AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › 2.35:1 Constant Image Height Chat › DIY Constant Height › Somis CIH Masking System
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Somis CIH Masking System - Page 2  

post #31 of 120
5/11/10 at 8:30am
I sent an email on your website in regards to my 13' diagonal A/T curved screen and what options you have for it.

AVS Top Picks

post #32 of 120
5/11/10 at 9:56am
Hi Adam-

I chose the most common screen sizes, but I can also do larger screens. For your 136 inch wide screen, I calculated the masks to be 30 inches wide in order to mask to 1.33. This means the tracks have to be a little longer, and of course the rollers are longer as well.

Curved screens are doable, and I will be working on this soon. First on the list is to get a new motor controller design done.

The new controller will support presets, RS232, IR, and have non-volatile memory.

Don
post #33 of 120
5/11/10 at 12:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Somis View Post

Hi Adam-

I chose the most common screen sizes, but I can also do larger screens. For your 136 inch wide screen, I calculated the masks to be 30 inches wide in order to mask to 1.33. This means the tracks have to be a little longer, and of course the rollers are longer as well.

Curved screens are doable, and I will be working on this soon. First on the list is to get a new motor controller design done.

The new controller will support presets, RS232, IR, and have non-volatile memory.

Don

I Don't know if it matters but I don't need to mask down to 1.33. Only 16:9

Can you give me a price for manual and power for either straight or curved screens. I may end up replacing my screen with a straight one and this may push me over the ledge to do so.
post #34 of 120
5/11/10 at 1:23pm
I will be interested in a motorized masking for a curve screen also.
post #35 of 120
5/11/10 at 1:34pm
I am planning to buy 11- 12 feet wide 16:9 screen for my new theater. Will you have masking available for that size screen?

Thanks
Mani
post #36 of 120
5/11/10 at 4:35pm
Mani-

I can do larger screens, up to about 12 feet wide.

Don
post #37 of 120
5/19/10 at 2:56pm
Wow, this looks promising!

Does the masking frame sit over the movie screen border or does it "hug" the outside of the movie screen frame? IOW, if I have a 3.3" border around my screen frame (SeymourAV Fixed Frame), will I need to allow more vertical wall space for the Somis 1?

I already asked this in a PM, but will the roll up masks be acoustically transparent?
post #38 of 120
5/19/10 at 8:56pm
Hi Tom-

Yes, you will need 3 inches around the outside of the screen frame. The system attaches directly to the screen frame with brackets. Assembly is around 1 hour or less. No drilling, gluing, stapling, nailing, blasting, etc.

I can supply AT masks on special request.

Don
post #39 of 120
5/21/10 at 9:47am
Interesting.

Somis/Don -

- Where are you located?
- Estimated time to delivery for screens?
- Considering 4-way masking? Sounds like AT is in the works and curved screens are being considered.
- Pics of setups?
- Pics of controller/remote - pre-stops and/or "jog" settings?
- adjustable to various screen dimensions -- eg 2.35:1, 2.37:1, 2.40:1, etc.?
- How would you characterize the differences between your CIH and Carada's CIH masking system?

Thanks.

Mike
post #40 of 120
5/21/10 at 10:56am
Are these available for my 130" wide 2.40 SeymourAV screen?
post #41 of 120
5/21/10 at 5:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisx510 View Post

I will be starting a 16x9 screen masking thread next week for Somis. My system should be here by next week.

Have you received your masking system ?
post #42 of 120
5/21/10 at 6:06pm
Well, it seems like I'll have to update the website to include 130 - inch CIH.

Mike-

I'm just north of LA. I'll be doing a couple of "beta" CIH screens w/masking systems next month. I can supply screen material (Pfifer 4500) but the concept is to have the customer supply their own screen material.

I know how to do 4-way masking, but I have not prototyped a screen yet.

There are some pics on the website now, and more will be added to the gallery as the they stream in from installers.

Re-designing the controller now, and it will be available in July with presets, and jog.

I can make various AR screens.

Can't comment on a Carada, since I haven't seen one. But I guess it would be like comparing a Cadillac to a Chevy. Both will get you there. Some folks wouldn't be caught dead driving a Chevy, while others are very happy with 'em. It depends on your budget.

Since I do all of my own design work, there is a cost savings. I use components that are reliable, yet cost-effective. For instance, I get +/- .062 inches of accuracy out of a six buck encoder, which is not bad. All I have to do is add firmware and stir.

Don
post #43 of 120
5/21/10 at 7:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickAVManiac View Post

Have you received your masking system ?

No I haven't... I will keep you guys posted when I receive one
post #44 of 120
5/22/10 at 1:14pm
i may just have to put my DIY border on hold and see how this pans out...

i'm at 137" 2.35 diagonal.
post #45 of 120
5/22/10 at 2:25pm
Wow! These screens just keep getting bigger! At some point I may need a "request for quote" section on the website.

Material - wise, the rollers, trim and fabric are increased in size, but the rest of the kit is pretty much a standard engine.

However, anything over 12 feet wide will need a "hemi". These will have to be quoted per request.

Absolute max is 15.5 feet wide.

