Electro-Voice X-Line Very Compact XLVC User Manual

X-Line Very Compact Rigging Manual

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very Compact

Rigging Manual

Table of Contents

Rigging-Safety Warning.............................................................................................................................................. 2

0 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................. 3

1 XLVC Rigging System ............................................................................................................................................. 5

1.1 Overview of the XLVC Flying System ...................................................................................................... 5

1.2 Enclosure Rigging Hardware Details........................................................................................................ 5

1.3 XLVC Rigging Accessory Details ............................................................................................................11

2 XLVC Rigging and Flying Techniques .................................................................................................................... 17

2.1 Array Considerations ............................................................................................................................. 17

2.2 Rigging XLVC Enclosures Together ....................................................................................................... 17

2.3 Rigging the XLVC Loudspeaker Systems and XLVC Grids .................................................................... 24

2.4 Rigging the XLVC Grids and the CBEAM............................................................................................... 27

2.5 Using the XLVC-BGK and Grid for Pull-Up ............................................................................................ 30

2.6 Using the AGCD with XLVC and XLC Systems...................................................................................... 32

2.7 Rigging an Array from the XL VC Dollies................................................................................................. 33

3 Rigging-Strength Ratings, Safety Factors, and Special Safety Considerations...................................................... 35

3.1 Working-Load Limit (WLL) and Safety Factor Definitions....................................................................... 35

3.2 Structural Rating Overview .................................................................................................................... 36

3.3 Simplified Structural-Rating Guidelines.................................................................................................. 37

3.4 Complex Structural-Rating Analysis....................................................................................................... 40

3.5 XLD281, XLE181, and XS212 Complex Structural-Strength Ratings ..................................................... 40

3.6 XLD Grid, XLE Grid, CBEAM, and AGCD Complex Structural-Strength Ratings ................................... 44

3.7 Wind Loading......................................................................................................................................... 48

3.8 Electro-Voice Structural-Analysis Procedures........................................................................................ 48

4 Rigging Inspection and Precautions ...................................................................................................................... 49

References ............................................................................................................................................................... 51

Rigging References ..................................................................................................................................... 51

Mechanical Engineering References ........................................................................................................... 51

Websites...................................................................................................................................................... 52

Notes........................................................................................................................................................................ 53

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very CompactTM Rigging Manual1

Rigging-Safety Warning

This document details general rigging practices appropriate to the entertainment industry, as they would apply to the rigging of Electro-Voice X-Line Very Compact (XLVC) loudspeaker systems. It is intended to familiarize the reader with standard rigging hardware and techniques for suspending XLVC loudspeaker systems overhead. Only persons with the knowledge of proper hardware and safe rigging techniques should attempt to suspend any sound systems overhead. Prior to suspending any Electro-Voice XLVC loudspeaker systems overhead, it is essential that the user be familiar with the strength ratings, rigging techniques and special safety considerations outlined in this manual. The rigging techniques and practices recommended in this manual are, of necessity, in general terms to accommodate the many variations in loudspeaker arrays and rigging configurations. As such, the user is expressly responsible for the safety of all specific XLVC loudspeaker array designs and rigging configurations as implemented in practice.

All the general rigging material contained in this manual is based on the best available engineering information concerning materials and practices, as commonly recognized in the United States, and is believed to be accurate at the time of the original printing. As such, the information may not be directly applicable in other countries. Furthermore, the regulations and requirements governing rigging hardware and practices may be superseded by local regulations. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that any Electro-Voice loudspeaker system is suspended overhead in accordance with all current federal, state and local regulations.

All specific material concerning the strength ratings, rigging techniques and safety considerations for the XLVC loudspeaker systems is based on the best available engineering information concerning the use and limitations of the products. Electro-Voice continually engages in testing, research and development of its loudspeaker products. As a result, the specifications are subject to change without notice. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that any Electro-Voice loudspeaker system is suspended overhead in accordance with the strength ratings, rigging techniques and safety considerations given in this document and any manual update notices. All non-Electro-Voice associated hardware items necessary to rig a complete XLVC loudspeaker array (grids, chain hoists, building or tower supports and miscellaneous mechanical components) are the responsibility of others.

