User Manual

8
1) INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Glidecam Gold Sled.
The new Glidecam Gold Sled TM holds any video or film camera weighing from 13 to 38 pounds. The Gold
Sled incorporates sophisticated engineering and precision machining to make it lightweight and strong. It
is designed with the same look and aesthetics as the Glidecam Gold Arm and Vest. The Gold Series sled
is available with one of the various daylight viewable, LCD monitors that we also sell (call us for details).
The black parts of the Glidecam Gold Sled are anodized black with certain parts hard coated black.
The Base of the Glidecam Gold Sled has a three NP-1 style battery system that delivers 12 volts to the
base (for the monitor) and delivers either 12 or 24 volts (switchable) to the head for use with video or film
cameras. The Base incorporates one BNC Video out connector, one 12/24 volt power switch, three circuit
breakers and two 4-pin “Lemo” style OB304 video/12 volt power out connectors. The Glidecam Gold
Sled monitor mounting bracket can be rotated 180 degrees, with no-tools adjustment so the monitor is
viewable during low mode operation.
The precision, x-y adjustable Head assembly utilizes low friction “Teflon” which is incorporated into its
hard coat finish. The Head assembly’s back panel has a 3-pin “Lemo” 1B303 style with switchable 12/24
volt power, BNC video in, and a 2 pin “Lemo” 1B302 style with 12 volt out. The front panel has a 2-pin
“Lemo” 1B302 style with 12 volt out, two 4-pin “Lemo”OB304 style with video/power out and one 4-pin
“Lemo” OB304 video/power in connectors. The head also has a custom designed video distribution amp
installed for clear video signals. The Head also incorporates a drop in style dovetail camera plate for
quick front to back balance. Very, fine tuning, ergonomic knobs control front to back and side to side
balance adjustments.
The Sled’s “no-tools” precision Gimbal is made to top of the line quality. The Gimbal incorporates 4
bearings inside the handle to yoke connection (the tilt axis). There are 2 bearings on each side of the
yoke, providing 4 bearings for the roll axis. There are 2 central main bearings for the pan axis. This
doubles the Gimbal’s thrust capacity and creates less than a .0002” deflection off true center. All Gimbal
parts are machined within .0005” accuracy and are hard coat black. A very tight knurling has been
machined onto the Gimbal Tube to improve handling. An easy to replace soft foam covers the handle grip.
The Sled has a “no-tools” Telescoping Center Post. The top and bottom of the Post both have “no-tools”,
90-degree rotation, quick release connectors (bayonet style). This allows the Head and the Base of the
Sled to be removed quickly. The custom, shielded, wire coil assembly inside the post has 8-pin “Lemo”
style connectors on both ends for quick disconnect. The Center Post also incorporates an alignment pin as
part of the “no-tools” clamp that controls the extension of the Telescoping Post. This pin keeps the upper
and lower posts in alignment so the Head and Base of the Gold Sled are always parallel to each other.