Re: VM Stereomatic 500

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 09:05 PM 12/15/96 +0000, you wrote:
>I'm looking for any instruction manuals, or repair manuals or any other
>books, manuals, publictions on the VM Stereo-Matic 500 Projector. 

The official instruction manual is one page long (two sides) and a copy
is for sale by the official instruction reseller, Reel 3-D.  Price is
$1 and the Stock No. is 1198.  As a bonus you get the instructions for
the S-1 Mono VM projector which is very similar to the Stereomatic 500
(same condenser assembly).

I do not know of any books or repair manuals on this projector.  There 
is a short reference on this projector in the only Stereo projection
book ever written (Earl E. Krause's "Three-Dimensional Projection",
copies are available from Dalia).  He shows an interesting cut-away
view of the projector, and pictures of the condenser assembly pulled
out, the advance mechanism and the lens' assembly.  Mechanically this
projector is more complicated than the TDC projector but it appears
to be reliable, except for one problem.

There is a set of front surface mirrors which are part of the condenser 
system and are used to direct the light from one light bulb to two lenses.
These usually lose their coating and need to be either resilvered
or replaced.  This subject has been discussed a couple of times in
photo-3d so check the photo-3d archives for ideas. If you decide to
take the condenser assembly apart, be careful not to break the mirrors!  

Check also Chris Perry's article on the 500 in Stereo World and else-
where.  Chris has done a neat upgrade of the projector with better
lenses (shorter FL, wider aperture).

The VM 500 projector comes in two versions, with 3" and 2 1/4" lenses.
Screen size recommended is 40x40.  Maximum screen size that works
well is 50x50.  A 2 1/4" projector projects roughly the same
size as the TDC w/5" lenses from the same distance.

Have fun!!! -- George Themelis


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