New Flycam 6000 Springs

[Eric Teotico]

You have century springs stocked in your local hardware??? Wow. I can't find the right springs here, hardware or auto supply. I'm so frustrated. I registered with century springs just now. My account will be confirmed in 2 days. I'm choosing between a) prod. code 5465 with a max load of 112 lbs. wire diameter  3.76 or b) prod. code 5442 with a max load of 62 lbs. wire diameter 3.05mm. Both have OD's of 22.23mm. I went through their stock list and this was the closest I could find to the originals. Obviously (b) has 50pct less load capacity. However, I want a 30pct lighter load capacity from the original springs.( I'm planning to buy a DOF adaptor and support system for my camera.) So I need to give my max weight load an allowance. Did your spring maker compute the load capacity of the original SS springs of our arm?

Tom, your physics rocks!

Do you think you can help me decide on the springs? My sled weighs 20lbs.

[Chris Harding]

Hi Eric

Well, my original springs were 4mm wire and the new ones are 3.55mm and that was a calculated 40% reduction!! They obviously kept the ID the same to re-use the plugs. I wonder if a 3.05mm might be a little soft??? With my sled at about 15lbs and the springs slacked right off so there is virtually no tension in the cables, the arms drop to just below horizontal.  With calculations will Tom need to also know the weight of the arm itself which is probably another 20lbs? The way I see it is that the springs must also support the actual arms as well...but I might be wrong???

I still rather like the idea of using 3 springs but I'm still waiting for some feedback from Tom whether you can make the centre spring a softer one or not.

I'll do some tests during the week as well..just got to finish a wedding video edit first!!

Chris

[Eric Teotico]

That sounds like good advice. Thanks Chris.