I was adding to a post called "Check out my home made stabilizer!!! =)" and decided to start my own post.

Original thread can be found here....

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36906&perpage=15&pagenumber=3



I purchased Cody Deegan's - Camera Stabilizer Plans and I will document my time and cost for all the materials.

$45 Cody's book
Well documented and Cody is very helpful when you need assistance. I would recommend the book!

http://www.codydeegan.com to order book
http://www.homebuiltstabilizer.com for help with building a
stabilizer

So far, I've purchased (Day 1)

$30 Manfrotto 679 Monopod(BH PHOTO)

$47 Arm Springs (www.centuryspring.com)

I purchased the metal today but don't have a total yet, they are still cutting it up. I am sure it will not be much.


I will take photos as I assemble the sled, arm and vest. I couldn't find any other post like this, so I thought I would create one. I have seen posts of completed projects, like this one

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36071

and

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26060&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

I will post more as I go. I do not plan to make improvements at this point. like, Jean-Philippe Archibald. So pretty much, it will be almost exactly from the instructions.

Total to date: $122

Jon

Good for you Jon. I take it you did not buy his second plans. The one utilizing the six spring setup? Any way, congrats on the purchase. Don't forget. I would love some pics for HBS when you are done.

My plans have the 4 spring setup. I didn't purchase the plans for the new arm. When I finish the 4 spring setup and I am happy with the results, I will buy his revised arm plans.

I have a buddy who has built this setup and it works great for him.

http://www.trulux.com/links/e1.jpg
http://www.trulux.com/links/e2.jpg
http://www.trulux.com/links/e3.jpg
http://www.trulux.com/links/e4.jpg

The arm is rather cheap to build. I have access to alot of free metal. :)

Jon

Jon,

I think this is a great idea. It will be interesting following your progress. BTW how much do you think your time is worth per hour even though you are doing this because it's fun.

My system doesn't have a lot of real expensive parts in it but I have invested a lot of time. It's been fun though like I said. I go to sleep at night thinking of ways to improve on the design. I get up in the morning and look forward to going to the shop to work on the improvments I thought about the night before.

Except for one final item I want to add to the stabilizer to make it easier to balance it's finished and works most excellently! (is that a real word?)

You will learn even more about the function of a steadycam system than anyone who just buys one because you are making it yourself and have to understand the reasons for the processes.

I'm looking forward to further posts!

Steady shooting,

Tery

Well, my time is worth more than most. I work in IT during the day and do videography in my spare time. If I was making them to sell it probably wouldn't be worth it. I have watched two of these go for sale on eBay. The first went for $1350 and another with LCD and monitor for $1850. The 1350 would have been a better deal considering the lcd and battery doesn't cost $500.

I am doing this for the FUN of it and to say "I built my own".

I would think, since you make them for sale, that once you made a couple, the process would take much less time.

Even if my time was $10 a hour, which I consider giving my time away, it would be less expensive to buy my own. I know that Glidecam is selling theirs for $1499.

I am creating this post so the next guy can be more informed on either to buy or build. Since most of us are on a budget. :)

I currently own the Glidecam 4000 and bodybod. I like the glidecam. The bodybod is not for me, I am definately interested in the arm.


Jon

Update

$68 for all the metal and to have it cut to size. (This doesn't include if you had them cut each piece to the actual size, some pieces would still need to be cut a couple of times) I can do this myself. I still need to purchase metal for vest.

$16 ABEC 3 Bearings - 29 of them.. Got a deal on eBay. usually they are $1 each.

Total to date = $206

Includes: Manual to build the rig, Metal(doesn't include metal for vest), Monopod, Pan Bearing, ABEC Bearings and Springs.

The only thing left I have to purchase is the hardware.. ie...Nuts and bolts

If I had to guess now that the total cost of purchasing everthing will be less than $94 putting the total at $300. I will post an update as I purchase the additional items.

My time to purchase book and all the items I have listed is around 2 hours.

