Are the dimensions (width of webbing cuts, distance between shoulder slots and waist slots, material gauge, etc) of backplates somewhat standardized between vendors or is everyone out there just doing there own thing? I know anatomically they must be fairly close, but is there an industry standard?
Are backplate dimensions standardized?
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MidOH
Banned
Pretty standard amongst most, but nothing official.
I think the companies with the best wings, and the companies with the best plates, realized they needed to be compatable.
I think the companies with the best wings, and the companies with the best plates, realized they needed to be compatable.
Well the webbing is fairly standard, so the sizing of the holes in the plates need to be too in order to accommodate the webbing.
Material and size wise there are all kinds of different plates, much like there are all kinds of different wings, and that's a good thing. Webbing is quite standardised in that it's always 2" and all plates accommodate this.
I think the part where things differ most (and where it actually matters) is the number and placement of slots for cambands. As far as I know there's no real standardization here so some care needs to be taken if you want a random wing's slots to line up with those on the plate. Some plates don't have the slots at all. In either case, an angle grinder can sort out the situation (perhaps not for carbon fiber plates), and if you're diving doubles it doesn't matter (the 11" distance between holes is standardised).
I think the part where things differ most (and where it actually matters) is the number and placement of slots for cambands. As far as I know there's no real standardization here so some care needs to be taken if you want a random wing's slots to line up with those on the plate. Some plates don't have the slots at all. In either case, an angle grinder can sort out the situation (perhaps not for carbon fiber plates), and if you're diving doubles it doesn't matter (the 11" distance between holes is standardised).
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Yes and no, essentially they are basically the same with many little exceptions as noted above. Most new wings can accommodate most plates using extended cam band slots.
I don’t know if the similarities are due to cooperation or copy.
I don’t know if the similarities are due to cooperation or copy.
There is a de facto standard, because it is what works. Things like webbing and camband slot locations. There are many slight difference between the backplates that are built to the "standard" configuration. You then have some alternative designs like the Freedom Plate.
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
The only thing that are standard are the size of the slots, they all use 2” webbing, and 11” center holes would be the other thing that would be standard. Other than that nothing is really standard.
Outer shapes can vary, the bend of the plate can vary with how steep or flat they are, some have multiple holes around the perimeter some not so much, some old plates don’t have cam band slots like my OMS for instance and has a 1” slot for the crotch strap (early version).
Cam band slots can vary too, some are elongated some are not, spacing can be all over the place. Companies making plates and wings a lot of times have their own system and their own proprietary measurements to work within their own line of accessories. They don’t care what anybody else is doing because they want to be exclusive so you have to buy their complete product line.
There are many different brand plates and wings that will work with each other, but it can be hit and miss, you have to know which ones.
Outer shapes can vary, the bend of the plate can vary with how steep or flat they are, some have multiple holes around the perimeter some not so much, some old plates don’t have cam band slots like my OMS for instance and has a 1” slot for the crotch strap (early version).
Cam band slots can vary too, some are elongated some are not, spacing can be all over the place. Companies making plates and wings a lot of times have their own system and their own proprietary measurements to work within their own line of accessories. They don’t care what anybody else is doing because they want to be exclusive so you have to buy their complete product line.
There are many different brand plates and wings that will work with each other, but it can be hit and miss, you have to know which ones.
Chavodel8en
Contributor
Just an example. I bought a DGX BP and a Mares wing (bc the DGX wing was out for an extended period of time).
The slots for the cambands (no STA necessary) are slightly off. The camband webbing has to curve a bit to work, but it works.
The slots for the cambands (no STA necessary) are slightly off. The camband webbing has to curve a bit to work, but it works.
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
They call it “finagling”, and there’s a lot of that. Sometimes you just have to be extra creative, drills, cutoff wheels, and a file help tremendously with “finagling”.
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