Using the AGO Film Processor: Programs, Settings and Firmware

A complete guide to navigating AGO's programs, customising process steps, understanding the settings menu, and accessing the firmware update interface.

Programs

AGO has two kinds of process-specific programs stored in its memory: Default programs and Custom programs. All stored programs can be modified and all changes are saved automatically.

Default Programs

Default programs are standard chemistry-specific development processes with built-in time compensation. AGO ships with pre-made programs for the most common chemistry kits including B&W general, Cinestill DF96, C-41 Tetenal, Bellini, Cinestill, Arista, Adox, Jobo, Flic Film, E-6, ECN-2, and RA-4.

Custom Programs

You can create custom programs using the program configurator through the external user interface. There you can name programs and adjust every aspect of the process, including applying AGO's time compensation formulas to individual steps. Custom programs are especially useful for B&W film-developer combinations, so you do not have to look up development times and manually adjust the program each time.

Program Overview Page

On the program overview page you can modify each step of the process before starting. For each step you can customise the time, agitation method, and whether to enable time compensation.

If you are using time compensation and it has a specific temperature associated with it, use the corresponding time from the chemistry manufacturer's datasheet.

Resetting Default Programs

To reset a default program back to its original values, open the program overview page and press the ON/OFF button briefly. AGO will ask you to confirm. Press FORWARD/START to confirm the reset or BACK to cancel.

Ongoing Process Step Page

During an active process, the screen shows real-time information about the current step. You can track the chemical in use, initial time, agitation method, time compensation type, timer, compensated time, and current temperature.

Motor: After the timer reaches zero, the motor continues running for another 15 seconds before AGO automatically advances to the next process step.

Temperature: Steps with time compensation or MON monitor whether the temperature is within the correct range. A grey thermometer background means temperature is in range. A red background means it is out of range.

Settings Menu

The settings page lets you customise a range of parameters:

• Sound: turn notification sounds on or off
• LCD brightness: adjust the screen brightness
• Roll and Stick Agitation Parameters: fine-tune agitation speed and timing
• Temp. unit: choose between Celsius or Fahrenheit
• Firmware update: enable WiFi for firmware updates and the programs configurator

Roll Agitation

In roll agitation mode the rotation direction alternates between clockwise and counter-clockwise as set by T1 and T2. The shaft rotates continuously until the end of the process step.

• Speed: rotation speed in revolutions per minute (rpm)
• T1: rotation time clockwise
• T2: rotation time counter-clockwise

Stick Agitation

Stick agitation involves continuous rotation for the T1 duration at the start, followed by rotation for T2 seconds every minute thereafter.

• Speed: rotation speed in revolutions per minute (rpm)
• T1: constant rotation time at the start
• T2: duration of rotation every minute after T1

Firmware Update

Enabling WiFi in the settings creates a local WiFi network that you can connect to from your desktop or mobile device. Once connected, open your browser and type in the IP address shown on the AGO screen to access the web interface.

• IP: enter this as the URL in your browser
• SSID: the WiFi network name
• PASS: the password to connect

For the full step-by-step firmware update guide, continue here.