Building a crane

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DaWolf85

Member
Hi everybody. This is my first thread here, but I've been observing for a while. I think I have most everything I need here. If there's something I missed, feel free to ask.

I've done quite a bit of research by now on how to build a jib. However, I do need some help with a few things.

1. Does anybody have ideas for a good way to make the jib sectional? I'm thinking 3' sections, but I'm not sure how to make it fit together well enough for a shot that's not very shaky.

2. Can anybody tell me what plugs I need for remote Zoom/S-S and Focus/Iris on a Panasonic DVX100B, and how to wire said plugs?

3. Do you think I should wire my own LCD monitor, or buy one? I'd like to save $50 and wire it myself, but I don't have a lot of experience with wiring. I am proficient at soldering and the monitor I'm thinking of wiring comes with a wiring diagram.

4. Remote Pan/Tilt. I have access to some good quality 360:1 geared motors for about 20 bucks a pop, so that's not really the problem here. But I'd like to know if anybody has advice on how to make the head smooth and not shaky, how to wire the motors (as in where should the wires come out, etc.), and if you have any suggestions for a good-quality, cheap joystick to control it.


I will be using four 1" square aluminum rods from Home Depot for the arm, two on top and two on the bottom. I may surround that with an aluminum casing for looks and for other reasons, namely having the wires not interfere with the action of the jib arm.
I intend to build my own tripod, but if someone can interest me in a tripod that can hold 50 lbs. for under $100 that would be very nice. However, as I have not found one of those yet, I'm thinking it's DIY on the tripod, too.
I do have access to welding supplies, but I'm not the one who's doing it and I'm not sure of the proficiency of the person who is, and whether I can trust them to weld it the way I want them to.
I will have weights on the short end, of course, to balance it out. I just hope my weight set will work for this purpose!
Camera will be a DVX100B. Not mine, either, so I need to make sure this thing can hold it securely.

I do not have plans on the computer, but I have drawn some up on paper.
 
You should also ask this at HomebuiltStabilizers.com if you haven't already...
 
I built a 21' sectional crane/jib here:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=143678

I have used it extensively on many films and projects. Since these posts I removed the mechanical head controls, opted for a locked head, and added a 90 degree lock straight down head mount. It would be easy to put on a hot head for 3 dimensional camera movement.

The Hypercrane is so stable... It moves so easily that simple wind can weathervane the rig. You can see its shot in the recent monsterfest film MERCY by Ruff Productions. It was used in the feature film STRICKEN,

http://www.strickenthemovie.com

...And you can see a graveyard shot by it in the teaser trailer on the web site.
 
Gary Sconce said:
I built a 21' sectional crane/jib here:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=143678

I have used it extensively on many films and projects. Since these posts I removed the mechanical head controls, opted for a locked head, and added a 90 degree lock straight down head mount. It would be easy to put on a hot head for 3 dimensional camera movement.

The Hypercrane is so stable... It moves so easily that simple wind can weathervane the rig. You can see its shot in the recent monsterfest film MERCY by Ruff Productions. It was used in the feature film STRICKEN,

http://www.strickenthemovie.com

...And you can see a graveyard shot by it in the teaser trailer on the web site.
Click to expand...

I must say, that is a nice-looking crane, even if it looks a little... er... Jerry-rigged? to most people.

However, I was thinking a little differently. My idea was that the arm would have 4 main pieces (so it'd look square if looking through it), and then possibly something that goes over that, mainly for easier attachments, though I'll admit I was thinking a bit about looks when I added that feature. The other big difference is I was hoping it could have a section every 3 feet, for more flexibility. I need this sucker to be able to be small enough to do shots inside a house (which would be the 3' length or maybe 6'), be big enough to get that shot where the camera sweeps down from 20 feet in the air (the 18' length), and flexible enough for all those shots in between (6, 9, 12, and 15' lengths).


Text wall! yay! :happy:
 
I went out to the Home Depot yesterday and bought materials for the rear section that will attach to the tripod and hold the counterweights. Hopefully I can get that section completed soon (riiiiight :happy:) and then have some actual pics to show.
 
DaWolf85 said:
I must say, that is a nice-looking crane, even if it looks a little... er... Jerry-rigged? to most people.

