A titanium slotted screw driver comes with each MAX14 and is designed to tighten the arm against a milspec PVS-14 using the largest screwdriver tab. There are two additional, smaller screwdriver tabs that are intended to be used to adjust turrets on scopes, red dot, and other optics. There is also a 1/4" bit driver integrated.
If you do not have that tool, we recommend using a coin to tighten the slotted mounting screw.
While it is important to use sufficient torque in order to ensure the PVS-14 is firmly mounted and will not rotate or move out of alignment, do not overtighten the mounting screw once the PVS-14 is rigidly attached.
UANVM "TANTO" installation tips:
Place the included polymer adapter onto the MAX14's outer arm and ensure that the beveled post of the adapter is oriented correctly so that it will firmly engage into the corresponding pocket on the Tanto, then press the combined arm and adapter against the Tanto and begin tightening the mounting screw to connect all of the components together.
A titanium slotted screw driver comes with each MAX14 and is designed to tighten the arm against a milspec PVS-14 using the largest screwdriver tab. There are two additional, smaller screwdriver tabs thatare intended tobe used to adjust turrets on scopes, red dot, and other optics. There is also a 1/4" bit driver integrated.
If you do not have that tool, we recommend using a coin to tighten the slotted mounting screw.
While it is important to use sufficient torque in order to ensure the Tanto is firmly mounted and will not rotate or move out of alignment, do not overtighten the mounting screw once the Tanto is rigidly attached.
Tether point attachment tips:
We recommend using 550 cord / paracord or a dedicated night vision goggle lanyard.
We recommend to always connect to the MAX14's tether attachment point on the rearinstead of connecting to the PVS-14 or Tanto, as the MAX14's tether attachment point is fixed in place and does not move if the PVS-14 or Tanto is articulated upwards.
Adjusting arm joint tension on MAX14:
Each joint is pretensioned and a liquid threadlocker is applied during assembly. A polymer plug is installed into the hex drive of each screw to prevent tampering with joint tension, as no adjustment is necessary over the lifetime of the product. The polymer plug may be removed with a pick if desired and the joint tension adjusted with a 9/64" hex key. The joints are torqued to 10 inch pounds during assembly in our shop. Damage should not immediately result if some additional tension is added, but with much greater compression of the components, our high-performance washers can wear out prematurely. At the factory torque setting and with a typical amount of arm joint rotation, the washers should never need to be replaced.
Panobridge M-Series (M1, M-SEVEN and M-ZERO):
PVS-14 installation tips:
Our Noisefighters Night Vision Accessory Tool is the best option for quickly tightening or loosening the slotted screw found on our Panobridge, as its slotted driver is perfectly suited for this task and will not mar the finish on the screw. One tool comes with each bridge.
If you do not have that tool, we recommend using a coin to tighten the slotted screw.
While it is important to use sufficient torque in order to ensure the PVS-14 is firmly mounted and will not rotate or move out of alignment, do not overtighten the mounting screw once the PVS-14 is rigidly attached.
UANVM "TANTO" installation tips:
Place the included polymer adapter onto the outer arm and ensure that the beveled post of the adapter is oriented correctly so that it will firmly engage into the corresponding pocket on the Tanto, then press the combined arm and adapter against the Tanto and begin tightening the mounting screw to connect all of the components together.
A titanium slotted screw driver comes with each device and is designed to tighten the arm against a milspec PVS-14 using the largest screwdriver tab. There are two additional, smaller screwdriver tabs thatare intended tobe used to adjust turrets on scopes, red dot, and other optics. There is also a 1/4" bit driver integrated.
If you do not have that tool, we recommend using a coin to tighten the slotted mounting screw.
While it is important to use sufficient torque in order to ensure the Tanto is firmly mounted and will not rotate or move out of alignment, do not overtighten the mounting screw once the Tanto is rigidly attached.
Tether point attachment tips:
We recommend using 550 cord / paracord or a dedicated night vision goggle lanyard.
We recommend to always connect to the Panobridge's tether attachment point on the rear instead of connecting to the PVS-14 or imaging device itself, as the Panobridge's tether attachment point is fixed in place and does not move if the imaging devices are articulated upwards.
The ideal tension allows the user to easily move the joint while also ensuring the monoculars do not come out of the desired position during rough activities.
As delivered, the joints are torqued to 10 inch pounds, and we do not recommend varying the tension in the joints from the factory setting due to the fact that the system was tested and properly tuned to accommodate wide temperature fluctuations. Damage should not immediately result if some additional tension is added, but with much greater compression of the components, our high-performance washers can wear out prematurely. At the factory torque setting and with a typical amount of arm joint rotation, the washers should never need to be replaced.
