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What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens?
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Onlyoriginal


Sep 26, 2012, 9:17 AM
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What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens?
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I know all these different forms of protection but what is the difference between all of them?


theextremist04


Sep 26, 2012, 1:40 PM
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Re: [Onlyoriginal] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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Onlyoriginal wrote:
I know all these different forms of protection but what is the difference between all of them?
TCUs and Aliens are SLCDs, which are spring loaded camming devices (the catch-all name for cams.) TCUs are 3-lobed cams made by Metolius (though some people use this as a name for other 3-lobed cams), and Aliens are a specific brand made by CCH, known for being especially good in placements where some other brands aren't.


granite_grrl


Sep 26, 2012, 1:44 PM
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Re: [Onlyoriginal] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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Onlyoriginal wrote:
I know all these different forms of protection but what is the difference between all of them?

SLCD = Spring Loaded Caming Device. It refers to all cams (including TCUs and Aliens) that we use as climbers, but we usually don't refer to them as such.

TCU = Three Cam Unit. This is a cam that has three lobes instead of the traditional 4. While I suposse any brand cam with three lobes could technically be called a TCU, people are usually refering to the brand Metolious and their three cam units when talking TCUs.

Aliens = simply a brand of cams. Originally made by CCH, now made by Fixe. Other examples are Camalots made by black Diamond and Master Cams made by Metolious.


dagibbs


Sep 29, 2012, 6:47 PM
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Re: [granite_grrl] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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granite_grrl wrote:
Onlyoriginal wrote:
I know all these different forms of protection but what is the difference between all of them?

SLCD = Spring Loaded Caming Device. It refers to all cams (including TCUs and Aliens) that we use as climbers, but we usually don't refer to them as such.

Not all cams are SLCDs -- Tricams, for example, are non-spring-loaded camming devices.


Marylandclimber


Sep 29, 2012, 7:57 PM
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Re: [dagibbs] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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There tricams though... I don't think they should be called a "cam" because they can be used passively just fine and simply are tricams. They can use a camming motion but I woulnd't say, "Hey hand me 3 cams" meaning tricams.


dagibbs


Sep 29, 2012, 8:42 PM
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Re: [Marylandclimber] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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Marylandclimber wrote:
There tricams though... I don't think they should be called a "cam" because they can be used passively just fine and simply are tricams. They can use a camming motion but I woulnd't say, "Hey hand me 3 cams" meaning tricams.

Camalots can be placed passively just fine, too, as I understand it.

But, yeah, I guess "cam" is usually used primarily for SLCDs.


marc801


Sep 30, 2012, 12:09 AM
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Re: [dagibbs] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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dagibbs wrote:
Camalots can be placed passively just fine, too, as I understand it.

But, yeah, I guess "cam" is usually used primarily for SLCDs.
Even hexes have a camming mode. SLCD refers to camming devices with moving parts - it doesn't matter if they can also be placed passively. To whine that all cams are not SLCDs because tricams aren't is belabored semantic nit-picking.


moose_droppings


Sep 30, 2012, 12:43 AM
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Re: [Onlyoriginal] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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There is also a "Splitter cam" that appears to have one cam lobe on each side, but each one of those split in two so you have four moving lobes.


dagibbs


Sep 30, 2012, 3:28 AM
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Re: [marc801] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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marc801 wrote:
dagibbs wrote:
Camalots can be placed passively just fine, too, as I understand it.

But, yeah, I guess "cam" is usually used primarily for SLCDs.
Even hexes have a camming mode. SLCD refers to camming devices with moving parts - it doesn't matter if they can also be placed passively. To whine that all cams are not SLCDs because tricams aren't is belabored semantic nit-picking.

Isn't belabored semantic nit-picking what the internet, and in particular, rc.com is for?

As for hexes vs tricams -- I find that I almost always place a tricam in a cammed placement (so think of them as cams), I have yet to make a hex placement that is cammed (and I do carry and place hexes).


climbingtrash


Sep 30, 2012, 7:07 PM
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Re: [Marylandclimber] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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Marylandclimber wrote:
There tricams though... I don't think they should be called a "cam" because they can be used passively just fine and simply are tricams. They can use a camming motion but I woulnd't say, "Hey hand me 3 cams" meaning tricams.

Oh teh ironing.


olderic


Oct 1, 2012, 1:45 AM
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Re: [marc801] What is the difference between a TCU, SLCD, and Aliens? [In reply to]
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marc801 wrote:
dagibbs wrote:
Camalots can be placed passively just fine, too, as I understand it.

But, yeah, I guess "cam" is usually used primarily for SLCDs.
Even hexes have a camming mode. SLCD refers to camming devices with moving parts - it doesn't matter if they can also be placed passively. To whine that all cams are not SLCDs because tricams aren't is belabored semantic nit-picking.

Most informed reply so far. Research "active" v. "passive". Research Choiunard catalogs from the 70's.


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