LINKS & DIY PROJECTS
Arm Formulas
Betz-Tools
cinewidgets
VF Gadgets
Steadicam Steel Practise Cage
The Steadicam Store
15mm & 19mm size steel rods
Different Weight Cages
IDX A-AB2E V-Mount Adapter Plate
Decimator (Red Style Down Converter)
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Reference Pics:
The Steadicam flyer
close-up pics
3A arm/socket in detail
some nice close-up pics
A homebuilt 3A arm look-alike in detail
A great collection of pics from Tim who took
the time to dismantle his arm to share with us
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Sliding mechanism plate ideas:
Manfrotto positioning plate
Manfrotto 357 universal sliding plate
Novaflex
Novaflex (B&H link)
Novaflex (Swedish link)
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Video steadicam senders:
High power Steadicam UHF TV
sender with adjustable channels
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Jeweled dial test indicator
Multi-position magnet
1'' dial indicator
Dial Indicators
Digital caliper
Metalworking
Virtual Machine Shop
Metal Web News
Advanced MachineWork
Introduction to Machine Tools
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Steadicam & non-steadicam reading:
The lego steadicam
Something to raise your spirits
Steadicam Jr/VX-1000 workshop
A load of information for steadicam jr and DV models
Glidecam 1000 Pro
stabilizer review
Hands on review and tips on the Glidecam 3000 Pro
By Mitch Ives
DV shots with a sony vx-1000 and the steadicam JR
Steadicam hits it's stride
Interesting reading about the man himself-Garret Brown
Garrett Brown
Site The name says it all. Just go there!
3D steadicam of the past
Some nostalgic pics of the use of 3D with the steadicam
Steadicam operator's manual of style
An interesting look at the appearence of a steadicam
operator by the late Ted Churchill.
(A must read !)
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Anodizing:
Anodizing Aluminum
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Remote focus systems:
BarTech Engineering
Preston Cinema Systems
Hedén Engineering
Scorpio Focus System
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Steadicam & Non-Steadicam Info:
Parts of the Steadiam System
Steadicam patent page
Steadicam Resource Manuals
Howstuffworks: How Steadicam Works
Comparison Chart of The Older Steadicam Rigs
A good reference for Steadicam enthusiast.
Brief over-view of some Steadicam terms
The art of dynamic balance - Read it!
Are you confuse as ever about this issue? then this is the
topic for you. If the theoritical aspect of dynamic balance
is too much for you, then just hope on over to the practical
section. The article was written by one of hollywood's
experience operators - Jerry Holiway. Enjoy.
Steadicam physics and construction hints
Critical hints. It's worth the look for you homemade steadicam owners.
The different ranges of steadicams
This link has detail information of all full rig steadicams.
Like size of arms, weight of each rig , number of springs , etc.
A good model for using when building that first stabilizer.
It shows everything from the SK series to the master series.
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Steadicam/non-steadicam related galleries:
Glidecam Operator Network
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Expo pics:
NAB 2003 Gallery
IBC 2002 Gallery
IBC 2005 Gallery
IBC 2006 Gallery
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Steadicam/non-steadicam related forums:
Steadiforum
Steadicam forum
Glidecam forum
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Crane - made simple
By Liza Trainer
Cody's stage modification
If you own cody's plans or interested in a precision camera stage for your sled,
without the machining process, then look no further. Cody has done it again.
Simple and to the point. So, all you Cody fanatics.
Download this PDF and update your sled.
Don't for get to right click it and save it on your desktop.
One of the best design, so far, of a non-machined, precision camera stage
Cody Deegan's Jib plans
.pdf file
Dave's crane plans assembly
.zip file
A Glidecam-look-a-like Hand held stabilizer plan
Track and dolly plans
Camera jib arm plans
All three plans are brought to you by
Friday Night Productions
All three files are .doc files
The DIY corner
Build a camera jib/dolly system
Camera Jib Arm Design
By Bob Vento
The Speed-Rail Jib Arm
Something for those interested
Skate-wheel dolly
The builder does a very well DIY article with pics to follow.
Definately something us homebuilders.
The Crank dolly
by Ron Dexter
He has a very informative site with lots of homebuilt projects
Ron's homepage
A 'how-I-built' my handheld stabilizer
A well detail project for those whose contemplating a small rig of their own.
Joakim as done a great job. Simple with
pics and guides. Nice work Joakim
Cody's Plans for a gimbal
For those who not experience in using precision tools or do not have
the means, then here is something that might suit you.
As always caution is always formost issue so follow his directions
carefully. Please not that this is for lighter weight cameras.
I want to thank Cody for dotanating these plans and, he hopes it
will help those searching to experience that hollywood
feel, get thier first experience.
NOTE: These files are PDF files
Part One
Part Two
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Build your own camera boom
by Paul Turner
Guerrilla Filmakers guide to building a stabilizer
Another tip on building a very -and I do stress very simple handheld stabilizer.
Not for the serious person but probably for someone who is just curious.
Camera Dolly Design
By Matt hawkins
Some great Stabilizing articles and tips
By Ron Dexter
Wilbofilm
Wilbofilm's version on how to build a cheap handheld rig
$14 Steady cam
the poor man's Steadicam
Smooth dolly
sent in by Ross
Skate wheel dolly
By Ron Dexter.
Backpack mount By Ross Greenwell
Drawings are in downloadable doc. file format
Cable Driven Pan Tilt Head By Ross Greenwell.
Drawings for a cable driven tilt head in downloadable .doc file format
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Camera & Stabilizer devices:
Mattebox - made simple
(By Liza Trainer)
Build a Matte Box for the DVX100
...out of hard papper
1. The main article
2. The papper templates:
a. Template 01
b. Template 02
c. Template 03
by Matthew of Desktop Creations
Save the .jpg templates by right clicking on them and saving them
on your desktop before printing them out
Homebuilt LANC controller Project
by Ed Chejlava
Stop motion camera dolly
David's how-to-build article with drawings. A great article.
NOTE: This is a Microsoft Word-dokument file
Cable Driven Pan Tilt Head part 2
Drawings for a cable driven tilt head in downloadable doc. file format
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A useful Tip about Antlers
by Thanh Le:
1. Antlers are basically a set of brass weights on a "T" shaped aluminum bar that attaches to the top of the camera. When installed they looked like, well, a set of antlers. Their purpose it to increase the rotational inertia of the rig in either one or all of the 3 axes. The inertia of something increases with the square of the distance a mass is away from the CG so a little distance goes a long way.
2. Here's some helpful info I found on the Steadicam Forum. The arm bearings in the CP Model 3 arms are apparently Torrington GB-57. These are full complement needle roller bearings, extra precision class. They don't have an inner race so the shaft rides directly on these needle rollers. This shaft must have a surface hardness of 58 HRC (Rockwell C) or equivalent. From my Torrington Service Catalog, the data for the regular version of this bearing (B-57) is:
Bore - 5/16"
O.D. - 1/2"
Torrington Basic Dynamic Load Rating (Cr): 905 lbf
Basic Static Load Rating (Co): 1770 lbf
Working Load (max): 1040 lbf
Normally you have to do some more calculations with these numbers to properly size the bearing, but if you just find an alternate bearing with comparable numbers I guess you should be fine. If you want to copy the 3A exactly these are the bearings to get but you'll still need some thrust bearings or washers because needle bearings carry no thrust load. Personally I don't like needle bearings and would use ball bearings instead, but that's just my preference. Ask 5 engineers how to do something and you'll get 50 different answers. Anyway, hope that helps someone!