If a user ever needs to remove and reinstall an arm joint screw and does not have a torque wrench to set the joint at 10 inch pounds, take out one screw at a time and then reinstall it by twisting the screw by hand until it just achieves noticeable tension, then use a 9/64" hex wrench to add additional torque in tiny rotation increments until the in-process arm joint tension matches that of the undisturbed arm joint tension.
Installing accessory arms for thermal monocular mounting:
Goggle positioning:
The most important tip is to ensure the ocular (eyepiece) lenses are not too close to the eyes during fitting and use, as this creates a "toilet paper tube" or "scope shadow" effect where defined black circles around the outer edge are both visible and distracting. Put on a pair of safety glasses before donning your goggle to make sure the distance from the eyes is sufficient. In use, you should see one wide, panoramic image with only faint, fuzzy, and thin circular lines separating the split images.
Collimation:
In order to eliminate eye strain, it is best to collimate both PVS-14s after they are installed on Panobridge. A technician can easily complete this task in a few minutes by using a special machine. However, it is possible to perform collimation without a machine on a DIY basis, though not necessarily to the same level of perfection. Do not attempt a DIY collimation if the goggle is to be used in a professional capacity.
Panobridge Mk3:
PVS-14 installation tips:
Our newNoisefighters Night Vision Accessory Toolis the best option for quickly tightening or loosening the slotted screw found on our Panobridge, as its slotted driver is perfectly suited for this task and will not mar the finish on the screw.
If you do not have that tool, we recommend using a U.S. quarter to tighten the slotted screw, as a quarter perfectly fits inside the slot.
While it is important to use sufficient torque in order to ensure the PVS-14 is firmly mounted and will not rotate or move out of alignment, do not overtighten the mounting screw once the PVS-14 is rigidly attached.
Tether point attachment tips:
We recommend using 550 cord / paracord or a dedicated night vision goggle lanyard.
We recommend to always connect to the Panobridge's tether attachment point on the rearinstead of connecting to the PVS-14 or imaging device itself, as the Panobridge's tether attachment point is fixed in place and does not move if the imaging devices are articulated upwards.
The ideal tension allows the user to easily move the joint while also ensuring the monoculars do not come out of the desired position during rough activities.
As delivered, the joints are torqued to 12 inch pounds, and we do not recommend varying the tension in the joints from the factory setting due to the fact that the system was tested and properly tuned to accommodate wide temperature fluctuations. Damage should not immediately result if additional tension is added, but the polymer components will compress and could be damaged if significantly more torque than required is applied.
Upgrade Kit from older models:
Make sure that the serrated Belleville lock washers (tiny discs which are actually springs) are oriented so that the convex surface is pointing toward plastic and the concave surface is pointed to the metal screw head. These parts are quite small and it can be hard to tell which side is which, but if you have to make a decision, an easy way to decide which orientation is correct is to make sure the larger or more open of the two sides is pressing against polymer.
Tighten the screws with a 9/64" hex key (as found in our Noisefighters Night Vision Accessory Tool) until the arm joint has sufficient tension so as to prevent the PVS-14 or similar imaging device from drooping. A good rule of thumb is to watch the end of the screw threads just exit the back of the bridge, through the locking nut's nylon insert, as that will likely put the joint in sufficient tension, and only adjust in small increments (1/64 rotations) as needed. After a minimum of twelve hours, we recommend tightening the joint one more time in order to compensate for the compression that the Arkema polymer material experiences. In our long-term testing, a double tightening procedure and the use of serrated Belleville lock washers has proven to be sufficient for long-term joint tension.
Polymer QD Dovetail Arms for Panobridge Mk3:
A 7/64" hex key is required to adjust tension in the joint that connects the QD Dovetail Arm to the IPD Slider Arm. By reducing tension, the QD Dovetail Arm can slide sideways and be positioned as desired, then the screw can be tightened to lock the components in place. A good rule of thumb is to adjust the tension until the components do not slide, then add a quarter turn.
Polymer Mini-Rail Arms for Panobridge Mk3:
A 7/64" hex key is required to adjust tension in the joint that connects the Mini-Rail Arm to the IPD Slider Arm. By reducing tension, the Mini-Rail Arm can slide sideways and be positioned as desired, then the screw can be tightened to lock the components in place. A good rule of thumb is to adjust the tension until the components do not slide, then add a quarter turn.
A 5/64" hex key is required to adjust tension in the set screw that connects the Mini-Rail Arm to the mounted imaging device. By reducing tension, the imaging device can slide forwards and backwards and be positioned as desired, then the screw can be tightened to lock the components in place. A good rule of thumb is to adjust the tension until the components do not slide, then add a quarter turn.
