can some body help me please i'm looking for a blue print to build a solid dolly and crane like u guys. Can some one help me out?

I purchased a Kessler Crane and still use that some times but I wanted a longer crane so I built my from my own design, that I thought out, after looking at other cranes. No actual Blue prints or plans.

DaNc

Hi,

I have been building a crane for a while, and what started out as a pretty quick way of getting my camera high up has turned into a pretty major project. The crane now has a full pan tilt head with a programable computer controlled fan cooled progressive joystick controlled controller. I also have a fairly unique cable and bungee cantilever system to keep the head level, which replaces the solid bar often seen on home made cranes.

Let me know what you think,
Pete. any questions, email me: pete<dot>hoare<at>gmail<dot>com

www.whogivesatoss.com/crane1.jpg - The crane in the sky

http://www.whogivesatoss.com/crane2.jpg - the single plug bulgin connection that carries voltage and signal to the motors and it will also carry the remote lanc control when I have installed it.

http://www.whogivesatoss.com/crane3.jpg - The crane looking up at a second story window. The second cantilever is wonky at the moment, I need some turn buckles to adjust the angle, but it still works anyway.

http://www.whogivesatoss.com/crane4.jpg - The head, this pic shows the motors, drive belts, and my paintjob :-)

http://www.whogivesatoss.com/crane5.jpg - This is the head controller. It still needs two rocker switches that will disable and reverse the motor direction. It also needs a 2.5mm jack socket to plug the LANC controller into.

Heres a video of the crane afew weeks ago.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rbn_EgOq1jc

The head is unpainted and it only has one cantilever thingy. The reason I added a second was because the corner of the head kept twanging on the cable so I added the second one to transfer the cable to the top to avoid this.

Terry, I'm in Louisville also and you can go to my site and see everything about my jib, how it's used and different set-ups involved. Call if you have any questions.

www.kyvideoservices.com

it needed some reinforcing from the original design but it seems to work pretty well. I'm going to double the length but it would only take the weight of the A1 not head, LEX and lens.

Its a Pro Jib 9.0 with a Bescor pan-tilt (good enough for what I do), I use the bag to hold a 2 liter bottle so I can "fine" trim the balance. It stands on a JBL speaker stand (roughly 24lbs of weight plus the crane is about 16lbs and the cam and head are about 5lbs or so). I have pics of how it is attached to stand on a different thread.

I like the low profile of this crane. I will probably upgrade the head to one of those Servo City ones in the near future. one of the things I really like about this crane is that it easily breaks down into 3 x 3' sections, so I can use it as a 6' er as well. I am trying to get a hold of another section so I can go to 12'

If you're into Cricket , you might see shots from it on Stanford 20/20 tournament this February.

I posted this thread months ago promising I would post a photo of my crane when it was finished...well as it turns out, my engineer pushed the job aside to work on a rat rod he is building. Understandable since the purpose for the crane was to film a video for a historical site I work with from time to time but never got my grant. As it turns out, it is a good thing we didn't completely finish it. I have been looking at other designs lately and think for my purposes a different design would be more beneficial for my time spent in its construction. My original design was almost exactly like the Kessler 12" crane. The problem with their crane is that there is you can't pan or tilt the camera...it just simply sits in position however you have it fastened. What I am looking into now, is a design that will allow me to achieve these pan/tilt shots. However, what I keep finding are these crazy expensive electronic pan/tilt heads that we would not be able to build. are simple mechanical pan/tilt heads?

Terry.

Look into the Servo city unit that is about to be released. it looks very promising and cost around $500 us (theoretically)

Gerry, Thank you, i'll look into it.

and sorry for the typos lol, I have to stop trying to construct ideas when I am half asleep :)

My original design was almost exactly like the Kessler 12" crane. The problem with their crane is that there is you can't pan or tilt the camera...it just simply sits in position however you have it fastened. What I am looking into now, is a design that will allow me to achieve these pan/tilt shots. However, what I keep finding are these crazy expensive electronic pan/tilt heads that we would not be able to build. are simple mechanical pan/tilt heads?