However, I was thinking a little differently. My idea was that the arm would have 4 main pieces (so it'd look square if looking through it), and then possibly something that goes over that, mainly for easier attachments, though I'll admit I was thinking a bit about looks when I added that feature. The other big difference is I was hoping it could have a section every 3 feet, for more flexibility. I need this sucker to be able to be small enough to do shots inside a house (which would be the 3' length or maybe 6'), be big enough to get that shot where the camera sweeps down from 20 feet in the air (the 18' length), and flexible enough for all those shots in between (6, 9, 12, and 15' lengths).


Text wall! yay! :happy:
Click to expand...

Haha! It was 'Gary-rigged'. You are making a modular closed truss set up? I dumped all of the 'Jerry-rigged' stuff on mine and it is a sleek truss/suspension combo. Goes up in 15 minutes and comes down in 10. The 10' trussed section does all of the inside shots you need and the 21' suspension does the high stuff. Best to you and good luck on your fabrication. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
Gary Sconce said:
Haha! It was 'Gary-rigged'. You are making a modular closed truss set up? I dumped all of the 'Jerry-rigged' stuff on mine and it is a sleek truss/suspension combo. Goes up in 15 minutes and comes down in 10. The 10' trussed section does all of the inside shots you need and the 21' suspension does the high stuff. Best to you and good luck on your fabrication. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
Click to expand...

Thank you. I'm pretty sure I can get started this weekend, and in the meantime I ductaped together a Steadicam from a heavy mike stand, a drumstick, and a crappy old digital still camera that shoots very bad video. Suprisingly, it's not as bad as one would think it should be. I intend to improve on the design in my engineering class on Monday.

Yes, my design is a modular truss setup, with some cables to help with mild winds (I still doubt it'll be viable in high winds, but we'll see about that). I think I'll have to drop the metal covering (I designed it that way for looks) at least for now, due to time constraints, but as I actually start work I may decide I do have the time for that. Again, we'll see.
 
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pixelated said:
We use contractor's style tripods - light, cheap & extremely strong (I've stood on them - 250#). Even have a carry strap . . .

Here's a sample currently on eBay . . .

http://cgi.ebay.com/Aluminum-Survey-Tripod-for-Transit-Laser-Level-NEWB_W0QQitemZ230429057345QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a6a46141

Best of luck with your project - be sure to post pics . . .
Click to expand...

I used one just like that for my DIY Crane; but just for extra added strength I pulled it apart and pushed hardwood dowel into the round tubes and ripped some oak for the rectangular tube.

Indestructible! and super cheap!

G.
 
I did that too, works great.

It's odd though when the aluminum tube falls to the ground and makes a sound like a wooden plank...
 
j said:
I did that too, works great.

It's odd though when the aluminum tube falls to the ground and makes a sound like a wooden plank...
Click to expand...
Lol, I bet you can get some weird stares with that.

These next couple of weekends I intend to get the arm finished or at least a couple sections finished, and then I can post a video with my awful old digital camera. Though I may not have a way to pan and tilt the arm at that point (or a tripod for that matter), so you guys may have to just be content with pics of the setup.
In the meantime I conceived of an another awesome stabilizer (a combination of steadicam, shoulder rig, and fig rig), which would be epic if I had the resources to build it. Unfortunately, I don't, so I'll have to make do with this jib for now.
 
Construction began on the 14th, and I instantly ran into construction problems. Got them worked out now, but almost wasted a whole day :(

UPDATE: Finally I have tangible progress, I finished half a section yesterday (15th).
 
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The best advice I can give is to use bearings if possible; I have a home-built crane that is laughably akward looking and far too lightweight for the purpose, but the footage from it looks stunning every time becaue of the perfect smooth motion imparted by the roller blade wheel bearings, which I popped out of the wheels of some used roller blades I picked up for $3.00.

This seems to be a feature that is missing from most home-built cranes, but it's totally worth it.
 
Eric Ferguson said:
The best advice I can give is to use bearings if possible; I have a home-built crane that is laughably akward looking and far too lightweight for the purpose, but the footage from it looks stunning every time becaue of the perfect smooth motion imparted by the roller blade wheel bearings, which I popped out of the wheels of some used roller blades I picked up for $3.00.

This seems to be a feature that is missing from most home-built cranes, but it's totally worth it.
Click to expand...

Mind posting any pics and/or footy?

And do you mean using bearings for every connection or just the connections of the arm to the tripod?
 
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