Backbone Ribcage v1.1 User manual

Ribcage v1.1 Installation
Part 2 - Assembly
Back-Bone
V1.1

Ribcage Installation: Part 2 - Assembly
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Contents
Section 1 – Before You Get Started .............................................................................................................. 2
Included With Your Kit: ............................................................................................................................. 2
Figure: A .................................................................................................................................................... 3
CAUTION! .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Tools Required .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Section 2: Ribcage Assembly......................................................................................................................... 6
2-1 Your Ribcage Kit .................................................................................................................................. 6
2-2 Transfer the LED and power buttons.................................................................................................. 7
2-3 Attach LCD/Button Strip ..................................................................................................................... 9
2-4 Attach CMOS Sensor to Cover Plate ................................................................................................. 10
Permanent IR-Cut Placement (Fig. A) ................................................................................................. 13
Removable IR-Cut Placement (Fig. B) ................................................................................................. 13
2-5 Attach the Cover Plate to the PCB Plate...........................................................................................16
2-6 Connect flexible PCB jumper to PCB plate........................................................................................17
A Note for Hero3+ Installations: .........................................................................................................19
2-7 Functionality Test..............................................................................................................................24
2-8 Put Ribcage Assembly Back Into Housing .........................................................................................25
2-9 Release Cover Plate Screws .............................................................................................................. 26
2-10 Insert Original Corner Screws .........................................................................................................27
2-11 Screw on Cover Plate ...................................................................................................................... 28
2-12 Insert Set Screw Into M12 Ring ...................................................................................................... 30
2-13 Attach CS-Mount Ring..................................................................................................................... 31
2-14 Re-attach Battery and Accessories .................................................................................................33
2-15 Install IR Cut Filter and Holder........................................................................................................ 34
2-16 Attach C-Mount Ring ...................................................................................................................... 35
2-17 Attach Tripod Mount ......................................................................................................................36
2-19 Done! .............................................................................................................................................. 37

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Section 1 – Before You Get Started
Included With Your Kit:
ITEM DESCRIPTION QUANTITY
1. Cover plate 1
2. PCB plate 1
3. Tripod attachment 1
4. 650nm IR-cut filter 1
5. M12 ring 1
6. CS ring 1
7. C ring 1
8. Plastic standoff 1
9. Flexible PCB jumper 1
10. IR-cut support shield 1
11. Plastic C/CS cap 1
12. L-key 0.050” Hex 1
13. L-key 0.035” Hex 1
14. 0-80 x 5/16” Hex socket screw 4
15. 0-80 x 3/16” Hex socket screw 6
16. Nylon tip set screw 2
17. 0-80 x 1/8” Philips pan screw 1
18. M12 lens locking ring 1
19. Rubber O-ring 1

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Figure: A

Ribcage Installation: Part 2 - Assembly
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CAUTION!
1. Read all our documentation thoroughly before beginning your installation
2. This kit is for the Hero3 Black and Hero3+ Black only. No other models are supported.
3. Make sure to charge your battery before beginning the installation.
4. NEVER force or exert force on any components. IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO USE FORCE THAN
YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG.
5. The Ribcage DIY kit consists of highly machined parts and fine threaded through holes. NEVER
FORCE any screws as this can strip the fine threads on the through holes. Instead check your
assembly and registration and try again. All parts are highly accurate and DO NOT require force
to assemble.
6. Ensure your work area is clean, well lit and free from dust.
7. We recommend inspecting and removing any dust or debris from the parts before you begin.
8. Never over tighten any of the small screws, especially on the faceplate and tripod mount.
Excessive force or over tightening can result in stripped threads on the aluminum parts. Always
loosely fit all screws in place before screwing them in until seated. Additional tightening is not
required.
9. By applying this or any modifications to your GoPro devices you will VOID any warranties
10. Back-Bone takes no responsibility in your ability to use this modification
11. The Ribcage DIY kit is provide “as is” and without warranty
12. Disclaimer: Ribcage is a product of Back-Bone, and is not manufactured, distributed or endorsed
by Woodman Labs, Inc the maker of GoPro Products.
Note:
We should point out that the teardown was performed on the Hero3 Black, and the assembly was
performed on the Hero3+ Black, so there are some slight visual differences. Most notably the Hero3 has
a much different looking image sensor board than the Hero3+. It has a thick dark backing attached. It is
not necessary to remove this backing as the Ribcage was designed with enough room for it to fit.

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Tools Required
Before you begin you will need to gather the following tools:
•A Torx T4 screw driver (not required for Hero3+)
•A set of small precision screw drivers with a Philips #0
•Lens / CCD Cleaner, Puffer & Lens Cloth (Optional but recommended)
•A utility knife
•A roll of electric tape
•3M Double Sided Tape (Optional) Note: don’t use thick mounting tape – use only thin double
sided tape or the parts may not fit correctly.
•A small file, or nail file (For Hero3+)

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Section 2: Ribcage Assembly
2-1 Your Ribcage Kit
Video: http://youtu.be/83UAabt3hxc?t=7m42s
Remove the two screws holding on the tripod mount and the cover plate. You can use your own tools or
the L-keys provided. The IR-Cut filter is stored inside.
For a complete list of parts and hardware please refer to pages 2 and 3 of this guide.

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2-2 Transfer the LED and power buttons
Video: http://youtu.be/83UAabt3hxc?t=8m52s
Next we'll remove the LED covers from the original faceplate. Take a blunt, non-metallic tool such as the
end of a pen and apply pressure to the edges until they come free.
Turn the faceplate over and use a utility knife to cut the tab connecting the power button as pictured.

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Next, take the supplied rubber O-ring and cut it in half with a pair of scissors or a utility knife.
Place the parts into the Ribcage faceplate. Use a screwdriver to push in the LED covers. Work them in
until seated correctly by applying pressure to the edges. Place each half of the O-ring behind the LED
covers in the faceplate. These will prevent the covers from being accidentally pushed back into the
camera after assembly.

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2-3 Attach LCD/Button Strip
Video: http://youtu.be/83UAabt3hxc?t=10m12s
Insert the LCD/ button strip into the PCB plate. Be sure to align the button and ribbon as closely as
possible to the channel in the plate to ensure a tight fit later on, and to ensure the connector extends
out far enough to be reconnected.

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2-4 Attach CMOS Sensor to Cover Plate
Video: http://youtu.be/83UAabt3hxc?t=10m39s
(PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE SECTION BEFORE PROCEEDING)
You will now need the tools and screws provided in the kit. Take care not to touch the image sensor
during the following steps, but if you do it can be cleaned later. Place the plastic standoff over the image
sensor.

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Screw in four of the long silver 5/16” screws provided through the holes in the back of the image sensor
board and through the standoff.
If you wish to permanently install your IR-Cut filter, place it into the back of the M12 ring now before
you connect it to the faceplate – again taking care not to add smudges or debris. Make sure the set
screw hole is aligned to the top of the camera.

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Insert the image sensor with the plastic standoff into the Ribcage cover plate so that the four holes line
up correctly.
Insure that three of the four screws are flush with the front of the cover plate. The fourth screw should
extend beyond the cover plate slightly for attaching the M12 ring.

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You may now choose to permanently install your IR cut filter. At this point make sure clean your CMOS
sensor if any debris or smudges are visible. Inspect both the IR-Cut filter and sensor carefully to make
sure they are crystal clear before permanently installing. Cleaning the sensor after permanently
installing the IR-Cut will mean having to partially disassemble your camera.
There are two ways to install the IR-cut filter in your camera:
Permanent IR-Cut Placement (Fig. A)
This method will cover the sensor permanently. This configuration is recommended if you plan to use
M12 lenses without built in IR-Cut filters. The filter is placed in the M12 ring filter socket and then
installed directly over the sensor (Fig.A). Once installed, if the sensor requires cleaning you will have to
partially disassemble the unit to do so.
Removable IR-Cut Placement (Fig. B)
If you want the IR-cut filter to be removable for night vision, turn the ring over so that the filter socket
faces forward (Fig. B). The advantages to this method are flexibility and easy access to the sensor for
cleaning. The disadvantage is that the filter must be removed to access the M12 socket underneath. If
your M12 lens doesn’t have a built in IR-cut filter you won’t get accurate color, but it will still be perfect
for night vision.

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Position the M12-ring with its set screw hole towards the top.Screw the first socket screw into the M12-
ring, but do not tighten it. With the first screw loosely in position, turn the M-12 ring to align the
remaining three holes with the holes in the cover plate.

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Lastly, we will gently in a repeating crisscross fashion tighten all 4 screws until the M-12 ring lays flush
with the cover plate and the 4 screws are SNUG ONLY i.e. tighten only to the point of contact.

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2-5 Attach the Cover Plate to the PCB Plate.
Video: http://youtu.be/83UAabt3hxc?t=13m44s
Attach the cover plate to the PCB plate. Carefully thread the flexible connector through the opening in
the PCB plate.
Once together connect them with one or two of the black 3/16” screws provided. Note: when all the
pieces are properly aligned the assembly fits together easily. Never force any of the components, instead
check that they are seated properly and try again.

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2-6 Connect flexible PCB jumper to PCB plate.
Video: http://youtu.be/83UAabt3hxc?t=14m20s
Optional - If you wish you can choose to place a small piece of double-sided tape on the back of the
flexible 50 pin connector and then tape it down after joining the connectors. Be sure to use only thin
tape, not any kind that has a thickness made of rubber or foam.
Next we’ll connect the flexible jumper. Be very careful to align the tiny 50 pin connectors together
before exerting a small amount of pressure. FORCING THE CONNECTORS TOGETHER WILL DAMAGE
THEM ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY SEATED.

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Place a small piece of electrical tape over top the metal stiffener on the flexible PCB. The tape will help
isolate the metal stiffener from the bottom side of the PCB board that we will be attaching next. Note:
the electrical tape pictured is yellow but regular black electrical tape is also a great choice.

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Bend the flexible PCB 90 degrees. This will make attaching the PCB board in the next step easier.
A Note for Hero3+ Installations:
There’s a small variation in the main boards of the Hero3+ which now have a small tab in the upper right
corner.
We recommend taking a small file and shaving off about 0.5mm from the tab.