DIY IndieSlider...

Our's is mounted via TVMP adapters to beefy baby stands, no tripod required. Also, every grip truck has baby stands, so mounting is a breeze. Giving up a tripod for the slider isn't the ultimate scenario.

We're having bridging plates made up and all the new W-Tracks feature chamfered ends to keep the joints super-smooth.

e
 
I've got the 200mm carriage on its way. The wider guage track is special order and the associated carriages are extremely expensive, so I've gone against my better judgement and I'm building the system based on the WS-16-60-1500mm track sections instead.

The VariZoom MC100 was too tall for the short base of the 100mm carriage. I was getting some chatter as the MC100 panned during the tracking moves. The longer 200mm base should eliminate this. Beefy baby stands or baby combo stands are on order to eliminate lateral movement as the carriage with remote head move down the track.

Next up is sectional, *removable* rack gear, motor and spur gear to drive the carriage. If anyone has ideas for a simple proportional controller (wired is fine), I'll be in your debt!

Pictures once the track bridging plates are in!

e
 
OK, I made one using the original parts list, except mine is 48". I have a 100mm ball mount tripod so I removed the head and used a 3/8 carriage bolt, nut and large washer to hold it to the bowl receptacle.

I bolted the fluid head to the carriage by spacing it away with a sleeve (stud would be too long otherwise). There are 5/16 bolts with a washer in the ends
of the rail as a stop. I put a small 10 lb barbell weight on my spreader to make the tripod more stable . Tried it a couple of times - works great! Helps to push on the carriage itself when doing a side to side dolly. When doing a dolly in move, pushing on the tripod handle is OK.

1229048661.jpg
 
Longer 200mm shuttle and 5' track sections have arrived. The machining for the bridging plates is underway and I'm now looking for flexible (roll-up would be nice) rack and spur gearing that could be temporarily attached to the track bed via Velcro or other temporary fastener.

Anyone here have robotics experience? I'm ready for motor control for forward and reverse. I'd like to add electronic stops to the ends of the track like garage door openers have. Suggestions would be much appreciated!

e
 
Mine is 48" and has a bit of flex that can hurt shots. I would like to make a couple of braces, mounted diagonally from the end of the track and clamped to the tripod legs. Anyone know of existing home depot type parts to make the clamp on brace?
 
Erik Olson said:
Longer 200mm shuttle and 5' track sections have arrived. The machining for the bridging plates is underway and I'm now looking for flexible (roll-up would be nice) rack and spur gearing that could be temporarily attached to the track bed via Velcro or other temporary fastener.

Anyone here have robotics experience? I'm ready for motor control for forward and reverse. I'd like to add electronic stops to the ends of the track like garage door openers have. Suggestions would be much appreciated!

e
Click to expand...

Look for low voltage DC stepping motors.
There's carriage feed gearing and nylon 'chain' that'll work in conjunction.
You could lay that in the trough and rig the stepping motor to the base, letting it pull or push along the chain.

Stepping motors are very precise mechanisms- and, with a variac type of regulator/potentiometer you can run your power up and down for widely varied speeds. You could even factor simple ramping (to speed) with some resistors.

I've got some that take from 3VDC to 24VDC, and auto reverse.
Very cool stuff.
You can find them in different sizes too- but the really small ones don't have much torque (load pulling power).

Good luck.

Look for pressure switches in either NO or NC configuration for your interrupts (end points). NC would probably work best.
Home security places have them on the cheap.
 
NoNoob actually that moco rig is not made with steppers. I do have one of these sliders. and while they do move smooth when you move them by hand there is just to much friction for them to move with motors small enough to work with a track this small, in fact the motor I have on that large moco rig is not able to move the sled on this track easy enough .
 
Jason Miller said:
NoNoob actually that moco rig is not made with steppers. I do have one of these sliders. and while they do move smooth when you move them by hand there is just to much friction for them to move with motors small enough to work with a track this small, in fact the motor I have on that large moco rig is not able to move the sled on this track easy enough .
Click to expand...

Axily- i just said THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT STEPPERS.
thats all.

i've got a stepper that would fit on the base of the pictured rig here which would work just fine (but it ain't available).
produces 45 ft. lbs. of torque and is about 12cm long, by 5cm square.
russian built like a brick shithouse quality. can drive from either end or center too.
runs on 24VDC though (which isn't an issue, really).

but, thanks for pointing all that out.
i thought the USB control was kinda cool.
 
it may work, the motot I have is 55 inch pounds and while it moves the dolly on the moco rig beautiully it doesnt move the sled on the slider well with the weight of the camera and head on it.
 
Adapter Question for Z Cast and others

Adapter Question for Z Cast and others

I have ordered the items required but can't seem to find the 75mm bowl adapters anywhere. Any help for these items? I have a Schatler FSB6 tripod.

Thanks and great find (for me)

Don
 
Last edited:
Don Maldos said:
I have ordered the items required but can't seem to find the 75mm bowl adapters anywhere. Any help for these items? I have a Schatler FSB6 tripod

I found a 100mm bowl adapter on Ebay just by using that search term. You could probably find a 75mm just as easy. I saved about $30 over a new one.
Click to expand...
 
Erik Olson said:
I've got the 200mm carriage on its way. The wider guage track is special order and the associated carriages are extremely expensive, so I've gone against my better judgement and I'm building the system based on the WS-16-60-1500mm track sections instead.

The VariZoom MC100 was too tall for the short base of the 100mm carriage. I was getting some chatter as the MC100 panned during the tracking moves. The longer 200mm base should eliminate this. Beefy baby stands or baby combo stands are on order to eliminate lateral movement as the carriage with remote head move down the track.

Next up is sectional, *removable* rack gear, motor and spur gear to drive the carriage. If anyone has ideas for a simple proportional controller (wired is fine), I'll be in your debt!

Pictures once the track bridging plates are in!

e
Click to expand...

Erik...any pictures of your rig yet? I'm DYI-ing to see what you put together here.:beer:
 
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