http://tom11.com/blog Another day, another idea Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:29:40 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I think I'm making some progress!  Here is some video I shot of the steadicam prototype arm curling some weights.  There are still some obvious problems, but at least it's encouraging. [flv:/projects/steadicam/steadicam_test1.flv 400 300] http://tom11.com/blog/?p=21 Starting to think about the other parts of the steadicam, working on a 3A style top stage, here's what I have so far.  I worked off some photos I found online, so the dimensions are a total guess.  I found a rack and pinion gearset on mcmaster carr, the rest ... http://tom11.com/blog/?p=20 Did some thinking, and I've made several changes to the cam/ride mechanism which should help with the issues I've been having. 1) made the bottom of the lift assembly thicker so it will have less chance to twist on it's bearings.  I may at some point change this further to grip ... http://tom11.com/blog/?p=19 I added a second cam and connecting rod to my arm yesterday.  It definitely solved the twisting problem.  In the long run, I'd rather just have a single cam, because adding the mechanism to adjust the offset from the cam will be twice as difficult with 2 cams.  For now, ... http://tom11.com/blog/?p=18 I finally completed a prototype of my Steadicam G-series style arm.  Yippie!   The bad news is that there are some pretty severe design flaws in my plans.  Not sure how the G-series arms cope with this issue- that the cam at the top is pushing only on one side of ... http://tom11.com/blog/?p=17 So I finally made the first usefull thing with my new machining skills and tools.  My good friend Aaron sent me a boom pole that he got free for some reason, and finally got around to making an adjustable adaptor to mount my DIY shock-mount on the pole.  The shock ... http://tom11.com/blog/?p=16 After even more research, I've decided to retrofit one of my Lowel Omni fixtures with a 70W HQI bulb. ~$86 for the bulb - Iwasaki EYE Color Arc MTD70/D #56227 which is4000 lumens, 6000hrs, 6500K 92CRI.  the bulb is 120mm wide, so it'll have to go at a 45 degree angle ... http://tom11.com/blog/?p=15 Started doing more research on a small HMI I can use for a hair light.  Looks like there are several 200W HMIs on the market- by Arri, Joker, Frezzi to name a few.  The Frezzi is $3500 for a hot-restrike unit that includes pelican case, soft box, filters, barn doors, ... http://tom11.com/blog/?p=14 Turns out the FEA I've been doing with Solidworks 2007 was based on some mis-information.  I was using Cosmos Express (the simple/beginner's FEA tool in SW2007) and once I realized that I needed some sort of saftey factor on my parts, suddenly I couldn't make anything strong enough to hold ... http://tom11.com/blog/?p=13 Seems like Canon will not be coming out with any sort of firmware upgrade to get 24P out of the 5DMkII.  It also seems like RED is pushing back it's promised deadlines (which they also promised not to stick to, so it's hard to blame them).   This makes me really ... http://tom11.com/blog/?p=12