I've got a Syrp Genie but I find that when I want to do a very slow pan esp with a longer focal length the motion is not smooth and there are steps in the motion. I also find the whole setup is not very stable as the interface between the rotating base and unit is not very rigid. What are the alternatives out there? I've obviously tried using a good fluid head (sachtler FSB4) but it's near impossible to do a long smooth pan at constant speed.
Motorised head for slow smooth pans better than the Syrp Genie
- Thread starter Shirozina
- Start date
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Im going through this research at the moment.
Stepper motors.. step.
I think the solution is probably some old school DC motor geared down.
Im researching arduino to drive it but cannot print 'hello world' yet
--
It is worth seeing how the high end kit works.. eg Ronford Baker have a motion slider and if you can find out the tech they use it is probably the tech to use!
--
One of the slider companies makes a kit where the slider and head are connected together with rods to mechanically do a pan/slide - maybe check that.
S
Stepper motors.. step.
I think the solution is probably some old school DC motor geared down.
Im researching arduino to drive it but cannot print 'hello world' yet
--
It is worth seeing how the high end kit works.. eg Ronford Baker have a motion slider and if you can find out the tech they use it is probably the tech to use!
--
One of the slider companies makes a kit where the slider and head are connected together with rods to mechanically do a pan/slide - maybe check that.
S
I've spent a lot of time on this including taking apart servo lenses to see how they make zoom movement so smooth. Good luck, if you want a smooth start up and ramp up on a longer focal length. But if you want smooth movement once it is moving, then that you can build. I'm not versed in what is available in complete systems as I like to build my own equipment.
As you said, stepper motors are out. The next step is geared motors. I've spent a lot of time with 37mm geared head motors (servo city) and PWM. Virtually every motor controller out there uses PWM and that's the problem. I've spent weeks testing motors and controllers and talked to motor controller manufacturers, and found that you just cannot get a geared head motor moving until you get to about 15% pulse. So there will always be a bit of a jerk to the start. Once it is moving, you can get as slow a pan as you like depending on what gear ratio you use.
Servo lens manufacturers don't use PWM. They use straight DC voltage, which is much less efficient and drains batteries quicker. But it drives the action smoothly.
I've wanted motion control using DC voltage drive and a joystick. But I have not found a motor controller that will take in a joystick input and translate that to a variable DC output. I talked to Servo City and they are not away of such an item. I'm not going to design my own.
Here is the best I have been able to accomplish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhaY-Lrbfa4
What I use:
Pololu JRK motor controllers. Joystick, computer, or RC Controller input - PWM out, with feedback as an option for repeatable moves. https://www.pololu.com/product/1392
Gear head motors - https://www.servocity.com/motors-ac...rd-duty-gear-motors/standard-spur-gear-motors
As you said, stepper motors are out. The next step is geared motors. I've spent a lot of time with 37mm geared head motors (servo city) and PWM. Virtually every motor controller out there uses PWM and that's the problem. I've spent weeks testing motors and controllers and talked to motor controller manufacturers, and found that you just cannot get a geared head motor moving until you get to about 15% pulse. So there will always be a bit of a jerk to the start. Once it is moving, you can get as slow a pan as you like depending on what gear ratio you use.
Servo lens manufacturers don't use PWM. They use straight DC voltage, which is much less efficient and drains batteries quicker. But it drives the action smoothly.
I've wanted motion control using DC voltage drive and a joystick. But I have not found a motor controller that will take in a joystick input and translate that to a variable DC output. I talked to Servo City and they are not away of such an item. I'm not going to design my own.
Here is the best I have been able to accomplish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhaY-Lrbfa4
What I use:
Pololu JRK motor controllers. Joystick, computer, or RC Controller input - PWM out, with feedback as an option for repeatable moves. https://www.pololu.com/product/1392
Gear head motors - https://www.servocity.com/motors-ac...rd-duty-gear-motors/standard-spur-gear-motors
Last edited: