Creative Conners' New "Deck Chief" Provides Uncomplicated Scenic Motor Control

	Creative Conners' Deck Chief scenic motion control

"Sometimes people just want a knob and a button," says Gareth Conner, president of Creative Conners, "something easy that anyone can operate." Holding true to the company principle of developing products whose inner complexity results in elegant simplicity, the company says Creative Conners filled a scenic automation void with the January roll out of the Deck Chief, their newest motion controller. The Deck Chief is a straightforward manual motor controller (no computer required) solving the problem of combining simple control with both positioning capability and variable speed. The Deck Chief is available in the Creative Conners new online Estore.

Recognizing the need for backstage remote operation without a computerized interface, Creative Conners developed the Deck Chief for repeatable motion in many installations such as a trade show booth turntable, a traveler curtain in a theatre, a projection screen, school facilities, or corporate theatre event with a single motorized effect. Harnessing the capabilities of the Deck Chief happens on a drastically reduced learning curve. The Deck Chief's simplicity presents itself in the intuitive push button interface: Two invitingly blue buttons for forward and reverse movement, traditional red buttons for stop and emergency stop buttons, a 0 - 100 speed dial controller, and an easy to use bold white lockout switch to ensure authorized use.

In contrast to its ease of operation, however, the inner complexity of this unadorned scenic automation is evidenced in its robust features:

•Variable speed
•ETL Listed
•Industrial pushbuttons to start forward and reverse motion
•Inputs for end of travel and slow-down limit switches for repeatable positioning
•Indicator lights for limit switch and drive status
•Emergency stop circuit with SIL-rated components
•High-quality Mitsubishi variable-frequency drive (VFD) for smooth motion and plenty of power

Noting that the safe, variable-speed, no-frills motor controller is 12" high x 18" tall x 6.75" deep, Conner elaborates "the vertically mounted Deck Chief is ideal for the backstage environment in which floor space is often at a premium."