Electro-Voice November, 2005

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very CompactTM Rigging Manual 2

0. Introduction

The X-Line Very Compact (XLVC) loudspeaker systems represent an important step in line-array technology for small- and medium-scale sound reinforcement. The individual loudspeaker drivers, acoustic lenses, acoustic waveguides, enclosures and rigging hardware were all designed specifically for the XLVC product line to not only achieve the highest acoustic output with the highest fidelity, but also to produce a precise wavefront from each element to achieve state-of-theart line-array performance. A brief description of the product line is included below. The XLVC loudspeaker systems are shown in Figure 1 with key dimensions and features.

XLD281: Three-way, LF1/LF2/HF loudspeaker system with a 120°H x 10°V coverage pattern. The system includes two DVN2080 8-inch (203-mm) LF drivers and two ND2S-16 2-inch (51-mm) HF drivers. The XLD281 has a switchable crossover that allows either biamp or triamp operation. The XLD281 utilizes an enclosure that is trapezoidal in the vertical plane (with an 10° total included angle) and has XLVC 10° rigging tube and channel modules secured to the left and right enclosure sides.

XLE181: Two-way, LF/HF loudspeaker system with a 120°H x 10°V coverage pattern. The system includes one DVN2080 8-inch (203-mm) LF driver and two ND2S-16 2-inch (51-mm) HF drivers. The XLE181 has a switchable crossover that allows either biamp or passive operation. The XLE181 utilizes a narrower 10° trapezoidal enclosure than the XLD281 and has XLVC 10° rigging tube and channel modules secured to the left and right enclosure sides.

XS212: Dual Side-Firing Bass System with two DVX3120 12-inch (305-mm) woofers. The XS212 utilizes an enclosure that is rectangular in shape and has XLVC elongated 20° rigging tube and channel modules secured to the left and right enclosure sides.

LF1HFLF2

14.52in (369mm)

Rear View

28.58in (726mm)

Top View

LF2HFLF1

9.90in

(251mm)

7.41in

(188mm)

Front View (Without Grille)

Figure 1a:

Side View

XLD281 Loudspeaker System

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very CompactTM Rigging Manual3

14.52in (369mm)

LFHF

20.30in (516mm)

Top View

HFLF

Front View (Without Grille)

Figure 1b:

XLE181 Loudspeaker System

9.90in

(251mm)

Rear View

7.41in

(188mm)

Side View

14.90in (378mm)

28.58in

(726mm)

Rear View

Top View

20.00in

(508mm)

Front View

Figure 1c:

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very CompactTM Rigging Manual 4

XS212 Loudspeaker System

Side View (Without Grille)

1. X-Line Very Compact Rigging System

1.1 Overview of the XLVC Flying System

The XLVC loudspeaker systems have been designed to construct correct acoustic line arrays. Acoustic line arrays typically consist of independent columns of loudspeaker systems that acoustically and coherently sum to radiate cylindrical wavefronts. This simplifies the rigging system.

The XLVC loudspeaker enclosures utilize a hinged rigging system that makes constructing arrays easy, predictable and repeatable. This front-hinging rigging concept allows arrays to be accurately constructed with the least possible spacing between enclosures. The front and back rigging hardware for linking two enclosures together are captured as an integral part of the side rigging tube and channel modules.

A basic array is shown in Figure 2 that illustrates the integral components that make up a typical XLVC flying system. The XLD281 and XLE181 enclosures are vertically trapezoidal - taller at the front than at the back. The enclosures are hinged at the front corners using rigging hardware specially designed for the XLVC system. The enclosures are linked at the rear using rigging arms that have multiple attachment positions. The different positions adjust how close the back corners of the enclosures are pulled together; hence, adjusting the vertical angle of the bottom enclosure.

