User Manual
15
BEARING on the GIMBAL TUBE. If the SLED is setup so it is in NEUTRAL BALANCE it will no
longer be BOTTOM HEAVY or TOP HEAVY. Instead it will be evenly BALANCED so that if you
position the SLED so the Center Post is horizontal it will basically stay in this position. Again if the
SLED was BOTTOM HEAVY and you TILTED it horizontally, it would swing back to a VERTICAL
position.
Now TILT the CENTRAL SUPPORT POST forward 90 degrees so that it is in a HORIZONTAL position.
The CAMERA LENS should be pointing down at the ground if you have done this correctly. Now very,
VERY carefully loosen the LOCKING COLLAR at the bottom of the GIMBAL TUBE, while at the
same time tightly and SECURELY holding onto the center of the CENTRAL SUPPORT POST with one
of your hands so that the CENTRAL POST doesn’t fall through or change its basic position within the
GIMBAL TUBE when the CLAMP is loosened. Also, be sure that the GIMBAL TUBE CLAMP or
LOCKING COLLAR is fully unlocked before you move the position of the GIMBAL TUBE on the
CENTER POST. Remember the SLED is very heavy, so be extra careful when following this
procedure.
At this point you will need to carefully and gently shift the CENTRAL SUPPORT POST within the
GIMBAL TUBE until the SLED hangs in NEUTRAL BALANCE. You will know when you have set the
SLED in NEUTRAL BALANCE, because the CENTER POST will be HORIZONTAL, that is parallel
with the floor given the floor is level, and the SLED will seem to suddenly float in a HORIZONTAL
position. You might have to slide the CENTER POST back and forth within the GIMBAL TUBE a bit to
find the exact center of gravity. Once this is done, tighten the LOCKING COLLAR on the GIMBAL
TUBE so the GIMBAL TUBE is very securely fastened to the CENTER POST again.
Now that the SLED is NEUTRALLY BALANCED, write down, mark with white camera tape, or take
note of the position that the top, or bottom of the GIMBAL TUBE is in by using the GUIDE SCALE
MARKINGS that are laser etched onto the upper portion of the CENTER POST. It has been found that
a favorable condition for normal operation of the SLED can be obtained by raising the GIMBAL
TUBE position 1/2" above this noted position and then tightly locking it thereon. This position
should provide the SLED with the correct amount of BOTTOM HEAVINESS for proper operation. Each
line on the GUIDE SCALE MARKINGS is about 1/8" apart, so you will need to raise the GIMBAL
TUBE on the CENTRAL SUPPORT POST by four lines. The lines are numbered to make this easier.
NOTE: Always make sure that the GIMBAL TUBE is very, very tightly secured in place before
using the system. . You may want to switch out the kip handle on the gimbal tube for a socket head
to verify a tight fit.
It should be noted however, that this position on the CENTRAL POST might not be ideal for your SLED,
given the possibility of various camera weights and or shooting preferences. NOTE: You should
therefore always retest the SLED’S VERTICAL BALANCE by testing the SLED as described
later in this section.
It should be also be noted that the SLED will always require a little bit of BOTTOM HEAVINESS to
operate properly, because the SLED will always need to stay, or return to a VERTICAL position. Think
of the SLED like a children’s “seesaw” that is designed to operate VERTICALLY instead of
HORIZONTALLY.
Now that you know the position which allows the SLED to hang in NEUTRAL BALANCE, and the
position which will create the appropriate amount of bottom heaviness for the SLED, you can take the
SLED off the DYNAMIC BALANCE AND DOCKING BRACKET and place it on the ground in an
upright position. With the SLED on the ground it is easier to now unlock the GIMBAL TUBE CLAMP