CR1 Instruction Manual
Thank you for purchasing the CR1, and welcome to the AXLE family!
Here, you'll find everything you need to know about your new CR1, along with some best practices to keep your unit going for years to come.
[Agitation Speeds]
The CR1 is programmed to spin asymmetrically, 4 seconds one way, and 3 seconds the other. This timing offset allows for more even development.
The RPM of your film tank varies based on its circumference. The smaller the tank, the faster it will spin. Correspondingly, the larger it is, the slower it will spin.
With the speed control dial at 6, the CR1 will rotate film tanks at a speed similar to that of a traditional rotary processor.
At this speed setting of 6, a 15XX style tank will rotate at approximately 75 RPM. This is a good starting point for C41 film and most black and white film stocks.
A speed setting of 7 can be used for more contrast, and this is recommended for flatter film stocks, or when you are pulling film.
A speed setting of 5 can be used for less contrast, and is a recommended for more contrasty film stocks, or when you are pushing film.
With a 15xx style tank, the CR1 maxes out at around 100RPM with the speed control dial turned the way up to 8.6. Strange, I know. Hopefully one day we’ll be able to get custom knobs made.. :)
The maximum speed setting is especially useful during the pre-rinse rem-jet removal phase of ECN-2 processing, as this super fast agitation mimics the water jets used in this process, and helps to remove rem-jet.
For film tanks with over 2L of chemistry, it is not recommended to go above a speed setting of 8 for prolonged periods of time (longer than 30 minutes).
[Belt Tensioner]
On the right of the agitation speed knob, you will find a belt tensioner for the motor pulley. You can set the tension by feel.
At the correct tightness setting, you should feel some "give" when pressing the belt with your finger, but there should be no slippage when your film tank is spinning.
[Power Supply]
The CR1 runs on a 12V Center Positive DC power supply.
The one included is rated at 2A, and this comfortably handles film tanks filled with up to 2L of chemistry at 75RPM (speed knob @ 6).
[Powering ON and OFF]
Plugging in the CR1 automatically switches it on, even when the speed knob is turned down to 0.
As long as power is being supplied to the unit, you will hear a soft clicking coming from the inside every 3 to 4 seconds. This is normal.
When not use, unplug the CR1 to completely power it off.
[Wet & Dry Sides]
The CR1 has a wet side, and a dry side.
With the speed knob facing towards you, the wet side will be on the left, while the dry side will be on the right.
[Wet Side]
The CR1 was designed to sit at the edge of your sink, with the lid of your film tank pointing towards the wet side, so that any spillage would go straight into your sink.
The wet side can safely get wet, so it’s perfectly safe for it be rinsed under a tap!
When rinsing the CR1, always keep the wet side tilted downwards, so that water drains towards the left.
Never place the lid of your film tank pointing towards the dry side, where spillage could inevitably fall directly onto the exposed components.
Always point the lid of your film tank towards the LEFT.
[Dry Side]
The dry side, is the side of the CR1, that as much as possible, you’d want to keep dry. This includes speed control knob, the pulley, the motor, and most importantly, the power input.
By ensuring that you’re always facing your film tank with its lid pointing towards the wet side, the dry side should never see water. But accidents happen, so if the dry side did somehow get wet, simply wipe off the component with a damp cloth.
[Top Side]
The screws on the top of the processor are water resistant, so if any light chemical spillage happens on the top, don’t worry about it! Rinse it off, or wipe it off with a damp cloth.
Most importantly, always wipe off any excess water or chemicals that might get into the bearings, to keep them spinning smoothly for years to come.
[Inside the CR1]
The critical electrical components of the CR1 live on the inside, and with regular usage, they should never see water.
Water will only get in if the unit was completely submerged, or if the dry side was exposed continuously to running water.
If an accident happened, or you suspect that water got into the unit, either through the speed control knob, the motor, or the power input, carefully unscrew the bottom of the CR1, leave it slightly ajar, and let it air dry in an air conditioned room.
Be careful not to pull the bottom off too forcefully as the wiring might come loose.
[Storage]
Like most electrical components, when not in use, it’s best to keep the CR1 in a dry place, ideally at 50-60% RH humidity. For example, indoors, in an air conditioned room, just to make sure that the internal components don’t rust or oxidise over time.
That said, every component in the CR1 is easily user replaceable with simple tools, and they are commonly used across engineering and manufacturing industries, so every part should never become obsolete.
Should the need arise, as part of our service guarantee, we will always replace components at cost price. So just drop us an email, and we will do our best to help you out!
[Tank Compatibility]
When using a smaller tank, place the tank on the 4 wheels located on the wet side.
When using a larger tank with more chemistry, place it evenly so that all 6 wheels are in contact with the tank. This is to even out the weight of your film tank, so that the CR1 doesn’t tip over.
[In Summary]
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Remember to keep the lid of your film tank, over the sink, always pointed towards the wet (LEFT) side.
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It’s fine for the wet side to get wet, including the top! Just do your best to keep the dry side dry.
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Wipe off any excess water or chemicals, when you’re done with developing. (Especially the bearings!)
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Unplug the CR1 when not in use.
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For extended storage, if possible, keep the CR1 in a dry place (~50RH), so that the internal components don’t rust or oxidise.
That’s all!
Wow how did I write so much for something with just 1 knob? If you’ve read this to the end, I must commend you.
Thank you again, and have fun developing film!
Sincerely,
Your friends at AXLE.
Photography Supplies.