Jon

Hi Jon,

Most steadicam operators will suggest an inexperienced guy to attend a workshop which costs around US$2,000 or more which will increase your allowance. 8 )

Regards
Leigh

Haha...i'll be the first operator to confirm that for you Leigh.. ;-)


Yeah, the workshops are generally always a (if not the first) part of becoming a serious operator.


:-)



- Mikko

Hi Mikko,

I read your site http://wilson.pp.fi/mikko/photos/flying/. That is nice.

From the photo galary, it seems that the workshop you attended only offer one copy of steadicam flyer for lots of workshop attendents to practise. Did every student has a copy of steadicam offered by workshop to practise in the workshop period? And the camera you were using seems quite small. Not the bigger one? I doubt this short period for workshop(around 5 days) is enough time. I guess that it only offers to open the mind to see lots of situation to use steadicam. I guess even after finishing the workshop, still can't make a steady shot. Am I right?

Regards
Leigh

My point exactly.... Where did the discussion of taking a class start? I really dislike when people take over a post but I guess it happens.

Well, I spent about 3 hours cutting up all of the metal and tomorrow I will start assembling the gimbal and sled. I am going to take pictures as I go and will post them as I take them.

Jon

Hi Charles,

I recalled that steadicam ultra package only cost around 60K. Why do you say 100K+? Does that include follow focus and other add on accessary?

TIA
Leigh

Yes. The figures are something like: $65K for vest, arm, sled; $4K for cables (yup!) $20K for wireless lens control system, $3K for assorted bracketry, $4K for video transmitter and receiver, $5K for batteries and chargers; gyros, around $8K...

Then there's a bunch of little geegaws and doodads that most operators collect over time. Most of us estimate our package at around $120K.

Sorry Jon--let's get back to your homebuild project now. Good luck with it! Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

I'm looking forward to the pictures.

BTW Charles, how do you get a link to be active when you click on it like yours. I type in the links and you have to copy and past them in order to go to the link.

Thanks,

Tery

P.S. Have you started the video yet?

Ok, i'll reply quickly to teh questions regarding my post.. If someoen wants to tlak workshops more, then start another thread..

Leigh:
I think CP did a rather fine job of describign the workshop.
- And yeah, it's all done woth big rigs. theough there are aftern other rigs around too. - At our worshop there was a Flyer there as well as a 3A, one student's SK-2 and another's Moddle 2 (!) - along with Peter Abraham's custom sled on the prototype flyer arm.
Also the workshops generally have other toys too like (in teh pictures) Buudycam, Rickshaw, Dolly hardmount, Vehicle mount. - And sometimes they break out Skyman too.

So we learn mostly on the big rigs - the same stuff can then be scaled down to smaller stuff, like the flyer. And then we are exposed to a mass of other gear that changes from time to ttime, but is very ralely in one place. - And no 5 day's won't make you a perfect operator (i'm certainly still rather green, and improving with practice). But you sure as hell learn alot. :-)

And yes the 5 days does go quickly. But any more woudl almost become too exhausting for one session. It's preatty intense. :-)


Jon:
I dind't mean it at all that you HAD to take one. I very much meant it exactly as you took it - definatly not for everyone, but something that should be considered IF you are getting serious about it :-)


CP:
"diabolical" - yes, very! :-D


Good luck with your rig Jon!

- Mikko.

Terry:

Here's the info (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/misc.php?s=&action=bbcode) on how to make the links active.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/misc.php?s=&action=bbcode

Actually, that page doesn't seem to describe the exact method all that well. To create the link above, I typed:

[url=http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/misc.php?s=&action=bbcode]Here's the info[/url

...I left off the final bracket, "]" from the end so that it wouldn't encode.

Charles,

Here's my test link (http://www.indicam.com)

Just got to try it out.

Thanks...you're the Steadiman!

Terry

Terry

How much is your arm and vest? Just for comparison. The glidecam steady shooter is $1499.

