DIY Follow Focus Gears

[Lootz]

I started poking around the local hobby shop to see what I could turn up. Turns out the tail gears from a nitro heli work pretty well. Total for two gears is approx. $20.00. If you choose to go with eight posts instead of four it would bring it up to about $25.00. I am considering adding four more posts to the one in the photo as it flexes just a bit between the current posts. Total time including the store was about an hour for one. These are pictured with the indifocus20.

List of items:
Align Autorotation Tail Drive Gear for a TRex 700 heli - X 1 package - Hobby Shop - Part # HN7020T (Two per package). - $14.00
Set Screw Socket - X 2 (for four posts) or X 4 (for eight posts) - Home Depot - 10-32 X 1/2" - Not sure of the part number - $0.90 for a pair. (1/2" length can change depending on the barrel size of the lens).
Screw Protector - X 2 (for four posts) or X 4 (for eight posts) - Home Depot - #8 or #10 - Not sure of the part number (8 is red and 10 is black) - $0.50 for a pair.

Tools used:
Dremel - Cutting tool as well as a grinding wheel.
Small drill press.
10-32 tap.
Allen wrench.

 

[Lootz]

The Steps

The Steps

Using the Dremel cutter - Cut out all of the spokes along the red line.
Using the Dremel grinding wheel - Grind down all of the remaining plastic to the blue line. I left the other four posts longer to give the set screw a bit more to bite on with the threads.

 

[Lootz]

The Steps

The Steps

Using the drill press - Drill four holes opposite of each other. Eight holes opposite of each other if you choose.
Run the 10-32 tap through each hole.
Screw in each set screw using the allen wrench.
That's it. Hope this helps someone out there.

More images for reference and part numbers:

 

[Lootz]

The Steps

The Steps

Home Depot and heli parts:

 

[dsto]

Thanks for the details. Looks like a great find and a great build

 

[matahari]

Thumb up !!

 

[Edd]

Nice.

This would even make it cheaper:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15137

 

[MSpencer]

wow thats a good find.

 

[Bro Anansi]

Excellent find, thanks Lootz and Edd.
DealExtreme is the real deal, free shipping too even if it takes a couple of weeks.

 

[Eric Ferguson]

THAT is an incredible find. Now we just need the people in the cheap, high quality 90 degree gearbox thread to come through, and a serious DIY follow focus option emerges. Cool!

 

[JohnJ]

Gear box, how about this one :http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=0748443

That was really well done Lootz! Does the indiefocus gear work nicely with the white gear?

 

[Lootz]

It does work well. Honestly, I haven't used the higher dollar ones like Redrock so I can't compare but I haven't had any problems. It seems to be a bit louder than the zip gears that come with the indi if you are using the on cam mic but no worries if you are using external sound. I was considering dunking one in some plasti dip to quiet it down for those run and gun nat sound situations. I'll give it a shot and follow up with all of ya. I have read a lot about the gearboxes in the link you provided. It seems they are difficult to get here in the U.S. After shipping et all it would be easier to buy them from Redrock or Zacuto.

 

[hawaj]

That gerabox is exactly the same as in Redrock FF and yes you can get in US for usd17. :happy:

 

[Lorka]

The suggested gear box and heli rings look like a really good bet for a DIY - but how can you work out the gauge of the heli teeth, and find a cog on the gear box to match it?

 

[shaunstander]

I made my own for less $15..

I made my own for less $15..

Hey all.. so I managed to make my own for less than $15 per lens, I ordered the Zacuto replacement Zip Gears from B&H for $10 a piece and then rigged them on my Carl Zeiss primes.. very solid! .. I really feel that they are better than any of the store bought versions.. I made a tutorial, check it out!

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIPFc48sQLA
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z3_YDlkhh8

 

[djbobbyrhodes]

Nice tutorial there, shaunstander.

It's kind of crazy that the zip gear from zacuto is $12, but the little do-hickey that holds it together is $50+ ... I like your solution better, especially for the price!