Don
post #46 of 120
5/22/10 at 5:18pm
Awesome news.
Looking forward to your finished product, will wait until you have your remote presets sorted out.

So any DIY screen will be able to fit these?
Example, mine is 110" but on your website it lists 104" or next size up is 120", so some of us with the inbetween numbers will still be able to implement this masking system?

And, do you intend dealing with international customers?
cheers,
Danny
post #47 of 120
5/22/10 at 6:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Somis View Post

Well, it seems like I'll have to update the website to include 130 - inch CIH.

Mike-

I'm just north of LA. I'll be doing a couple of "beta" CIH screens w/masking systems next month. I can supply screen material (Pfifer 4500) but the concept is to have the customer supply their own screen material.

I know how to do 4-way masking, but I have not prototyped a screen yet.

There are some pics on the website now, and more will be added to the gallery as the they stream in from installers.

Re-designing the controller now, and it will be available in July with presets, and jog.

I can make various AR screens.

Can't comment on a Carada, since I haven't seen one. But I guess it would be like comparing a Cadillac to a Chevy. Both will get you there. Some folks wouldn't be caught dead driving a Chevy, while others are very happy with 'em. It depends on your budget.

Since I do all of my own design work, there is a cost savings. I use components that are reliable, yet cost-effective. For instance, I get +/- .062 inches of accuracy out of a six buck encoder, which is not bad. All I have to do is add firmware and stir.

Don

Don -
Thanks for the replies.
I look forward to seeing some systems and reviews.
Good luck.

Mike
post #48 of 120
5/23/10 at 10:55am
I for one would be interested in 4 way masking
post #49 of 120
5/23/10 at 6:03pm
I am interested in the curved screen masking for my curved Stewart 130" 2.40.
post #50 of 120
5/24/10 at 8:33am
MAZMAN-

Yes, I do plan on making these available to international customers. Yes, I can make a size to fit your screen. I can send you a quote with shipping if you send me your actual dimensions and address.

These are shippable via standard UPS, Fedex or USPS parcels. I was able to design the system so that the rollers and load bars splice together. These become as rigid as a continuous piece when spliced. This facilitates standard shipping sizes to avoid costly freight charges.

Cheers-
Don
post #51 of 120
6/4/10 at 11:58pm
Don,

Did you get my email the other day?
post #52 of 120
6/7/10 at 4:17pm
Hi Chris-
Might be good to send a PM as well.

The motor controller is progressing well, with software nearly complete along with the board layout.

Unlike the last controller, this one will have non-volatile memory to store the presets. It will also support RS232 with Crestron and Control 4 drivers.

This is what was holding up the motorized systems. Still targeting for a July release.

Don
post #53 of 120
6/16/10 at 10:55pm
Wow, this looks promising. My screen is 11.5' wide and this fits the bill. Looking forward to the product.
post #54 of 120
6/21/10 at 9:19am
I placed an order for one of these today. Don has been very responsive to my many pesky e-mails. I look forward to getting it and putting it through its paces.
post #55 of 120
6/22/10 at 11:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawguy View Post

I placed an order for one of these today. Don has been very responsive to my many pesky e-mails. I look forward to getting it and putting it through its paces.

Really interested in your experience - please take some pictures during installation so we can see the nitty gritty details!

Jeff
post #56 of 120
6/22/10 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jautor View Post

Really interested in your experience - please take some pictures during installation so we can see the nitty gritty details!

Jeff

Sure thing.

I think we will all have to be a little patient because the electronics package is not yet complete. I am hoping that this really turns out well. Somis has been extremely helpful and responsive so far. I hope that I am not distracting him from finishing things up.
post #57 of 120
6/22/10 at 4:35pm
Thanks Steve.

Just to update everybody, the controller prototype boards are in, and I have been able to download code to the processor. Next is to get the motors turning and then add the presets.

In case anybody's interested, the old design used an OTP (One-Time Programmable) processor, which made it difficult to change or update code.

The new device is Flash-based, in which you can download new code at any time, without replacing the chip.

It's Like going from the Flintsones to the Jetsons.

The new controller also supports RS232.

This has been a gating item, but it looks like we're still on track for a July release.

Stay tuned!

Don
post #58 of 120
6/22/10 at 6:43pm
Don,

We're anxiously waiting!
post #59 of 120
6/24/10 at 5:50am
Thanks for the updates. You should blog your progress. It is interesting.

Will it be easy to use a Harmony remote control with this masking system?
post #60 of 120
6/25/10 at 12:17pm
Steve-
The answer is yes, the IR codes are learnable into any "smart" remote.

Blog is not a bad idea. May add this to the website.

Just wanted to share an idea for a 4-way CIH. If you have top/bottom rollers for masking (a la 16x9), and then had roll-down panels to mask down to 16 x 9 from 2.35 (side masking), then we have essentially 4-way masking.

Only limitation is not being able to mask beyond 1.78 (ie 1.33).

Any interest here?

Don
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: DIY Constant Height
This thread is locked  

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › 2.35:1 Constant Image Height Chat › DIY Constant Height › Somis CIH Masking System