2004Operating forum
Achieving dynamic balance on a Steadicam Mini or Flyer sled
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Dynamic balance on a Mini or Flyer sled can be achieved by adjusting the battery plate position and monitor arm angle after establishing static balance.
- To correct for the sled precessing backwards (lens tilts upward when spinning), move the battery plate slightly downward toward vertical in small increments of just a few millimeters.
- To correct for the sled precessing forward (lens tilts downward when spinning), pull the monitor arm slightly upward away from horizontal in small millimeter adjustments.
- The battery plate should be opened to approximately 45 degrees and locked loosely to allow adjustment, with batteries mounted before finding balance.
- The monitor arm should be fully extended horizontally as a starting point before making dynamic balance adjustments.
- Static balance must be established first using standard back-and-forth and side-to-side methods before attempting dynamic balance corrections.
Depends on
- The method requires the sled components to have adjustable positioning capability.
- Results depend on having appropriate batteries available to mount in the battery plates.
- The technique involves iterative testing with small adjustments, requiring multiple spin tests to find the optimal balance point.
- This applies specifically to factory Steadicam Mini and Flyer models as well as hybrid designs.