Thanks,

Jon

The Indicam (Indi for Indipendant Video and Filmmakers) is $995 for a dual arm system.

I just finished my sled and it will be $450 for it so the entire system will cost under $1500.

The web site doesn't show the updated system yet but the sled has an adjustable no-tools gimbal, an extendable post, as well as a two bolt X-Y camera platform adjustment.

I'm doing final testing and then I'll post pictures of the new system on the web site.

Now, back to your steadycam building. I wish I had access to all the machining tools at my shop but I have to go elsewhere to have some of the work done. You are a lucky guy!

Are you taking pictures all along the way?

Tery

I am taking as many as I can remember to take. I have pictures of the raw metal, cut metal and that is about it at the moment. I waiting on springs and bearings. I also need to purchase all of the hardware(nuts and bolts) which I plan to do before the end of the weekend. Early next week I will start assembling everything.

I still need to work on the vest. I plan on ordering the metal and other components soon.


Tery,

I watched the videos on your site. It just makes me want to spend the next 24hrs building it. I know they are different, yours and cody's design but they have to be somewhat close.

Thanks,

Jon

Most full rig steadycam systems are similar in operation and construction. They might have different camera platforms, gimbals, counterweights, adjustments, etc. but the arms are parallelograms and the springs counteract the weight of the sled and camera. The trick is getting everything to work together well with very low friction.

There are a whole lot of details that you will learn about as you build your system but it's great you have some good plans to start with.

I'm interested in the weight of the rig once you finish building Cody's plans. Also I'm interested in how it adjusts to different camera weights.

Make sure you get some closeups (in focus of course) so we can see how everything is supposed to be.

Tery

Hi folks,

Unfortunately I have had to prune some less-than-desirable chatter out of this thread. Please! Keep in mind the following when you choose to post:

-- do not hijack threads

-- treat each other with mutual respect and courtesy

-- do not hassle each other or engage in flame wars

-- try to keep the discussion streamlined for the benefit of future readers

Many thanks,

Chris,

Thank You!

Jon

Jon,

How is the project going so far? Have you CUT OUT THE\1

Jon,

How is the project going so far? Have you cut out the vest material (not the front plate) and what material are you using? How thick is the padding? Just wondering.

Hey, where are the pictures? You know they are worth a thousand words so how about a few thousand words for us to see.

Tery

Tery,

I haven't started on the vest material. I am meeting with a person who sells industrial fabric this week. She is a friend of my wife, which will make it easy for me to buy a small quantity! I am going to use the same stuff you will find in backpacks. The tuff black stuff. I will have a better name for it on Thursday.

I will try and get the pictures of the cut material up today. I am waiting on my bearings.

I didn't have time to work on the project this weekend. I had a wedding and a bride who was originally getting married in October moved the wedding to March 19th because her fiance is being deployed to Iraq. I had to put together a montage and love story this weekend. That was last minute for sure.


Jon

Jon,

I know about the price of small quantites. There is even a big discrepancy between suppliers. I bought bearings made in Japan from two different companies. One charged me $22.50 while the other charged me less than $6.00. That is a huge difference!

Looking forward to some of the pics.

Tery

Here is a picture of the sled base piece. The project is moving really slow due to too many weddings this month.

http://www.trulux.com/pictureuploads/IMG_1475.JPG

Jon

Jon,

Nice job!

The plate looks almost like my Glidecam 2000 bottom plate. I'm sure it was designed after it. Glidecam has a good design there.

How did you make the cuts and the slot? Since this is a learning process these details are important.

By the way, you probably ought to make your pictures smaller so it will be easier to load from the web. You picture at this time is 1085 x 814 pixels which is huge. It would be better at VGA size that is used for emailing. Since there aren't any heavy details the smaller size would be just fine. I'm not sure of the pixel size but it is considerably small than the size you are using now.

Let me know when you have the next part done and have pictures of it.