The Kessler crane does tilt manually via the lever. you would only need a device to pan the camera

Allen - Yeah, haha I know I even built the thing. My brain must have not been working or something.

Alright I found someone (Cody) who has actually built one of these electronic pan/tilt heads from a couple R/C servo motors. Its awesome! but its real loud like an R/C car. Would that be a major issue?

http://www.homebuiltstabilizers.com/videoclips/codysjib.wmv

I want one for christmas santa

Its awesome! but its real loud like an R/C car. Would that be a major issue?
]

It depends if you have a mic on the camera.

Also, if you were to be using it in a church, at a wedding, at a commercial shoot, or ANY event, you need to think about the following.

(1)Do you want a distraction for your clients?
(2)Do you want clients to think there is something terribly wrong with your equipment?
(3)Do you want an audience to have a nuisance, such as a loud noise coming from a big crane which scares them half to death because they think the whole thing will come crashing down on their head?

If you are going to be shooting video of nature, by yourself, maybe a "loud like an R/C car" motor on your crane WOULD be a great idea.

It depends on whatchya use it for.

I'm interested in building a motor-driven pan/tilt system, but I just wish there was a quieter solution than servo motors. Anyone have ideas?

I purchased a Kessler Crane and still use that some times but I wanted a longer crane so I built my from my own design, that I thought out, after looking at other cranes. No actual Blue prints or plans.

DaNc

Here is a link to a video that was shot with the telescopic crane at it second length. All of the shots were done on the crane as it proved to be a lot more flexible than using a tripod, and it was shot in a tight space . If you look at the photos on the slide show you will see I was outside the room operating the jib.

http://www.cdvideo.ca/wordpress/?page_id=116

Dan - so you built this crane?

looks very complex..

Dan - so you built this crane?

looks very complex..

Yes I did and it is not really that compex the hardest part was making the yoke for the tubing, so that it can slide into each other past the folcum, and using collars for the stabilizer cables. It all fits together in a 6 foot length. I am building a different head to get away from joystick controller to more of a tripod feel.

DaNc

Well the crane looks great Dan, wonderful job. By complex I ment in comparison to something I would build haha. I built something similar to the Kessler 12" but its not finished yet. My fabricator has found interest in other projects and has stopped its construction. Its funny because all it needs is the support cables and the tripod.

Cheers!
Terry.

These pictures aren't really the greatest, but they get the point across. I built this with the help of a friend who works in a machine shop. Please don't hesitate to ask questions (or ask for clearer pictures/different angles). This site has been incredibly helpful to me and I'd love to be able to help someone looking to build his or her own crane.

Some notes: the base height is about 8 feet. I use a telescoping PA speaker tripod, so I can extend the crane to a height of about 12-13 feet. Can you spot the old bike part I used?

http://oak.fig.haverford.edu/~ssingh/crane/AUT_0034.JPG
http://oak.fig.haverford.edu/~ssingh/crane/AUT_0036.JPG
http://oak.fig.haverford.edu/~ssingh/crane/AUT_0037.JPG

Sorry i don't have pictures but, I have a Tecnocrane© and a Tecnodolly© on my greenscreen

We were able to get mobile with the jib by strapping to the golf cart!

We were able to get mobile with the jib by strapping to the golf cart!

I love that the golf cart has 'rims'.

Pics of my Pro Am 12' jib I've modified for a PT 20 remote head with cable supports for extra weight, remote head mount than can be over or under slung, it can all be mounted on my tripod w/ skates for rolling around for quick placement (after it's built and balanced), Varizoom Pro for zoom/focus.

I love that the golf cart has 'rims'.

