Sofia Armenteros Posted October 25, 2012 Report Share Posted October 25, 2012 (edited) Hello, I just registered as a member here and this is the first post I write, hopefully in the right forum. I work in a rental company and I'm now the responsable for our Steadicam. Today I saw something on the arm to our Steadiecam MK-V. It's a 3A-arm, and there are some steel wires coming out between the metals, it looks like it's coming from the spring inside. I attach a picture. My question is, what should I do about it? Will it affect the operating of the Steadicam? Is it dangerous somehow? Should I send it for maintainence (where?) or is it something I can do by myself? I have a very basic knowledge of Steadicams, I'm a camera technician, not a operator, so please feel free to explain it to me as if I were a baby. Thank you in advance, Sofia Armenteros Edited October 25, 2012 by Sofia Armenteros Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Nikolay Kerezov Posted October 25, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 25, 2012 Hello, I just registered as a member here and this is the first post I write, hopefully in the right forum. I work in a rental company and I'm now the responsable for our Steadicam. Today I saw something on the arm to our Steadiecam MK-V. It's a 3A-arm, and there are some steel wires coming out between the metals, it looks like it's coming from the spring inside. I attach a picture. My question is, what should I do about it? Will it affect the operating of the Steadicam? Is it dangerous somehow? Should I send it for maintainence (where?) or is it something I can do by myself? I have a very basic knowledge of Steadicams, I'm a camera technician, not a operator, so please feel free to explain it to me as if I were a baby. Thank you in advance, Sofia Armenteros Sofia, According to me there is nothing to worry about ! This steel wire is a part of the safety if a spring brakes . It will not affect the operating or the performance in any way. This is what I see ,but someone can proof me wrong…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Tom Wills Posted October 25, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 25, 2012 I would definitely be worried. That's one of the cables for the spring, which is what holds the 3 springs inside the arm together. That cable carries the full weight of everything on the rig. So, that cable being loose and frayed-looking is problematic. However, what is even more problematic is that it's sitting between coils of a titanium spring. Titanium springs are able to take great extension, but if they are scratched, dinged, or marred in any way (such as by a big steel cable rubbing against them), they have a habit of shattering, dropping rigs, and making a sound like a gun going off. I found a reply in this thread from an op who had the same issue: http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=3112&view=findpost&p=17825 I'd get it taken care of by an arm expert. Robert Luna is the big name for refurbishing arms - I know he worked on my Master series arm for the previous owner, and did a great job. I'm sure you can find his contact information somewhere on the site, or someone will pop in to post it soon enough. Kudos to you for noticing this and not just sending it right back out on another job - that could have been disastrous, had the spring broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Nikolay Kerezov Posted October 25, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 25, 2012 I would definitely be worried. That's one of the cables for the spring, which is what holds the 3 springs inside the arm together. That cable carries the full weight of everything on the rig. So, that cable being loose and frayed-looking is problematic. However, what is even more problematic is that it's sitting between coils of a titanium spring. Titanium springs are able to take great extension, but if they are scratched, dinged, or marred in any way (such as by a big steel cable rubbing against them), they have a habit of shattering, dropping rigs, and making a sound like a gun going off. I found a reply in this thread from an op who had the same issue: http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=3112&view=findpost&p=17825 I'd get it taken care of by an arm expert. Robert Luna is the big name for refurbishing arms - I know he worked on my Master series arm for the previous owner, and did a great job. I'm sure you can find his contact information somewhere on the site, or someone will pop in to post it soon enough. Kudos to you for noticing this and not just sending it right back out on another job - that could have been disastrous, had the spring broken. Tom, No cable inside the spring is caring weight. The cables between the springs are pares and they are connected to the end of the springs. Inside the spring there is a “safety” if spring brakes . This is how I see the arm structure and I have two of those. About Titanium and that wire, you might be right….I have one of this cables stuck in the spring for 7 years now… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Nikolay Kerezov Posted October 25, 2012 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 25, 2012 Sofia, whatever we say ,you will need to send the arm to be serviced at some point. My worry is that the cable is broken and as you know s...t happens. If you can do a picture of the same section of the arm under weight will show the real demage. Best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Armenteros Posted October 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2012 Sofia, whatever we say ,you will need to send the arm to be serviced at some point. My worry is that the cable is broken and as you know s...t happens. If you can do a picture of the same section of the arm under weight will show the real demage. Best! On sunday I have a Steadicam operator coming over and we'll take a look at it, I'll snap a picture of the arm under weight. I'll get back to you. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ANSWERS!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Armenteros Posted October 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2012 (edited) Hi again! So we looked it up today and the wire inside the spring is broken, there where to ends inside (the picture isn't really showing though). It also seemed as if it was only for safety in case of that the spire would break. I don't know if its a titanium spring or not.. But we are sending it for reparation. Thank you once again for the help! Edited October 26, 2012 by Sofia Armenteros Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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