Star guides support the camera head through the use of vanes extending from the outer ring.

Star guides on a camera head

Installation

Star guides are held in place with two C-shaped clip rings.

  1. Select the size of star guide appropriate for the job. Star guides may be trimmed by cutting the individual vanes with scissors.
  2. Spread a C-ring open just enough to slip it over the hub of the star guide. Align the C-ring gap with the gap in the star guide.
  3. Press the C-ring into the grooved portion of the star guide hub.
  4. Repeat with a second C-ring for the opposite side of the hub.
Star guide and C-rings
  1. Spread the star guide and C-rings together and slide over the camera head. Alternatively, spread the star guide around the cable and up from the camera base.
  2. Release the star guide when it is in the desired position.
  3. Pre-stressing the vanes of the star guide helps make them more flexible during use. Bend each vane gently back and forth several times to pre-stress them.
  4. Once the star guide is installed, adjusting the C-ring so that the gap is at least 90 degrees from the star guide’s gap will help to prevent loss.
Pre-stressing the vanes on a star guide
Separate the star guide and C-ring gaps by about 90 degrees

Removal

  1. Slide the end of a flat-tipped screwdriver between the C-ring and the base of a vane.
  2. Pry or snap the C-ring off.
  3. Repeat for the second C-ring.
  4. Slide the star guide and C-rings off the cable.