Digitarium Portable Dome 8m
[DEDD8]

Designed for Digital Projection

NEW 8m dome for 80 adults or 100 kids

Digitalis inflatable domes are designed to be fast to set up and take down, and easily portable for circumstances where a fixed dome is just not an option. This third generation dome design is based upon years of experience with the unique aspects of digital dome projection and inflatable dome manufacturing.

Digitalis domes are made of our exclusive imported Nolux™ fabric. This durable, fire retardant fabric consists of six distinct layers which keep out stray light and enhance digital projection. Nolux makes blacks darker, for a noticeably more realistic black night sky simulation, and increases contrast by minimizing cross-reflection in the dome. Its matte gray projection surface even helps hide wrinkles.

Available in standard sizes from 4 to 7 meters (13-23 feet) in diameter, Digitalis domes are inflated with constant air pressure from a fan. The fan is infinitely adjustable from inside the dome, allowing whisper-quiet operation. A Digitalis dome and Digitarium planetarium system can be set up or taken down by one person in only 5 to 10 minutes.

We perform all dome construction and testing at our headquarters in Bremerton, Washington, USA. We have invested in state-of-the-art automation, high-tech tools and materials, and a skilled US workforce. The end result is product quality that is completely unmatched in the market, yet at extremely competitive prices.

Digitalis domes offer many advantages over other domes:

• Highest quality projection surface enhances digital projection.
  
• Truly hemispherical projection surface eliminates distortion and is free of vents or any other jarring visual interruption.
  
• Exclusive Nolux fabric meets NFPA 701 test method 2 flame retardance standard (retardant: deca-BDE).
  
• Extremely fast 5-10 minute setup and take down time.
  
• Adult audiences love our elegantly simple vertical zippered doorway -- no need to crawl through a tunnel or blindly squeeze through tube doorways!
  
• For safety, self-adjusting vents keep the dome inflated even if the power is cut and the dome has no floor, allowing for easy emergency exits and wheelchair access.
  
• Fresh air is constantly blown into the dome, but is directed away from the audience for comfort.
  
• Compatible with portable air conditioning units for hot locations.
  
• Whisper-quiet operation with infinitely adjustable fan speed control so that the teacher does not need to raise his/her voice to compete with the blower (may not be available in some countries).
  
• Lighter weight and more compact than domes with large doorways or rings.
  
• Comes with our unrivaled three year limited warranty.
  
• High quality US design and construction.
  
• For a detailed comparison with a standard Go-Dome, see our Dome Comparison (PDF).

Details

Entry and exit is through a 6 foot (2 meter) vertical, zippered, light-proof doorway. There is no tunnel, 'airlock,' or other hindrance to crawl or squeeze through. We find 'airlock' type entries add weight and substantial trip hazards and are really only useful if you want people coming and going throughout a presentation (not something most people will want with a planetarium show!). Our vertical entrance makes entry and exit extremely easy and saves on weight, packed size, and production costs. The absence of an entrance tunnel also means that you can project upon the entire dome surface.

The exhaust vents automatically close when the dome starts to deflate, helping keep the dome inflated when the door is open. With the door open the fan should be on it's highest setting. If the operator supports the top of the doorway with one hand while helping people enter and exit the dome, the dome should stay inflated as long as needed. It is only when the door is allowed to gape open (like an open mouth) that the dome will deflate significantly, in which case you can simply close the door and wait around 30 seconds for the dome to fully reinflate.

We recommend loading any audience members in wheelchairs first, by lifting the side of the dome and wheeling them under. This avoids unnecessary wear on the fabric near the door.

Set up takes about 5 minutes, and take down from 5-10 minutes. We know of other domes that take over 30 minutes to set up or take down, which is a huge impediment. It is hard to justify a 1 hour show if it takes even longer to set up and take down than to perform the actual show.

In case of emergency, Digitalis domes can be flipped over the audience within a few seconds since there is no floor on the dome. Alternately, people can duck under the skirt of the dome to exit quickly.

This model is only available in a blue exterior color and is designed for indoor use only. While these domes are flame retardant, we still recommend that you check with your local fire department for any special requirements.

We advise against using Digitalis domes outside due to the danger to audiences and equipment from sudden gusts of wind. This same advice applies to any inflatable dome that is not designed to be moored to the ground with cables.

See the table below for pricing and other details. We can do custom sizes and configurations to meet special needs, such as shorter heights to accomodate short ceilings or taller domes for chair type seating.

We also can provide domes with 'airlock' type entries for those rare situations where the audience needs to come and go at will. Please contact us for details.