Adding rails and a monitor bracket to a Floatcam

[Jonathan Farber]

Hi folks, ok after speaking with Adam at Floatcam (UK) I would like to move the monitor further up the sled post. Its a personal preference but i would like it in a better position. So the question is, where can i get rail components from and a Lemo extension cable, and has anyone else attempted this before?

Thanks in advance

[Charles King]

What model of floatcan do you have? As for the extended lemo wire, you will have to make your own.

[Jonathan Farber]

Hi there Charles, sorry i meant to upload some pictures and movies when i got it some time ago. Its an FC12, standard setup. i have seen a few rigs here that use a rails system. but its finding something that i can adapt to the FC12 post. Lemo - no probs i am sure i can get the pin outs from Adam. where do recomened wire / plug suppliers?

Thoughts?

Ooooo been running some tests with my 5Dmk2 and a delicious 20mm lens.. wow.. very interesting, apart from the focus issue.!!

[Chris Harding]

Hi Jonathan

I see that the new FC14 has rails and the LCD also has a longer cable...maybe talk to them and see if you can buy just the rails???

BTW Charles, what is your opinion of the double springs on each side of the arms and the cable running thru pulleys??? Any big advantage??? I was looking at changing my flycam so the cables also went thru pulleys but I wasn't too sure if there would be any distinct advantage.

Chris

[Jonathan Farber]

Hey Chris... just did that see image// great minds hey..! Hopefully i will get a response soon. The only issue us that it looks as if that bracket only attatches to the lowest part of the sled where the post is narrowest. Ideally i want to mount it on the upper section

Right off to run some more tests with the 5dMK2..!

[Charles King]

Hi Chris. The cable and spring setup that floatcam uses is simply reverse design of what the steadicam used in their older arms. The adjustment of the entire system is done by the vertical adjustment like that of the Steadicam arms. What they did was combined two designs and made them into one. They could have made things easy by putting the wires and pulley system within the arm like the steadicam arms but that design is under patent. So they had to find another method of keeping the design intact but not infringe on the patent. I am guessing this is why they came up with this design.
Personally i would keep the cables and pulley components inside the arm if you intend on modifying your arm like that. Using a pulley is a smart thing because it reduces friction and gives the cable something to ride on. If you do intend on going viet route i would advise you on using spring plugs. This will give you much more room for your springs to stretch.

Before you start make sure you use Cosmin formula to get a more accurate spring dimension witin the arm. If you can wait a little longer than you will be able to use his updated excel version.

[Chris Harding]

Thanks Charles...

For interest, using two sets of springs in the arm like floatcam does??? Is that an advantage?? You would obviously have your dual top and bottom springs a lot softer than the single ones.

Their spring adjustment is interesting as well with the one pulley moving instead of a screw thread in the spring plug!!!

Jonathan, you will have to measure the post to see if there is enough material in the current clamp to enable it to be machined bigger. That way you can use it on the post rather than the extension piece.  If that isn't an option, still measure your post...I'm sure the folks at Cine City in India would be happy to sell you an LCD rail that is used on the Flycam 6000...The clamp on my rails will fit a 1" post nicely so that just might be an option?

Chris

[Jonathan Farber]

Yeah i have seen the guys in India, to be honest i wasn't sure about the quality of the gear. I contacted them about a Matte box, rails and FF but they were more intersted in selling me a product and getting my creditcard than answering questions about build quality etc..

i see that this: http://hbsboard.com/index.php/topic,1803.180.html is more inline with where i want to go. It looks solid. was this made from scratch of a combination of off the shelf components and custom machining?

5d+floatcam update: very interesting indeed. will post some video results up as soon as i can, focus remains a problem though with the monitor being so low. I also thing that i need a brighter monitor. any how.... one step at a time...

j

[Charles King]

Are you talking about the arm you linked to Jonathan?

[Jonathan Farber]

Morning Charles,

No i was trying to link to the monitor bracket. That looks quite simple and offers pretty much everything i want to achieve.

j

[Charles King]

Are you referring to this, scroll down a bit: http://hbsboard.com/index.php/topic,1803.msg34706.html#msg34706

[Jonathan Farber]

Hi Charles.

Yep its the monitor bracket with the clamp / collar and rails... looks ideal. once i get the pin outs for the cable extension it will the ideal solution. Just moving the monitor up and out will give me better operational usage.

As soon as i extend the post the monitor goes with it. ideally i want the monitor in a higher position. and i believe that it will help with balancing the unit.

j

[Charles King]

Thanks Charles...

For interest, using two sets of springs in the arm like floatcam does??? Is that an advantage?? You would obviously have your dual top and bottom springs a lot softer than the single ones.

Their spring adjustment is interesting as well with the one pulley moving instead of a screw thread in the spring plug!!!

Chris

Actually the adjustment that they used is similar to an original drawing done by a Asian gentleman a very long time ago. Way back before Floatcam came into business. So seeing Floatcam design is nothing new to me. They just took it one step further and put the wire/vertical adjustment outside the arm. Bob Weber also had a similar design. I'm beginning to wonder if they got this concept from them.

One of the advantage of the two springs:

1. Two short spring instead of one long spring, which in return you do not need to make a long arm or bone.

2. You get two springs sharing the load instead of one. Which also means you can keep the diameter of the spring wire and a good size.

Again, everything is relative depending on your arm construction, required weight range and size of your arm.

[Charles King]

Hi Charles.

Yep its the monitor bracket with the clamp / collar and rails... looks ideal. once i get the pin outs for the cable extension it will the ideal solution. Just moving the monitor up and out will give me better operational usage.

As soon as i extend the post the monitor goes with it. ideally i want the monitor in a higher position. and i believe that it will help with balancing the unit.

j

Those clamps and everything else were fabricated. Nothing was purchased.

[Charles King]

Any feedback from the guys at Floatcam?