Spotline V2: Operation
Spotline V2 Testing Functionality
Testing the Spotline v2 functionality is best done before rigging.
The Spotline V2 has several safety sensors, and each needs to be set and checked every time the machine is installed.
Connect the Spotline to a Stagehand Pro - The socket end of each cable attaches to the Spotline
Pro Motor and Brake Cable
Signal Cable
Slowly jog both forward and reverse
Verify that when jogging FWD, the drum rotates clockwise when looking from the drum end, and that the encoder counts on the Stagehand are counting UP
Verify that when jogging REV, the drum rotates counterclockwise when looking from the drum end, and that the encoder counts on the Stagehand are counting D
Test motor brake and load brake functionality
Stagehand Pro 5
Verify each limit registers on the Stagehand
Use a small flat head screwdriver to manually actuate each switch inside the limit
This will indicate as FWD LIMIT, REV LIMIT, or ULT LIMIT
Verify the cross-groove sensor registers on the Stagehand
Lift the orange roller
Verify the Load Cell registers on the Stagehand
Gently push on the motor to see a change
What are limits?
Limits are important. We talk about limits in two ways: Hard Limits and Soft Limits
Hard Limits
Physical limits that trigger a stopping response at the Stagehand and prevent the motor from moving. The hard limits should not be used to stop motion when running regular cues.
There are typically two sets of Hard Limits:
Initial Limits - set to constrain the travel during the show
Ultimate Limits - set at the furthest possible extents of travel to prevent hitting anything else.
Soft Limits
Software (Soft) limits are set at the farthest extent of unit travel for cued motion. If you don’t have a specific location for these and pace and travel allows, we recommend setting the soft limits at least several inches inside your hard limits.
Soft Limits only prevent you from writing cues beyond this value, you still can jog your machines beyond this value.
When setting limits, use this graphic as a guide to where you should set each limit:
Limit Indicator in Spikemark
The Triangles in the Axis Info Section shows the status of your limits
Green - Limit Cleared
Yellow - Exceeded Soft Limit
Red - Exceeded Hard Limit
If you Override on a Stagehand Pro 5 or Stagehand Apprentice 2 or more recent, you will see a readout of Limit Overrides in the same area.
Setting the Spotline Limits
Setting rotary limits can be a trying task. If you are unfamiliar with rotary limits - or what limits are and why there are four on our Spotline - check out this super awesome video we put together about setting limits on the original Spotline hoist:
We also made a step-by-step slideshow about how to set rotary limits on a Spotline:
Jog the scenery to the location where you want to set the limit
E-Stop the Spotline
Remove the limit cover
Loosen the primary limit screw
Adjust your limit with smaller limit screws. We’ve color matched each screw to one of the disks in the stack
Ultimate Forward
Initial Forward
Initial Reverse
Ultimate Reverse
Turning the adjustment screws will spin an individual Cam. When setting the hard limit the Cam must actuate the switch on the proper side. This means that the Forward and Forward Ultimate Cams will be on the right of the switch stack and the Reverse and Reverse Ultimate will be on the Left of the switch stack.
Rotate the cam close to the switch then slowly continue to rotate
When you hear it *click*, very slowly back OFF the limit until you hear it *click* again
EXTREMELY carefully and slowly rotate back onto the switch until it *clicks*
Gently re-tighten the primary screw to prevent the cam stack from slipping/changing.
NOTE: Too much torque on this screw can cause the whole cam stack to rotate and drastically change where the limits are tripped
Verify that the limit stops the motion where desired
Jog the Spotline off the limit (this is usually about 18”-36” inside of where the limit triggered)
Jog back onto the limit
If it doesn’t stop within the desired tolerance, try again until it stops where you want
Repeat steps 3-6 for each hard limit.
When all limits are set, it is best practice to go through and re-check all limits to verify that the relationship between all 4 is correct.
Setting the Cross-Groove
The Spotline V2 is equipped with cross groove detection. A Cross Groove fault is registered when the orange roller moves too far away from the drum. The sensitivity of the two proximity sensors (located at each end of the orange roller) is set at the factory but may need to be adjusted based on the type of lifting line or the diameter of the line.
The sensor has a light that turns on when the bar is WITHIN PROXIMITY.
If the light is out, you will see a X-Groove fault.
NOTE: Fibrous rope can often squish enough that it will not reliably trigger a cross-groove without adjusting the sensitivity.
Decreasing the gap between the arm and the sensor will allow the arm to travel more distance before X-Groove is tripped.
Increasing the gap will cause the sensor to trip sooner, or even be stuck in X-Groove.
Loosen the nut on the bottom side of the proximity sensor bracket
Push the proximity sensor up until it is in the desired position
This shifts the gap from between the bottom nut and the brack to the top nut and the bracket
Tighten the top nut down onto the bracket to secure the sensor
WARNING: Raising the sensor too high can cause the arm to physically rest (or smash) on the sensor.
WARNING: This can be set high enough that a cross-groove is NOT detected.
To INCREASE Sensitivity
Loosen the nut on the top side of the proximity sensor bracket
As this nut loosens, gravity will likely pull the sensor down. If it’s stuck on the threads, a gentle wiggle or nudge down should get it to drop
Tighten the lower nut onto the bracket to secure the sensor
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