference between series and parallel circuits.

Mechanically the Trainee includes the critical powertrain components of any automated machinery. The included deck winch is powered by a DC motor with a speed reducer. A timing belt + tensioning device translate rotary motion to lateral movement of a deck dog. Limit switches restrict overal travel and introduce the basics of safety devices.

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Simple Controls - Lots of Options

Once the Trainee is assembled and wired up, quickly get fun-sized scenery moving with the push of a button.

Each axis includes a set of banana jacks to add a variety of alternative control devices. More complex control can be explored with the addition of a Stagehand FX, a PLC (like a Click PLC), Arduino, or Raspberry Pi.

With the addition of a Stagehand FX and Showstopper 3 Base the Trainee can be triggered via Spikemark.

Remote Learning or Classroom Practicum

Two or three students can work together in a traditional classroom environment or individual students can build their model in a dorm room or at home. Trainee does not require special tools for students to gain real and valuable technical theater and design skills.

Assemble it. Wire it. Plug it into any wall outlet.

Trainee is not just a tool for technical students. The scale model box is perfect for scenic design classroom exercises. The raw birch wood can be painted, glued, or screwed to help drive home how stage automation helps to tell a story and make the art of theater.