Premium Members Michael Wilson Posted August 18, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 Trying to dynamic balance my rig with a fairly light weight f55 yesterday. When I would do a spin test the rig would dip to the left. Usually it needs to be adjusted forwards or backwards. Only thing I can think of is the ab battery on my Marshall is not centered. But I've balanced before w this monitor. I have the mk-v 1.5" gimbal. I can static balance 360 degrees. But when I spin it, it eventually starts dipping to the side. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mike Germond SOC Posted August 18, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 Do you have a telescoping post? There's a chance the top and bottom stages aren't aligned dead center. Or even a camera slightly twisted on the dovetail (more apparent with longer payloads). Or if your monitor bracket rotates off center on the post. I check all the possible off center items first when that happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Wilson Posted August 18, 2013 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 Yes, telescoping post. Ill double check the alignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jerry Holway Posted August 18, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 The camera can be twisted and/or tilted (as in Mike's pix), but the monitor and battery c.g.'s must be on a line that runs through the center of the post, or put another way, the 3 c.g.'s (monitor, battery, camera and accessories c.g.'s) must form a plane that is coincident with the vertical axis of the gimbal... or more simply, you cannot easily correct for dynamic balance if the c.g.'s are off center side to side. If you can, remove the monitor and check where its c.g. is; same for the battery. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Marc R. Berger Posted August 19, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 This helpes me a lot to find the 3 c.g.`s. And especially a great little tool to determine the side to side off of the monitor etc. Marc 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Victor Lazaro Posted August 19, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 I've heard about this Mickey technique, but it won't work in my situation with the Zephyr as the pole in not circular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Baluk Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 The outer post is circular. I believe you should be able to use it on there, just collapse the post all the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Chris Van Campen Posted August 20, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 20, 2013 We talked about the Zephyr "Mickey" method over here: http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=17941&hl=mickey Works like a charm, you just need a 1/4x20 bolt, a nut, and a bearing with 1/4" ID. I think it ran me $5 at McMaster Carr... Seriously this method gets you 95% of the way there in no time... and the adjustments are intuitive while you're doing it. No trial and error. You quickly learn that 1 mm adjustment on one of the rods makes a big difference. My 2 cents :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Mark Schlicher Posted August 20, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 20, 2013 Chris do you have a pic? I don't quite grasp how it's working for you...thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Chris Van Campen Posted August 21, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jerry Holway Posted September 3, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 To be clear, the Mickey is a complete waste of time when the monitor c.g. is raised up from the battery c.g. – as it is in many sleds. If the monitor is raised up on your sled, the sled needs to be front heavy without the camera, and the Mickey can't help you at all. If this seems wrong to you, you could do the math, or you could just spin balance your rig (however you get there), then remove the camera, and it will be clear. On the other hand, if the monitor c.g. is not raised up, then the camera c.g. will be directly over the center post, and you don't really need a Mickey to balance your sled in a separate step - you've got a lovely gimbal to do that already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted September 3, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 To be clear, the Mickey is a complete waste of time when the monitor c.g. is raised up from the battery c.g. – as it is in many sleds. Actually Jerry if you'd think before you post you'd realize the the Mickey works with every sled configuration, maybe it's too outside of your limited (Tiffen only) experience This thread is about side to side balance... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jerry Holway Posted September 3, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 LOL 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Smith Posted September 28, 2013 Report Share Posted September 28, 2013 To be clear, the Mickey is a complete waste of time when the monitor c.g. is raised up from the battery c.g. – as it is in many sleds. If the monitor is raised up on your sled, the sled needs to be front heavy without the camera, and the Mickey can't help you at all. If this seems wrong to you, you could do the math, or you could just spin balance your rig (however you get there), then remove the camera, and it will be clear. On the other hand, if the monitor c.g. is not raised up, then the camera c.g. will be directly over the center post, and you don't really need a Mickey to balance your sled in a separate step - you've got a lovely gimbal to do that already. Thanks Jerry, As always you're level of understanding of all things steadicam is a valuable insight and resource. Please don't stop coming here on account of the rudeness (I could go on but I'd like to keep this forum a respectful and courteous place). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted September 29, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 The effects of the centrifugal force applied to the post will be different the higher or lower its applied. Hence a non coplanar monitor will balance great on the mickey and not be in dynamic balance. This is what Jerry is saying and it seems entirely correct to me. Eric, if you dispute this howabout doing so with some science. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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