3 Image Specifications

Considerations for Specifying a 3 faced Multi-Image Sign.
	Cabinet Design - This type of sign has a Cabinet composed of four side frames with the back and front open. Typically the sign is installed on a Billboard structure that has a face already on it. The Billboard face is used as the signs back frame. The signs are manufactured as single faced units.
	Cabinet Mounting - Cabinets are designed for mounting to a Billboard structure where, depending upon the size of the sign, we have a support every 10' starting in 5' from each side. The supports come out from every vertical support behind the Billboard face. The louver drive frame is mounted on top of the support and the upper frame is mounted just below the top supports.
	Pylon Mounting of Cabinet - A cabinet of 12' in length and under can be mounted on a single pylon. The cabinet is designed (depending upon the height) to have a support every 10'. We can custom fabricate a support frame to make a double-faced sign designed to be mounted on one or more pylons.
	Mounting Clips - We will work with the scoreboard or sign designers to develop a workable mounting system. Sometimes we pre-install mounting clips provided by the customer and other times we custom fabricate them. The custom fabricated clips usually add depth to our cabinet so the face mounts even with the other components of the scoreboard or sign.
	Sign Backs - Sign back are necessary to insure that the graphics are not distorted if the ambient light behind the sign is greater than in front of it. This lighting situation highlights the gaps between the louvers making the graphics difficult to read. Sign backs are also necessary on signs over 8' tall. The sign back reduces the effect wind has on the operation of the sign. We have two types of sign backs. The most common is our removable flexible back. This type of back uses a black woven material attached to the sign back using a flex face tensioning clips. The other is a metal back using galvanized sheet metal.
	Front Illumination - We provide several types of front illumination solutions. Typically we manufacture a custom lamp support that either attaches to our sign or the support structure. The lamp and position are calculated to give proper brightness without hot spots. We offer Edge illuminating for small interior units. Edge illumination has florescent tubes in the upper and lower frame. Edge illumination really only illuminates the edge of the graphics area and is not recommended for signs over 2'6" tall. We also offer, for short signs that are very long, a top front illumination fixture. The fixture is a 6" by 6" box with florescent tubs mounted on the face of the sign. This fixture offers very good illumination for signs up to 4'6" tall.
	Service access - Typically our motors are on the lower right for vertical louver signs and the upper right for horizontal louver signs. The drive train, that is either on the bottom of the sign for vertical louver signs or the right for horizontal louver signs, needs to be accessible. We can provide access to the drive train from either the front or back of the sign. If required we can locate the motor on the lower left. Sometimes given the catwalk configuration we provide a set of signs at are mirror images of each other. This gives easier access to the motor area if the catwalk does not run the full length of the signs. All of our motors and controllers are located inside the frame.
	Control Cabinets - Each sign has an electrical control cabinet. Standard configurations have two cabinets that are located just above the motor on vertical louver signs and just to the left of the motor on horizontal louver signs. We can also mount this box on the back of the sign or ship it loose for mounting on the sides of a larger cabinet.
	Graphics - We typically supply a louver with an extruded aluminum core and an extruded PVC plastic changeable louver face. Graphics are usually applied to the PVC louver faces at a remote location, then brought to the site and are snapped into the louver core. We offer a special extruded aluminum shape that holds the PVC louver faces in place to make the application of the graphics easier. We also offer complete graphics production services.
	Customer Frame Colors - Our standard colors a Black and Walnut Brown. We can paint the cabinet any color. We have found that we can only produce an acceptable color match by either having the customer ship us the paint they are using or if we can purchase the exact paint and primer locally.
	Louver lengths and splices - For vertical louver signs we will extruded a louver 20' long. For horizontal louver signs we will run louvers 14' long. Vertical louver signs over 20' tall and horizontal louver signs over 14' wide require splices. Splices have a bottom and top louver pivot mounted on a small stainless steel shaft and are support by a bearing. Changeable copy louver signs can have a small 1" gap.
	Delivery - Signs with cabinet dimensions that will fit onto a truck will be shipped pre-tested and fully assembled with louvers, graphics and lifting eyebolts installed. The signs can be lifted from the truck and installed. Larger signs are shipped in sections that bolt together. We pre-assemble all signs to insure proper fit.
	Multi-Sign Controllers - We offer two types of Multi-Sign Controllers. Please refer to our Multi-Sign Controller specification sheet for details.
	Louver Type - Almost all signs use our 6" changeable copy louver. We have a 4" changeable copy louver and a 6" sold faced louver. The advantage of the changeable copy louvers is that the graphics can be applied to the louver faces remotely and than the louver faces can be sapped into the louvers on-site.