1.2 XLVC Enclosure Rigging Hardware Details

On each side of the enclosure are XLVC rigging tube and channel modules. All the rigging hardware needed to fly a column of XLVC enclosures is an integral part of the high-strength aluminum-alloy rigging tube and channel modules. The structural load is transmitted through the modules minimizing the load on the loudspeaker enclosure shell. Figure 3 illustrates the XLVC enclosure rigging hardware components. Figure 4 shows key dimensions for the rigging hardware.

At the front rigging module is a rectangular rigging tube. Captured inside the rigging tube is a rigging connector called the hinge bar. The hinge bar is constructed from a high-strength aluminum alloy. The hinge bar can slide out the top of the tube and be locked into position as shown in Figure 2. The portion of the hinge bar sticking out the top would be inserted into the front rigging tube of an enclosure above and pinned into place, linking the two enclosures together and forming a hinging point between the two enclosures. The hinge bar can also be fully retracted inside the tube for transportation.

Each hinge bar has two holes in the bar for rigging box-to-box or securing pins for transport. The front rigging tube has two holes for pinning the bar in place to construct arrays or for transport. As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the bottom hole and pin on the bar locks the hinge bar in place at the top of the tube. The exposed top hole and pin is then used to lock the hinge bar in the tube of an enclosure above. For transportation, the hinge bar would be slid down inside the tube and would be locked in the tube module using the two “transport holes” on the rear of the front rigging tube.

At the rear is a channel module with a vertical rigging slot. Captured inside the rigging slot is a rigging connector called the swing arm. The swing arm is constructed from a high-strength aluminum alloy. The swing arm can be pivoted to stick out the top as shown in Figures 3a and 3b. At the bottom of the channel from the enclosure above, the rear rigging slot has a series of holes.

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very CompactTM Rigging Manual5

Hoist Motor

Grid

Quick-Release Pin

Eight XLD281

Enclosures Hinged at the

Front by the Extended

Hinge Bars and Front

Rigging Tube Modules

Hinge Bar

Quick-

Release

Swing

Arm

Quick-

Release

Grid

Two XS212 Enclosures

Hinged at the Front by

the Extended Hinge Bars

and Rigging Tube

Modules

Quick-

Release Pin

Hinge Bar

XS212 Enclosures

Swing Arm

Angles Between

Enclosures fixed by Pins

through the Swing Arms and Rear Rigging Holes

in the Channel Modules

XLD281 Enclosures

Figure 2:

Typical XLVC Flying System

(without Coupler Beam)

The swing arm from an enclosure below can be pivoted up so that the quick-release pin from the enclosure below may be inserted through a hole in the rigging slot on the channel module above, linking the two enclosures together. The vertical tilt angle of the bottom enclosure is then determined by the hole in which the swing arm is pinned. This pin fixes the maximum distance the back corners of the enclosures may be separated. The XLD281 and XLE181 enclosures may be angled from 0° to 10° in 1° increments, while the XS212 enclosure may be angled from 0° to 20° in 2° increments.

The XLD281 and XS212 loudspeaker systems may be rigged together in the same column because they have the same width. However, the XLE181 system may not be rigged to either an XLD281 or XS212 because it is not as wide.

The center of gravity and rigging dimensions for all of the XLVC loudspeaker systems are shown in Figure 4. This figure includes sufficient information to calculate the vertical angle of XLVC enclosures that are rigged together in a column, as well as the weight distribution throughout the column.

