Glidecam X-10 Setup guide

Set-up and Operations Guide
Glidecam Industries, Inc. 23 Joseph Street, Kingston, MA 02364
Customer Service Line 1-781-585-7900
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
COPYRIGHT 2013 GLIDECAM INDUSTRIES,Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION # PAGE #
1. Introduction 3
2. Quick Setup 4
3. Adjusting The Load Settings Of Your Support Arm 13
4. Removing The Springs From Your Support Arm 17
5. Installing The Springs Into Your Support Arm 21
6. Professional usage 25
7. Maintenance 25
8. Safety Precautions 25
9. Warnings 25
10. Warranty 26
2

Congratulations on your purchase of a Glidecam X-10 Camera Stabilization System.
In order to use the X-10 system, it is best to have a basic understanding of how the
system works in advance. So please make sure you read this section before trying
to setup and operate the X-10 Camera Stabilization System.
The X-10 Camera Stabilization System is designed to allow you to walk, run, go
up and down stairs, shoot from moving vehicles and travel over uneven terrain
without any camera instability or shake, when used with the GLIDECAM XR-
SERIES or GLIDECAM HD-SERIES (not included). The GLIDECAM XR-SERIES
and GLIDECAM HD-SERIES are generally used as hand-held camera stabilizers;
however, they can also be used with the X-10, and when they are, they are referred
to as a SLED. The SLED carries your camera and is attached to the end of the
SPRING-LOADED SUPPORT ARM, which, in turn, is attached to the GLIDECAM
SUPPORT VEST.
When using the GLIDECAM XR-SERIES or GLIDECAM HD-SERIES in hand-held
mode, your arm is carrying the weight of the SLED. However, when the XR-SERIES
or HD-SERIES are used with the X-10, it is the X-10’S SPRING-LOADED SUPPORT
ARM that carries the weight of the SLED. Because of this, you will now be able to
shoot for extended periods of time, whereas before, the stress associated with hand
holding the SLED reduced your shooting time.
While the X-10 is in essence a very simple device, its simplicity doesn’t lend ease in
answering that often asked question, “how does it work?” To answer this question
completely would require delving into Newtonian Physics and Classical Mechanics.
We would have to explain - center of gravity displacement, inertia, reduced friction
and angular motion reduction etc. However, a quick answer reveals the X-10 works
by “isolating” your body’s motion from your camera, while your camera is balanced in
an isolated and relatively motionless state.
The X-10 requires practice and understanding to achieve professional looking results.
We highly recommend that the user read this manual thoroughly before setting up
and operating the X-10. Doing so will save you time, and will minimize the risk of
damage to your camera or the X-10. It is important to perform and follow the Setup
and Operation’s procedures in the proper sequence, so as to avoid both frustration
and a possible accident.
If you need technical assistance, you can page our Technical Support Line at 1-508-
830-1414, between the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time,
Monday through Friday. We’re sure that once you have your X-10 up and running,
you will nd years of enjoyment with it.
#1 INTRODUCTION
3

4
#2 QUICK SETUP
Since you will be using your X-10 with either a GLIDECAM HD-SERIES or GLIDECAM XR-SERIES
(hereafter referred to as the SLED), you should make sure that your SLED is already setup and
properly balanced. Please see the GLIDECAM HD-SERIES or GLIDECAM XR-SERIES Manual
for details regarding proper SLED setup and balancing procedures.
Figure 2Figure 1
Included is a X-10 HD DOCKING BRACKET, which allows you to park your SLED while it is not
in use. Securely attach and tighten the DOCKING BRACKET onto the 5/8” RECEIVING PIN of
an INDUSTRY-STANDARD C-STAND (Not Included) as in gures 1 and 2.
It is always best to park your SLED on the provided HD DOCKING BRACKET, as in gure 3.
However, if you do not currently have a C-STAND, it is acceptable to park your SLED on a TABLE
TOP and therefore not use the DOCKING BRACKET.

5
Figure 3
When you park your SLED onto the HD DOCKING BRACKET, make sure that the SLED’S
HANDLE is facing directly outwards as in gure 3. By parking your SLED this way on the HD
DOCKING BRACKET, it will be easily accessible to you when it comes time to put the SLED onto
the end of the SUPPORT ARM.

6
Figure 4
The X-10’S SUPPORT ARM (gure 4) comes congured with two EXTENSION SPRINGS, which
are already installed. These SPRINGS are also preset to their weakest LOAD SETTING. Later,
in the CONFIGURATION SECTION, we will discuss how to make adjustments to the arm in detail.
For now, leave the SPRINGS in the SUPPORT ARM at their factory setting.
Now, install the BLACK ARM POST into the ARM POST CLAMP at the end of the SUPPORT
ARM, as in gures 5 and 6.
Figure 6Figure 5

7
Figure 7
Tighten the ARM POST into the ARM POST CLAMP, making sure to align the NOTCHES in the
ARM POST so that they face the TIGHTENING SCREW as shown in gure 7. Do not OVER
TIGHTEN this PLASTIC TIGHTENING SCREW, for this could damage the THREADS. The reason
that the TIGHTENING SCREW is made of plastic is so that it will not scratch the ARM POST.

8
Put the GLIDECAM SUPPORT VEST on next. Adjust the STRAPS on the VEST until the VEST
ts you comfortably; however, make sure that the VEST is not on too loosely, for it needs to bear
the combined weight of the SUPPORT ARM and SLED. Also, you should take note that if you
are planning on walking up and down stairs or walking over uneven terrain, that you should make
sure that the very bottom of the vest is not positioned so low on your torso that it inhibits your legs
from moving up and down fully.
Figure 9Figure 8
Figure 10

9
Connect the X-10 SUPPORT ARM to the GLIDECAM SUPPORT VEST. First, note the location of
the two RECEIVING HOLES in the ARM CONNECTOR BAR shown in gure 10. Next, carefully
align and guide the two STEEL PINS located on the back end of the RIGID ARM down into the two
RECEIVING HOLES as in gure 11. Make sure that the arm is fully inserted into the RECEIVING
HOLES as in gure 12.
Figure 11 Figure 12
Figure 13
If everything has been done properly so far, you should now have the SUPPORT ARM attached
to the VEST, as in gure 13.
CHANGE TO LEFT HAND OPERATION
If you choose to change the Glidecam X-10 Arm from the factory set right hand operation to left
hand operation, you will need to follow the instructions in your operator vest section and then you
will need to remove the 4 screws that attach the 2-pin block to the pre-arm and then rotate the
2-pin block 180 degrees, then reinstall the screws from the opposite side. Now you can push the
2-pin block into the vest block on the bridge plate and you are set up for left handed operation.

10
Figure 14 Figure 15
You can now attach the SUPPORT ARM to the SLED by carefully aligning and guiding the ARM
POST all the way into the bottom of the SLED HANDLE as in gures 14 and 15. After you have
done this, hold onto the SLED HANDLE rmly so that as you carefully lift the SLED straight up
and out of the DOCKING BRACKET, you can make sure that the weight of the SLED is in the
control of your ARM and not the SPRING-LOADED SUPPORT ARM. Now gradually let the
SUPPORT ARM take over the job of holding the weight of the SLED. If your SLED is too heavy
for the SUPPORT ARM at its current LOAD SETTING, the weight of the SLED will angle the
SUPPORT ARM downwards. If your SLED is too light for the SUPPORT ARM at its current LOAD
SETTING, the SLED will angle the SUPPORT ARM upwards.
If your SLED is the correct weight for the SUPPORT ARM at its current LOAD SETTING, the ARM
will remain level as in gure 16.