Frequently Asked Questions
1.	What causes the DOMINO EFFECT in louver misalignment in a 3 Faced Rotational Sign?
	Louver misalignment is typically caused by the domino effect of independently driven coupled gearboxes, chains or belts that continuously adjust themselves out of alignment. This cannot happen to a drive system that uses a continuous stainless steel drive shaft.
2.	Why don't you use a lower truss box?
	We have designed the structural integrity into our drive frame by using large steel "C" channel as the back frame. Some systems require a 16" by 16" steel truss frame under the drive train to insure straightness of the unit. Truss frames reduce the available sign copy area, make the sign cabinet very deep requiring reposition of lamp fixtures and catwalks, and are difficult to ship and handle. Other systems use a lightweight extruded aluminum drive train cabinet. These types of cabinets require substantial costly additional structural support.
3.	Do you offer a modular drive system that can be assembled on-site?
	We do not believe that it is a manageable task to assemble multiple drive sections on-site and have a finished product that meets manufacturing's specifications for proper operation. Often the job site is a field or parking lot with limited space. We manufacture the largest possible single sections thus almost eliminating on-site drive train alignment problems.
4.	How are your larger signs delivered?
	Signs that cannot be delivered fully assembled and tested are shipped on a flat bed truck in sections. All signs are fully assembled and tested prior to shipment. Typically we would deliver a 14' by 48' sign in 6' pieces. A drive train with one splice, a top with one splice and two side sections that all bolt tougher.
5.	I have seen some signs that seem not to mount directly up to the billboard face and the front illumination looks spotty?
	Some manufacturers have rear motor and rear controllers with truss boxes that require a 16" overall depth. The sign face is far forward of the existing billboard face requiring the lamps to be reposition for proper illumination. Also this type of sign is very difficult to wall mount. Our system is 9" deep with the motor and controller enclosed in the frame.
6.	How may motors are used in the drive system?
	We use only one motor in signs up to 20' by 60'. Multiple motor systems are very difficult to coordinate torque load and if one motor fails it can cause permanent damage to the drive system.
7.	What type of preventative maintenance is required?
	Once a year we inspect the sign, grease bearings and spray on a dry lubricant/rust inhibitor.
8.	What spare parts do you recommend we stock?
	None. Due to simplicity in design, reliability and availability a spare parts inventory is not necessary. Almost all components are readily available locally. We do not uses special non-standard motor, gearboxes, or bearings, and all of our nuts and bolts are standard sizes that do not require special or metric tools.
9.	Don't you have problems with rust or lubrication with exposed gears?
	With the larger size of our gears, it's low torque, and low speed application our dry lubricant is more than sufficient. Some manufacturers have low cost enclosed gearboxes that are pre-lubricated. This lubricant leaks out the bottom of the gearboxes, is water-soluble and cannot be refilled. We do not believe any gearbox is lubricated for life, epically when the lubricant is a non-industrial water-soluble type.
10.	I have heard that the rotation sensors can be a maintenance problem?
	Mechanical sensors have a wear problem and optical (light) sensors fail when dirt, dust or anything interferes with the low output light. We utilize a Hall Effect Magnet Sensor that does not have any moving parts and is not affected by normal environmental conditions.
11.	What is special about your louver pivot bearings?
	Given the low speed application a wide range of bearings or even bushings will last a long time. The problem with pre-mature failure with bearing or bushings is contamination caused by the seals failing. We provide a double seal system with an industrial seal press fit into the top frame and a rubber seal just above the bearing.
12.	Why do you recommend a 6" louver?
	Provides cleaner better-looking graphics because the larger louver has 27% less gaps and faster application of graphics with less cutting of vinyl.

Ordering Considerations Check List
	Outside Cabinet Size - We have a 12" total horizontal border with the louvers on 6" center-to-center spacing, making the copy area and outside cabinet dimensions in 6" increments. Vertically we have a total of 10.25" border in any increment. The cabinet is 9" deep.
	Louver Type 6" Changeable Copy style (4" Changeable Copy available upon request) 6" Solid Face
	Sign Backs No Backs Flexible Backs Metal Backs
	Front Illumination 250 to 400 Watt Super Metal Halide Lamps with custom fabricated support 175 to 250 Sign lamp with custom fabricated support Top florescent lamp fixture mounted to top face of sign
	Graphics 3 to 4 Color Graphics Full Color Computer Printing Ship PVC faces in advance of signs
	Service Access Front Service Rear Service
	Control Box Location In the side frame Rear Mounted On-Site Mounted
	Multi-Image Sign Controller Console Style Windows Software Data Cable or Fiber optics
	On-Site Technical Assistance Installation Assistance System Commissioning and Training
	Shipping Options
	Custom Cabinet Colors

	Sign Controller: Simple to use with a larger LCD display using a simple English based interface to adjust the hold times for each face from 2 seconds to 24 hours. Signs can rotate between any two faces. Anti-Jam feature with system overload control.
	Inverter: Standard industrial unit that converts 120V power into the 3-phase power needed to run the motor. Provides advanced motor power control. The only system that has a programmable speed ramp-up function that substantially reduces system wear.
	Louver Rotation Sensor: Magnetic sensor has no moving parts and is not affected by dust. No high failure optical or mechanical rotation sensors.