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Frictionless arm post design using needle bearings for smooth arm movement

21 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

What the thread found

  • A frictionless arm post with needle bearing construction allows smoother horizontal movement and easier repositioning during shots, particularly useful in confined spaces
  • A frictionless bearing arm post can be constructed using a needle bearing with flat washers and split collars clamped to a standard arm post at minimal cost
  • The frictionless feature is already incorporated as a standard design element in some professional camera arm systems
  • Having adjustable friction or the ability to lock an arm post provides flexibility for different shooting scenarios, from tight doorway passages to maintaining specific gimbal positions
  • Some operators prefer being able to swap multiple arm posts of different lengths during shooting, which can be hindered by permanent bearing installations that require collar removal
  • Alternative materials like Delrin and PTFE tape can be used to fine-tune the amount of friction or resistance in an arm post instead of a fully frictionless bearing system

Depends on

  • The frictionless design is most applicable to arm systems that do not already have this feature built in
  • Permanently installed bearings may reduce the convenience of quickly swapping between different length arm posts during production
  • Operators accustomed to working with friction-based arm posts may initially find frictionless designs unfamiliar and require an adjustment period
  • The DIY bearing installation approach requires basic mechanical assembly and may not be practical for all users
  • Some operators intentionally prefer a degree of friction or locking capability for specific shooting situations

Parts

Arm Post

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