Download - 4 Rigging Systems
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Elementary StagecraftRigging Systems
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o
Rigging systems are equipment used to flyor support scenery or drapesand create special effects
o Housed in the fly loftor fly tower, supported by the grid
Rigging Systems
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Hemp System
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Also called arope set, oldest rigging system, still in use todayo All other systems build upon these basic principles:
traditionally uses natural fiber rope, typically ! Manila (not Hemp),modern systems use synthetic rope
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Hemp System
Rope is attached to a load, if asingle line is used its called aspot line
Multiple lines can be used tosupport a wooden rail or pipe
called a batten
The loft block orspot blockis apulley that sits on the grid andchanges the direction of the rope
offstage
The head blockchanges therope direction down towards the
fly gallerywhere the operator is,head block can have multiple
sheavesto accommodate linesto hang battens
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Hemp System
The head blockchanges therope direction down towards thefly gallerywhere the operator is,
head block can have multiplesheavesto accommodate lines
to hang battens
The rope is tied off to thepin rail,originally wooden pins set intoholes on a rail, can be weldedcross pieces
If the load weight is more than acouple of stagehands can
handle,sandbagscan beattached to the line to balance
the system
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Hemp System
Battens (University Theatre)
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Hemp System
Grided Battens (University Theatre)
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Hemp System
Loft Blocks (University Theatre)
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Hemp System
Loft Blocks and Head Blocks (University Theatre)
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Hemp System
Pin Rail (Eisenhower Theatre, Kennedy Center)
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Counterweight Systems
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Works on the same principles as the rope set but much safero Several different versions based on the size of the fly loft
Single Purchase Counterweight System for fly lofts at least twice theheight of the proscenium (University Theatre)
Double Purchase Counterweight System for smaller fly lofts less thantwice the proscenium height (Studio Theatre)
Motorized Fly System replaces the operator with a motor, can becomputer controlled
o
Works on the same principles as the rope set but much safer
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Single Purchase
The lift lines attached to the battenare replaced with steel wire rope
The steel cables are secured to thetop of an counterweight arborwhichreplaces the sandbags
The arbor holds a stack of metalweights called bricksorpigsused tobalance the load, a typical full brickweighs ~20 lbs
The arbors travel is guided by T-barguide rails
The operating line or hand lineis tiedto the top and bottom of the arbor,
passes over the head block and
under the tension block
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Single Purchase
The operating line or hand lineis tiedto the top and bottom of the arbor,passes over the head block and
under the tension block
The operating line passes throughtherope lockon the locking railwhich replaces the pin rail to secure
the load when not in operation, lock
is secured by a locking ring
The loading platformallows the arborto be loaded when the batten islowered to stage level
A theatre will have a number of suchlinesets permanently installed at 6
to 12 intervals, the linesets areoperated at the fly railor therail
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Single Purchase
A theatre will have a number of suchlinesets permanently installed at 6to 12 intervals, the linesets are
operated at the fly railor therail
The rail may be a deck rail, or a midrailif it is located between the deckand the loading platform, the mid
rail may also be a pin rail in addition
to the deck rail
Stagehands hired to operate the therail are called flymen
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Single Purchase
Head Block (University Theatre)
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Single Purchase
Top of an Arbor (not under load)
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Single Purchase
Rope Lock (University Theatre)
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Single Purchase
Locking Rail (University Theatre)
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Single Purchase
Loading Platform (University Theatre)
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Single Purchase
Fly Rail (University Theatre)
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Double Purchase
This system adds pulleys to the topand bottom of the arbor, operatingline passes through these pulleys and
is fixed to the ground and just belowthe head block
Creates a mechanical advantageof2 to 1 where the batten travels twice
the distance that the arbor does,
however arbor must carry twice theweight of the load
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Double Purchase
Loft Blocks (Studio Theatre)
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Double Purchase
Head Blocks (Studio Theatre)
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Double Purchase
Top Arbor Block (Studio Theatre)
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Double Purchase
Bottom Arbor Block (Studio Theatre)
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Double Purchase
Locking Rail (Studio Theatre)
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Motorized Fly Systems
o Two different types Motor and winch can replace the operating line and pull the arbor,
still a counterweigh system, motor is called a mule
Motor and winch can pull the load directly,called a Dead Lift System
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Counterweight Fly Systems
o OPERATION AND SAFETY (Handout available on Beachboard) Balance Check
! Visual Check arbor weight is equal to the batten weight! Rope Tension Check rope tension on both sides of the rope
lock should be equal
Warn everyone on stage that something will be moving! Call out LINESET COMING IN (OR GOING OUT) and identify the
area that will be affects LINESET COMING IN DOWNSTAGE
! People onstage should exit the affected area and reply withTHANK YOU, do not proceed until you hear acknowledgement
Unlock Operating Lines! Remove locking ring and SLOWLY release the rope lock! If line moves on its own, quickly relock the line, if this doesnt stop
movement, tie a snub line
! If lineset is totally out of control, scream a warning and exit thestage quickly
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Counterweight Fly Systems
o OPERATION AND SAFETY Unlock Operating Lines
! Remove locking ring and SLOWLY release the rope lock! If line moves on its own, quickly relock the line, if this doesnt stop
movement, tie a snub line
! If lineset is totally out of control, scream a warning and exit thestage quickly. Move the Lineset
! The batten moves in the same direction as the line closest to you! Pull down on the front rope and the batten moves down, pull up
and the batten moves up
! Watch the batten and its load while moving the lineset Relock
! Once the scenery has been moved, lock the rope lock andreplace the locking ring, never leave a lineset unlocked or
without a locking ring
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