Summary: The Eagle Theatre in Hammonton, New Jersey is dedicated to bringing creative and innovative productions to the area. They decided to implement a motion control application that would allow them to move set pieces automatically, for example, raising and lowering screens or shifting the walls of a set.
In pursuit of these goals, the theatre decided to add moving elements to their sets for one of their productions; they had three screens that needed to lower at a consistent speed but at different times. The team at the Eagle Theatre initially tried to use electric wench packages, but these were slow and too noisy to use during a performance. With only one week until the show opened, the theatre reached out to a Unitronics distributor for help.
“Motion control with Unitronics PLC’s has allowed us the freedom to reach for new heights of visceral creativity while expanding our technical innovation in a fast and cost effective manner.” – Ted Wioncek III, Co-Artistic Director, Eagle Theatre
A Unitronics Samba all-in-one programmable logic controller (PLC) with 3.5-inch color-touch HMI was chosen for this role. They worked with Jared Smith, a contractor with Deerfield Electric, who built the panel and installed the unit. The Unitronics Samba controlled Vacon 20 VFD’s (Variable Frequency Devices) and World Wide Electric Gear Motors in order to move the set pieces. Each of the moving pieces was assigned a virtual button on the Samba; these buttons raised and lowered the screens, as well as displaying their current position. Not only did the new system work beautifully, it was all up in running with enough time for rehearsals with the new system before the show opened.
This application enhanced the production, helping to make it a success; working with PLC control has also opened up new creative options for the Eagle Theatre. Ted Wioncek III, Co-Artistic Director at the theatre, explains “motion control with Unitronics PLC’s has allowed us the freedom to reach for new heights of visceral creativity while expanding our technical innovation in a fast and cost effective manner.”
In fact, the Eagle Theatre has already expanded the motion control application in other shows. For one production the entire set shifted constantly, with the walls coming in and out independently of each other. A major theme of the show was misdirection, so the moving set was used to reinforce that theme in the physical space the character interact with.
Are you looking for a Unitronics PLC to help with a project or application? Get in touch with one of our team for more information on 01344 266530 | [email protected]