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very CompactTM Rigging Manual 6

Front Hinge Bar

Quick-Release Pins

Hole in Front Rigging

Tube for Locking Pin

Shoulder Bolt for

Moving Hinge Bar

Up or Down

Front Rigging Tube

Hole in Front Rigging

Tube for Locking Pin

from Enclosure

Below

Figure 3a:

XLD281 and XLE181

Rigging Hardware

Hole in Hinge Bar for

Locking Pin

Transport Holes for

Storing Quick-

Release Pins During

Transport (Hinge Bar

Must Be Lowered)

Hole in Swing Arm for Locking Pin

Rear Swing Arm

XLD281 or XLE181

Enclosure

Transport Hole for

Storing Quick-Release

Pin During Transport (Swing Arm Must Be

Lowered)

Quick-

Release Pin

Holes in Rear

Rigging Channel for

Locking Pin from Enclosure Below

(These Holes

Determine Splay

Angle)

Rear Rigging Channel

Quick-Release Pins

Hole in Front Rigging Tube

for Locking Pin

Shoulder Bolt for Moving

Hinge Bar Up or Down

Transport Holes for S toring Quick-Release Pins During Transport (Hinge Bar Must

Be Lowered) Front Rigging Tube

Hole in Front Rigging Tube

for Locking Pin from

Enclosure Below

Figure 3b:

XS212 Rigging

Hardware

Front Hinge Bar

Hole in Swing Arm

for Locking Pin

Hole in Hinge Bar for

Locking Pin

Rear Swing Arm

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very Compact

Quick-Release Pin

Rear Swing Arm

Transport Hole for

Storing Quick-Release

Pin During Transport

(Swing Arm Must Be

Lowered)

Rear Rigging Channel

Holes in Rear

Rigging Channel for

Locking Pin from Enclosure Below

(These Holes

Determine Splay

Center Hole in is for Grid Use

Only

Angle)

Rigging Manual

LF1 HF LF2

Front View (With Grille)

LF2 HF LF1

Rear View

XLD281 Rigging Dimensions and Weights

Figure 4a:

Side View

4° Hole 2° Hole

0° Hole

-2° Hole

-4° Hole

10° Hole

Full Range Only Subwoofer Only

8° Hole 6° Hole

4° Hole 2° Hole 0° Hole

9° Hole 7° Hole 5° Hole 3° Hole

1° Hole

Hole Detail

Scale 3:1

Weight: 48 lb (21.8 kg)

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very Compact

Rigging Manual

LF HF

Front View (With Grille)

HF LF

Rear View

XLE181 Rigging Dimensions and Weights

4° Hole

2° Hole

0° Hole

-2° Hole

-4° Hole

10° Hole

8° Hole 6° Hole

4° Hole 2° Hole

Full Range Only Subwoofer Only

0° Hole

Figure 4b:

Side View

9° Hole 7° Hole 5° Hole 3° Hole

1° Hole

Hole Detail

Scale 3:1

Weight: 38 lb (17.2 kg)

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very Compact

Rigging Manual

Front View

0° Hole 2° Hole 4° Hole 6° Hole 8° Hole

10° Hole 12/4° Hole 14/2° Hole 16/0° Hole

18/2°Up Hole

Sub/Full Range Subwoofer Only

20/4°Up Hole

Hole Detail

Scale 3:1

Side View (With Grille)

5° Hole 3° Hole 1° Hole

Rear View

XS212 Rigging Dimensions and Weights

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very Compact

Rigging Manual

Weight: 90 lb

(40.8 kg)

Figure 4c:

1.3 XLVC Rigging Accessory Det ails

Several accessories for rigging the XLVC loudspeaker systems are shown in Figure 5. This figure includes the center of gravity and rigging dimensions for the accessories and includes sufficient information to calculate the vertical angle of XLVC enclosures that are rigged together in a column, as well as the weight distribution throughout the column.

XLD GRID

The XLD GRID is a grid used for suspending a column of XLD281 or XS212 loudspeaker systems overhead and is shown in Figure 5a. The grid consists of two sidearm assemblies and two spreader bar assemblies. The front of the sidearm has a rectangular tube identical to that on the loudspeaker systems. The hinge bar from the top loudspeaker system is inserted into the grid tube and pinned into place using the same quick-release pins from the loudspeaker. The rear of the sidearm has channel with a vertical slot that is similar to that on the loudspeaker systems. The swing arm from the top loudspeaker system is inserted into the grid tube and pinned into place using the same quick-release pins from the loudspeaker.

