Will this work for DIY rod system?

Ben_B

Ben_B

Veteran
I'm looking into building my own 15mm rod system, or at least buying the rods by themselves. I found this site which is selling a 36" 15mm stainless rod that I would cut in half to use.
Does anyone think this is a good idea? Is steel too heavy?
More importantly: will this thing fit normal 15mm rod accessories?
Going to the hardware store I've seen how different rods and tubes claiming to be the same diameter often will be totally different.

Project is for a GH1 if that matters, but I don't think that it does...although the light weight of the camera may help with the heavier steel.

http://www.wttool.com/product-exec/product_id/10026?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=froog
 
That is a solid rod, so will be very heavy and slow to cut. Since it is a raw material and not a finished product, the 15mm quoted will have a pretty sloppy tolerance, probably +/- 0.1mm. Its likely that it will either be too big for standard clamps or too small. Either way, you wont know until you get it.

You would be better off getting some 20mm aluminium tube or rod and then take it to a local engineering workshop and get them to turn it down to 15mm.
 
Yeah, thanks. I'm starting to understand why these freaking rods are so expensive. I'm already building the follow focus, etc, myself; it would be a shame to have to blow a hundred bucks (minimum) on rods.

The company that is selling those rods lists different metric sizes in 1mm increments as options...so are you sure that it wouldn't be precise? Or, if it isn't, maybe a different size would work. I have a hard time believing they can sell them in 1mm increments if they're not correct...although this line does make me nervous "Normal care in treatment gives good results in hardening and produces small dimensional changes." I might just go ahead and order and check it out...would +/- 0.1 mm really be enough to mess up most accessories, somehow I doubt it seeing the size changes as you tighten clamps, etc.
 
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Hi,

When we design our clamps, we allow about 30-50 microns space. Any less than this and it wont slide on, any more than this and it either wont clamp at all, or the clamping is very loose.

Have to work to a tight tolerance with this stuff, and 0.1mm is a massive difference.

Try it and see, but the end result will be very heavy and inaccurate. Would be better to get some proper ones made....




40 microns = 0.00157480315 inches
 
I'll look into it, thanks...checking for metal shops now...might just break down and order some...it just really bothers me to spend so much money on a metal tube...even one lathed so precisely.
 
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Whilst the rods seem simple, they are hard to turn down. They have to be spun up between centres on the lathe, which is hard work and takes some setup time for each rod. Its also very difficult to bore through such a long rod.

I made these 19mm rods for the RED, and they were not as simple to make as they look.

2873_78830907569_506442569_1672938_1058952_n.jpg



Rods might look simple, but can sometimes take as long to make as a seemingly more complex part....
 
Cool, thanks for the info. I am thinking I'll just order some ready made...looking at even Red Rock and Zacuto they're not too expensive, under $100 for a really nice pair, especially if I plan my system out a little more precisely: I probably won't need super long rods for a GH1 if I'm just looking into mounting a follow focus and maybe a shoulder/handle mount...the GH1 is nice and small. I'll wait till it gets here :)
 
Ben_B said:
I'm looking into building my own 15mm rod system, or at least buying the rods by themselves. I found this site which is selling a 36" 15mm stainless rod that I would cut in half to use.
Does anyone think this is a good idea? Is steel too heavy?
More importantly: will this thing fit normal 15mm rod accessories?
Going to the hardware store I've seen how different rods and tubes claiming to be the same diameter often will be totally different.

Project is for a GH1 if that matters, but I don't think that it does...although the light weight of the camera may help with the heavier steel.

http://www.wttool.com/product-exec/product_id/10026?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=froog
Click to expand...


You don't want to use drill rod. Thats basically a tool steel, for making....well.... tools. I tend to use McMaster carr for most of the items I buy;

www.mcmaster.com

If you plug in 5287T12 you will see a .580 carbon fiber rod. All in all not a bad price.

Steve
 
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