We're working on a "low rider" version of the golf cart :)

On those pictures is my DIY crane in 2.5m length from middle point. I have one extra 1 meter length aluminum square tube 7x7cm and this is max length. It can be break down in two large keyboard bags. On pictures is Canon A1+Brevis+rails+Sigma 24-70. Counterweight is 18kg plus LCD and large 12V7.2AH accu. It can be put on tripod in about 10-15 minutes. We are using it for documentaries and music videos. We have to change tripod for better one, something like new kessler one. Tripod that we use is old wooden cinema camera tripod.

I do a lot of car shows and airshows that require overhead and creative shots of parked cars and airplanes. I mounted a 12' EZ-FX jib with a Varizoom MC100 remote pan/tilt head to a modified boat trailer. It tows behind any vehicle (I remove the camera and pan/tilt head for highway travel, of course) and everything on board is powered by an onboard car battery and inverter. I added leveling jacks to the corners, but I rarely have to use them.

It's really nice to be able to get some good shots, then drive to a new location in a field full of cars and set up for another crane shot in about 1 minute.

That's a nice setup, Buck! I bought an EZ FX as well, but with the manual camera arm. So far, it's working out very nicely. Just like everyone says, using these tools requires practice!

Finally. Made from various metal brackets bolted together on the floor of the local hardware store, we were able to go up to the counter with a mostly complete head at the counter (to many odd looks). It's cable controlled and works really well for <$50 :)

Here are some pics of my new Kessler 8' crane with the K-Pod tripod & Hercules head. I have my Sachtler FSB-6 head mounted on a ball joint extension at the end of the crane. My Sony V1U is mounted on that. A Manhattan 8.9" HD monitor attached also.

I have pics of it configured both to run from the rear and the front of the crane. When running from the rear I have extension cables run for the LANC control, monitor, and headphone.

Funny I started this thread 2 years ago and am just now getting a picture up..

Ok so the attached picture is of my jib. It is still in rough form and is not yet on the tripod. I have to fabricate a system that allows the arm to move on a bering. The arm is completely fabricated from designs taken from various jibs. There is to be a weight bar attached to the back. The bering system revolves around a wheel bering I found at a junk yard. The tripod is a simple transit tripod I found on ebay.

I went back and read some of my old posts. I started building this thing in 2007 and am just now getting down to the final parts. Some of my posts say "i'll have pictures soon bla bla" haha and now I post this picture of the arm itself. The person building my crane just gave up in the middle and I couldn't get him to work on it anymore so I finally just went over there and took it. The dolly I have to have him cut and weld together. That shouldn't be easy, i'll just persuade him with some beers.

Any whoo. Here is a picture of my crane on the transit tripod. It is just sitting there and is not actually attached to the tripod. The weights I have on the back are just sitting there in place by the eye hole bolts I have for a support cable. The control arm needs to be adjusted. As you can see, the camera is sort of facing upwards when the platform on the tripod is facing forward. I will be using 1/2" tie rod ends to fasten to each end so that there is not metal to metal rubbing against each other. I have yet to weld the weight bar on the back. So far its alittle rusty but soon it will look amazing.

Here are a couple of shots of my Kessler and PT20 at Fustik House in Barbados. This is the second time I have taken it to Barbados, this time it went via Air Canada Cargo and in a new shipping case from Kessler Cranes. We found the weights at the producers friend's house out in the back yard, rusty but they work.

Brian - Very nice rig you have. I would love to get a turret motar for for my crane. I checked out the site and the PT20 is $1600. That is actually reasonable. Is that a battery charger you have it hooked to?

I'll trade you weights.. mine are black and yours are rust colored. My crane is rust colored and yours is black..haha. Maybe just painting our crane and weights would be cheaper since you are in Barbados.

Cheers,
Terry.

Brian - Very nice rig you have. I would love to get a turret motar for for my crane. I checked out the site and the PT20 is $1600. That is actually reasonable. Is that a battery charger you have it hooked to?

I'll trade you weights.. mine are black and yours are rust colored. My crane is rust colored and yours is black..haha. Maybe just painting our crane and weights would be cheaper since you are in Barbados.

Cheers,
Terry.

Hey Terry! I love the PT20 it is super smooth and the control is a dream. It is powered by a battery pack that you use to jump start a car. It has a 12volt lighter outlet and I just opened it up and removed the heavy clamps and 12 volt jumper cables. It powered the head all day and would probably have powered it for two or three days if needed.
Thanks for the offer of your weights, but these ones stay in Barbados and I have some nice painted ones for Canada. How did your crane get rusty? Shooting in the rain?
Best
Brian

Since buying my ride-on, i've kinda gone nuts with gear... When the ride-on as seen early in this thread is too heavy to haul, i also have the advantajib. Here are a few links to mine being used:

pic: http://www.regina.co.nz/advantajib.jpg

"behind the scenes" on that same video:
YouTube - Behind the Scenes of Sleeping Dogs music video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ULXXI5CG2k)

and the finished video:
YouTube - Climbers - music video by Sleeping Dogs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-HW5BS3cIM)


And here's a behind the scenes where you see my ride-on:
YouTube - Hayley Westenra TV Inteview Christchurch, New Zealand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_YShHvcfFk)

Hooray for cranes!

What type of ride-on crane do you have and may I ask approx what it cost? I assume it takes custom weights etc.
Thanks
Brian

I use this beast - A Vinten Dolphin. Even the lead weights come in their own flightcase. Take two people to get it into the van. It is quite old now, I got this one from Anglia TV a few years ago. It's weight and construction means you can simply lock it off and use like a tripod. The head swivels around the end of the arm, and it is amazingly stable. The weight makes it difficult to manage, but it lives on the HD tripod and rolling skid

My DIY made "Unversal Wonder Dolly Crane" ;-)

Frank

What type of ride-on crane do you have and may I ask approx what it cost? I assume it takes custom weights etc.
Thanks
Brian

Mine is a variation on the panther foxy crane, except built from box steel. She weighs a bit and I had to tweak my grip truck a bit to carry her around, but she's amazingly smooth to fly. It has a weight basket that i load up with tractor weights... or, in a pinch, whatever is on set and heavy.

I paid around us$2k used in a package with a matthews dolly, so it depends on how you value the dolly as to what the crane cost.

Cheers!

Paul, that dolphin looks awesome!

Thanks for the offer of your weights, but these ones stay in Barbados and I have some nice painted ones for Canada. How did your crane get rusty? Shooting in the rain?



Hey Brian,

No my fabricator left it sitting for a couple weeks while he worked on his rat rod. He was doing it for free so what could I say. I am going to primer and paint it as soon as we make some final adjustments.

You've got me interested in the PT20 now! After I built my crane is was so happy that I could hoist my camera way up in the air and create fluid motions etc.. But all my crane does, like the Kessler is tilt and no pivot.

Does the PT20 make any noise?


Cheers,
Terry.

The PT20 is super quiet. I started with a smaller Bescor head and it was fine for repositioning the camera but not very practical for "live" moves. The PT20 is super smooth and adjustable for speed etc. Thogh I must say that controlling up and down and right and left and zoom and focus, is an acquired skill and takes lots of practice.

Pics of my Pro Am 12' jib I've modified for a PT 20 remote head with cable supports for extra weight, remote head mount than can be over or under slung, it can all be mounted on my tripod w/ skates for rolling around for quick placement (after it's built and balanced), Varizoom Pro for zoom/focus.

what is the large black box for I am think battery power??

It is funny that years ago I posted this thread and years later I still have yet to finish my crane haha. I think there are pictures of it somewhere in here.

Gotta step it up, I've since added a cable driven pan and tilt head and counter weights that don't hang in a bag :)

http://yafiunderground.com/Video/pan-tilt.mov

Don't worry Terry Lee. I started building a crane in 2007 as well. Still work in progress.