The grid sidearms are then attached to either one or two spreader bars. Two spreader bars are used when two front-to-back pickup points are required. One spreader bar is used when two sideto-side pickup points are required or one center pickup point is required.

Quick-release pins are used to secure the sidearms to the spreader bar. The width of the assembly matches the width of the XLD281 and XS212 loudspeaker rigging.

Figure 5a:

XLD GRID Rigging Dimensions and Weights

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very Compact

Rigging Manual

XLE GRID

The XLE GRID is a grid used for suspending a column of XLE181 loudspeaker systems overhead and is shown in Figure 5b. The XLE GRID sidearms are identical to that of the XLD GRID. However, the XLE GRID spreader bars are shorter to match the width of the XLE181 loudspeaker system rigging.

Figure 5b:

XLE GRID Rigging Dimensions and Weights

CBEAM

The CBEAM, shown in Figure 5c, has two functions. It may be used a coupler beam to enable a column of XS212 systems to be hung behind a either a column of XLD281 loudspeaker systems or a column of XLE181 systems. The XLD GRID and XLE GRID grids are used to attach a column of loudspeakers to the CBEAM. The CBEAM may also be used as an extender beam to hang a single column of loudspeaker systems overhead (either XLD281 or XLE181). As an extender beam, the CBEAM allows a single pickup point that is beyond the end of either the XLD GRID or the XLE GRID, enabling the entire array to be tilted downward at greater angles, eliminating the need to use a pull back from the bottom of the column. The CBEAM may also be reversed to enable greater upward angles for the loudspeaker column.

Two yoke assemblies are used to attach each grid (either XLD GRID or XLE GRID) to the CBEAM. Each yoke is fastened the two spreader bars from the grids. Quick-release pins are used to secure the grid spreader bars to the yokes.

When two hoist motors are used to suspend a CBEAM overhead, the two motors are attached to the front and back of the CBEAM. In this case, the hoist motors are used to adjust the vertical angle of the CBEAM and the array underneath. When one hoist motor is used, the vertical angle of the CBEAM and the array underneath is determined by the front-to-back position at which the hoist is attached to the CBEAM. There are a series of holes in the CBEAM the user may select to adjust the vertical angle.

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very Compact

Rigging Manual

Figure 5c:

CBEAM Rigging Dimensions and Weights

XLVC-BGK

The XLVC-BGK, shown in Figure 5d, is a bottom grid kit that allows the XLD GRID to be attached to the bottom of the XLD281 loudspeaker systems or the XLE GRID to be attached to the bottom of the XLE181 loudspeaker systems. The bottom grid can then be used to pull back a column of XLVC loudspeaker systems to achieve a greater downward tilt than gravity would allow without a pull back.

The top of all XLVC loudspeaker systems have hinge bars mounted in the top of the front rigging tubes and swing arms mounted in the top of the rear rigging channels. However, the rigging tubes and channels are open at the bottom of all XLVC system rigging to accept hinge bars and swing arms from and enclosure below. The XLVC-BGK consists of a pair of XLVC front hinge bars, a pair of XLVC rear swing arms and a set of quick-release rigging pins for those bars and arms.

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very Compact

Rigging Manual

Front Hinge Bars (Left and Right Sides)

Quick-Release Pins

(Front/Green Qty = 4)

(Rear/Clear Qty = 4)

Lanyard T ab Mounting

Screws (Qty = 2)

Rear Swing Arms (Qty = 2)

Figure 5d:

Front Rigging Shoulder

Bolts (Qty = 2)

XLVC-BGK Bottom Grid Kit Contents

AGCD

The AGCD, shown in Figure 5e, is an adapter grid that allows XLD281 very-compact line-array loudspeaker systems to be rigged below XLC compact line-array loudspeaker systems. A typical example would be to use the AGCD construct a line array with two XLC215 (or XLC118) subwoofer systems at the top of a column with several XLD281 systems suspended below.

