2006Gimbal forum
Diagnosing and correcting gimbal balance issues through axis alignment and bearing adjustment
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- When a gimbal maintains balance in one orientation but tilts after rotating 180 degrees, the problem is typically misalignment between the pan axis and tilt axis rather than poor dynamic balancing technique.
- Pan axis misalignment can sometimes be corrected by installing shims between the pan housing and yoke to move the axis into proper alignment.
- Worn or improperly adjusted pan bearings can cause balance problems that shift depending on gimbal orientation, as opposed to consistent tilting which suggests axis misalignment.
- Over-tightening the retention pins on pan bearings can pinch the yoke and distort the gimbal alignment; gradually backing off and retightening these pins to remove slop without binding can restore proper centering.
- After correcting gimbal axis alignment through shimming or bearing adjustment, the sled should maintain consistent balance regardless of its rotational position during panning.
Depends on
- The thread discusses home-built gimbals and lower-cost commercial models like Flyer LE; alignment procedures may differ for higher-end professional gimbals.
- Specific torque specifications for bearing retention pins were not provided in the discussion.
- The solution of using shims and pin adjustment worked for the participants but may not apply to all gimbal designs.
Parts
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