MRMC precision track User manual

Precision
Track
Quick Start Guide
Document version: TRKPRC-QSG-20160209
Part number: MRMC-1182-04

ii
Precision Track Quick Start Guide
Document version: TRKPRC-QSG-20160209
Part number: MRMC-1182-04
© 2016 Mark Roberts Motion Control Ltd. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or translated
by any means — graphical, electronic, or mechanical — including
photocopying, recording, taping, or storage in an information retrieval
system, without the express written permission of Mark Roberts Motion
Control.
Although every care has been taken to ensure that the information in this
document is accurate and up to date, Mark Roberts Motion Control
continuously strives to improve their products and may make changes to
the hardware, firmware, and software described in this document. Mark
Roberts Motion Control therefore cannot be held responsible for any
error or omission in this document.
All product names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners.
Contact information
Mark Roberts Motion Control Ltd.
Unit 3, South East Studios
Blindley Heath
Surrey
RH7 6JP
United Kingdom
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail] (sales and general enquiries)
[e-mail] (customer support)
Web: www.mrmoco.com
www.mrmocorentals.com

Precision Track Quick Start Guide
iii
Precision Track Quick Start GuidePrecision TrackQuick Start Guide
Contents
Chapter 1 Assembling the track ..................................................... 1
Safety........................................................................................1
Overview .................................................................................1
Before you start .............................................................1
Laying the first track section ................................................4
Anchoring the track...............................................................6
Laying subsequent track sections.........................................8
Mounting the rack ...............................................................10
Mounting the bearing rail joints ........................................12
Mounting Bolt on the track ................................................14
Mounting Bolt on the track bearings .......................14
Attaching the track motor pinch wheel to Bolt
On Track ......................................................................16
Mounting the bumpers on Bolt On Track...............17
Removing the trolley wheels from Bolt On
Track.............................................................................18
Mounting a Milo or Titan on the track.............................20
Mounting outriggers on the track ............................20
Mounting a Milo or Titan on the track
bearings........................................................................21
Attaching the track motor pinch wheel to a
Milo or Titan ...............................................................24
Mounting the bumpers on a Milo or Titan .............25
Mounting the Limit Switch and Datum Switch
magnets on the rack.............................................................27
About track limits.......................................................27
Mounting the magnets...............................................28
Mounting the weight wings and mechanical limits.........30
Mounting the mechanical limits without weights ...........32
Appendix 1 Specifications............................................................... 33

Precision Track Quick Start Guide
iv

Precision Track Quick Start Guide
1
Precision Track Quick Start GuidePrecision TrackQuick Start Guide
Chapter 1 Assembling the track
Safety
•Due to the size and weight of track sections, it is recommended that
you use at least two people to assemble it.
•Motion control rigs have powerful motors that can injure, so take
care not to get near the rig while it is switched on.
•Do not step over the track when the rig is switched on — walk
around it instead.
Overview
Thank you for using Precision Track from Mark Roberts Motion Control
(MRMC). The track is designed to help you achieve pixel-perfect
repeatability of your camera moves by supplying smooth, rigid support
when using large, heavy motion control robots such as the Milo, Titan,
and Bolt over long distances.
Before you start
When deciding on the location and orientation of the track, keep in mind
the following important points:
Before laying the track, assess the site to see how level and
firm the ground or floor is. You might need to use boards,
bricks, or crates to create a level surface or stop the track feet
sinking into soft ground. If you will be laying more than two
track sections on a reasonably level floor, laying the middle
section first and working outward can help prevent any
unevenness of the floor from accumulating from section to
section, beyond the ability of the track height adjustment range

Precision Track Quick Start Guide
2
to cope. Beyond this range you will need to use additional
supports to keep the track flat and level.
The track is not reversible due to the rack, which has teeth on
one side. You must lay all sections the same way around. If
your track does not have the rack installed yet, look at the rack
clips on the track, which will grip the rail on the teeth side
when you install the rail later.
Some rigs have a sense of Forward and Reverse on the track. A
Bolt High-Speed Cine-bot, for example, executes moves going
Forward. Because its track motor gear is on the front left
underside of the rig, the teeth of the rack are on the left side as
you look in the Forward direction down the track.
Keep in mind where the umbilical cable comes out on the rig
(if this is important for your shot) and whether you can change
it by re-routing the cables on the rig. For example the umbilical
cable on Bolt comes out on the same side of the track as the
track motor gear (which is the same side as the rack teeth).
Umbilical side
Clip
Teeth Smooth
Rack
View looking
“Forward” down the
track with the gear
teeth on the left:

Precision Track Quick Start Guide
3
Each Precision track section has ten feet for supporting and
levelling the track, and four anchor brackets for holding the
track down if you are using a high-speed rig such as Bolt.
If you are using a fast rig such as Bolt On Track then you must
hold the track down. You can either anchor the track to the
floor to get the best repeatable stability (page 6), or if this is not
feasible you can use weights on the ends of the track to give
you the safety margin that you need to perform the shoot (page
30). Anchoring the track to a concrete floor involves drilling
holes in the floor. If the floor is wood you can screw directly
into it. The anchor hole spacing is shown below but it is more
accurate to drill through the anchor brackets once the track is
in place using the procedures later in this guide.
Foot, which takes the
weight of the track and
rig Anchor bracket, which
holds the track down
on the ground.
Joint
873
1562 1562
1429
millimetres:

Precision Track Quick Start Guide
4
Laying the first track section
1. Lay the first track section on the ground, on its feet.
2. If you will be using a fast rig such as Bolt and the floor already has
anchor holes from a previous installation then you would obviously
put the track anchor brackets over the existing holes.
3. Raise the six middle feet of the track section (three on each rail) and
the four threaded anchor sleeves so they do not touch the ground.
4. Level the track in both length and width directions using a spirit
level, by adjusting the four corner feet of the track. Make sure all
four corner feet are touching the ground (no wobble).
5. Tighten the lock nuts down against the track on the corner feet,
being careful not to change the height.
Hint
The four corner feet also determine the track height. If you are
laying track on a level floor, try to use the middle of the height
adjustment range so that subsequent sections have some leeway
(in their feet) to cater for any unevenness in the floor.
Lock nut
4
Height
adjustment
bolt
2
5
Middle feet
Anchor sleeve
3
6

Precision Track Quick Start Guide
5
6. Lower the six middle feet until they touch the ground (finger tight
against the ground) and then tighten the lock nuts on them.

Precision Track Quick Start Guide
6
Anchoring the track
If you are using a fast rig such as Bolt On Track you must either hold the
track down with weights (see page 30) or secure the track to the floor by
using bolts or screws through the four track anchor brackets. Anchoring
the track to the floor gives you more repeatable stability than using
weights. The following procedure tells you how to anchor the track to a
concrete floor.
2. On one of the track anchor
brackets, screw the sleeve all
the way down to the floor,
finger tight.
3. Insert the drill bit and guide
into the threaded sleeve on the
anchor bracket, so the drill bit
is against the floor.
4. Put tape around the drill bit 5
cm above the guide. This will
help you gauge the depth of the
hole in the next step.
5. Drill a hole 5 cm deep into the
concrete. When the tape reaches the top of the guide, drilling is
complete.
6. Remove the drill bit and guide from the sleeve and clean the hole.
1. Put the drill bit into the drill guide and attach
the bit to the drill. (The cutting end of the bit is
too large to fit through the guide, so you must
insert the other end into the guide, then into
the drill.)
1
Guide
15 mm drill bit
Guide
Sleeve
2
3
5 cm
Tape
4
5 cm
4
5