At the front of the AGCD are two sets of rigging tubes - one pair of rigging tubes mate with the XLVC front hinge bars and the other pair mate with the XLC front hinge bars. At the rear of the AGCD are two sets of rigging channels - one pair of rigging channels mate with the XLVC rear swing arms and the other pair mate with the XLC rear swing arms. The AGCD includes a pair of front XLC hinge bars and a pair of XLC rear swing arms that can be installed into the top of the adapter grid, allowing the AGCD to be suspended below an XLC215 (or XLC118) system. An XLD281 system can then be hung directly from the bottom of the AGCD.

The AGCD may also be used to place XLD281 loudspeaker systems on top of XLC215 (or XLC118) loudspeaker systems above an XGS-3 groundstack. In this case, the adapter grid is secured to the top of the XLC subwoofer and an XLD281 system may be attached to the top of the AGCD using the XLVC-BGK bottom grid kit.

AGCD Adapter Grid Dimensions and Weights

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very Compact

Rigging Manual

Figure 5e:

XGS-4

The XGS-4, shown in Figure 5f, is a pair of rails that may be used to groundstack XLVC loudspeaker systems. Each rail is an L-bracket that has multiple sets of front hinge bar rigging and rear swing arm rigging that mate with the front rigging tube and rear rigging channels on the bottom XLVC loudspeaker enclosure rigging.

The XGS-4 may be used to stack a single column of XLD281 systems, a single column of XLE181 systems or an XLD281 column and XS212 column combined.

L-Extrusion (Right)

Swing Arms

(2 per side)

L-Extrusion (Left)

Detent Pins

(4 per side)

Hinge Bars (2 per side)

Figure 5f:

XGS-4 Groundstack Details/Dimensions

XLD/XS DOLLY

The XLD/XS DOLLY, shown in Figure 5g, is a dolly for transporting XLD281 and/or XS212 loudspeaker systems. The dolly will accommodate two columns of loudspeaker systems – two columns of XLD281 systems, two columns of XS212 systems or an XLD281 column and an XS212 column combined. XLD281 systems may be stacked 6 high on the dolly. XS212 systems may be stacked 3 high on the dolly. The systems are strapped down with ratchet straps and offer side panel kits for additional protection during transport.

SP12.6

The SP12.6 is a side panel kit to be seamlessly integrated into the XLD/XS Dolly when additional protection is needed during transport. The SP12.6 allows for protection of two columns of six XLD281 loudspeaker systems for a total of (12) XLD281 loudspeaker systems, for protection of two columns of three XS212 loudspeaker systems for a total of (6) XS212 loudspeaker systems, or for protection of combined columns of (6) XLD281 loudspeaker systems and (3) XS212 loudspeaker systems.

SP8.4

The SP8.4 is a side panel kit to be seamlessly integrated into the XLD/XS Dolly when additional protection is needed during transport. The SP8.4 allows for protection of two columns of four XLD281 loudspeaker systems for a total of (8) XLD281 loudspeaker systems, for protection of two columns of two XS212 loudspeaker systems for a total of (4) XS212 loudspeaker systems, or for protection of combined columns of (4) XLD281 loudspeaker systems and (2) XS212 loudspeaker systems.

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very CompactTM Rigging Manual15

XLD/XS Dolly (Cover)

Sample Column of

(4) XLD281’s

XLD/XS Dolly (Base)

Sample Column of

(2) XS212’s

XLD/XS Dolly Shown

with SP8.4 Kit Installed

Width of Dolly -

32.00”

812.8mm

Depth of Dolly -

34.75”

882.7mm

Figure 5g:

XLD/XS Dolly

ELECTRO-VOICE® X-Line Very CompactTM Rigging Manual 16

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