Thanks,

Tery

Thanks.... I will resize the picture tomorrow to 640X480. Just getting the picture online today was a task in itself. I have 3 weddings dvds that must be completed by next week. OUCH!

First, I etched my aluminum plate with a flat head screw driver and a ruler. Then I used a sharpie to trace those lines. Then I took it over to a band saw and cut it out. After cutting it out, I drilled holes with a bridgeport. Wow, that would be hard with just a standard drill. It would be worth sending it to a machine shop if you don't have access to a bridgeport. I don't see it costing too much. It would take a skilled machinist about 20 minutes. The bridgeport made it easy to drill the long holes you see in the picture. I also had to trim down the edges that come to a point around the middle of the piece because it wouldn't fit into the bridgeport, but you can't really tell.

Just cutting out this piece, marking where to cut and drilling the holes took me about a hour and a half. My problem at the moment are the two welds that I will need. I have called two places and they want $50 to weld it. That's highway robbery, considering it should take 5 minutes to weld. I am still shopping around!

I purchased some material for the vest. The cost was around $30 for everything, minus the fastening clips. I will post pictures of the material and their associated cost's once I get the stuff and the bill.

I purchased a 7" 16X9 LCD monitor for my sled for $125 shipped... I purchased a battery for it for $18, 12v 3.0 amh and it weighs 2.6lbs, the lcd weighs 1.0lb. I guess I will need more weight at the bottom. I can't wait to mount it! It will make the 16X9 on my FX1 and PD170 look really nice on my stabilizer when its finished!

I hope to have more time this week to start construction on my arm. I already have the pieces cut out so hopefully I can post some pictures by the weekend or next week at the latest.

If I didn't have the great desire to build it myself, I would seriously thing about buying the glidecam steady shooter for $1499. Built ready to go, that's nice. I plan on selling my glidecam 4000 pro once I finish the homebuilt sled. They build some quality stuff and glidecam, I love my 4000 pro.


Jon

Jon,

I had to do a web search in order to find out what a "bridgeport" is. You are right about not being able to do that slot very well by drilling it.

I take it a bridgeport is a rather expensive machine correct?

You should take pictures (or have someone take pictures) of the work as you are doing it. I have a good idea of how you make the parts you are making as I have done quite a few of them myself but others might not so some pictures would help out a lot. I am doing this in video as a "show me how" thing.

I originally made my vest and dual arm to fly my Glidecam 2000 but am now making my own sled as well. I am very happy with its performance and features.

Keep those pictures and posts coming.

Tery

A bridgeport is very expensive. The one I have access to is from the 70's probably, but it works like a brand new one. I am sure they are in the 5k plus range and up.

I have access to cnc machinery but I don't have the time to create the CAD drawings. It would be really easy then to cut out that section.

I will try to take pictures as I do some of the rest of the steps. It's hard to take pictures of you doing something when there is no one to take the picture. I usually do this at 11 pm after the wife and baby have gone to bed.

Jon

Jon,

I understand.

Just do what you can so the rest of us can benefit. You probably will only build a stabibizer once.

Tery

I will probably build two, considering I will find somethings I would like to improve and that will be version 2 :) I also need two of them :)

Jon

Good for you!

Tery

Good for you!

Tery

Ok... It's been a while but here are some pictures of the sled before it was taken for welding. Cost $60

http://www.trulux.com/pictureuploads/IMG_1355w.jpg
http://www.trulux.com/pictureuploads/IMG_1354w.jpg
http://www.trulux.com/pictureuploads/IMG_1354w.jpg

Didn't really take the time to resize photos too much. One picture is the pole and bottom of sled, the other is pole and top of sled and third picture are the three sides to the gimble-arm holder for lack of a better word... it's late :)

I should have a bunch of new updates this next week. I have some free time.. It's going to be fun.

Jon

Ok. I just got back the pieces that needed welding. I will post pictures of the assembled sled sometime soon.

Jon