My Custom Built Camera Crane

[Paul F]

Is there a way to adjust the spring or shock? I can't really tell from the pictures.

I find it interesting that you are using a shock-absorber/spring combination. Steadicams don't use them. They just use springs. I wonder how the shock will make it behave as opposed to spring-only. It seems like it should be a benefit.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

i never thought about just using springs.... i guess i could. just flip the unit upside down and now it pulls on the shocks instead of pushes.... there are preload clips you can put on the shocks to adjust the tension. id want it to sit about flat with the whole load.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

ok update . i got some parts in for the remote head

il let the pics and vids do the talking cause im in a hurry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QulfCmtmLZQ

 

[pantilt]

Stepper motor?

Stepper motor?

Hi,

Stepper motors were mentioned at the begining of the post, but I wonder if somebody has tried?
My concern is they can be quite noisy, but at low speed the torque and holding capacity is usually good and in the software controller it´s not difficult to ramp up and down the speed to control inertia problems. Finally, you can memorize and program motion path by simply counting steps from an initial position detected via a light barrier for instance.
What do you think? Any feedback based on previous experiences?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

i really dont have any experience with stepper motors, the motors i have tested so far have very good holding capacity, it takes quite a bit of force to turn them even with no power. I will do some more research on the stepper motors but what i have seen so far is working out quite well.

the issues im running into are the motors i have are 12v and im only running a 7.2v battery too them. im going to buy some more motors but 6v this time. It will double my rpm so il take that into account but i think it will be better for smooth stop start.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

got in the minihdmi to hdmi cables in along with an 11in articulating arm, mounts very well! :yippie:

also made some more pieces for the full size suspension head unit

big mess, and a fun bit to use

so like i said, that prototype suspension head thingy was going to be rebuilt about 30% larger to accommodate bearings and such. This was much harder than anticipated.

those pieces of aluminium in my previous update were meant to hold the bearings like you see here. - note the set screws so the bearings dont spin around inside.

then i duplicated and made a couple pieces to hold both arms together.

my fav part about it is how perfect it is on all angles, not one part of it is "out"

and a quick video similar to my other one showing how quiet and smooth it is.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150625704705455#&comments

there will be some weight shaving to do as this unit does weigh a fair amount and coupled with the remote head on the end of it and a camera and a battery.... it will weigh alot, and all that weight out on a 9ft lever will = probably 60lbs of counter weight.

next up - motor mounts!

 

[Paul F]

The set screws are brilliant. I was wondering how you were going to get the bearings fit up. Your ingenuity shows that a great deal can be done in a garage shop if you just think things through.

 

[Phil_UK]

I see i see! Magic Arm and Superclamp from CoolLcd, righty? Very nice arm indeed!

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

update!!

ok yesterday and today i worked on mounting the second gear as well as a couple motor mounts,

Because of the super tight tolerances of the 203t 48 pitch gear, it makes it very very hard to nail down perfect measurements. Most parts need to be adjustable instead of just bolted together. if im off center by a millimeter, the motor will come off the gear... but i think i did pretty well.

I made a long video instead of pictures to show you guys what ive done and a general recap... enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQqTSjWYZKQ

 

[Rick Burnett]

Can't wait to see used on a vehicle! Excellent job!!

 

[Paul F]

Good progress Jeremy. I'm really interested in the truck arm. It will be very interesting to see how much work it will be to set the spring rate. I'm planning on doing a stabilizer sometime in the future and that, to me, is the trickiest part. It could be as simple as adding/reducing weight until it behaves the way you want, plus whatever adjustment there is on the spring itself. Stabilizers put an adjustment screw on the spring to set the tension.

By the way, I've been having good success using my battery operated drill on the high-torque setting to run taps into aluminum. Some light oil or WD40 and I take it slow and back it out completely and wipe off the chips every so often. It is nerve racking the first time or two (afraid to drive it too fast or hard). But after a while, you find out it goes quite well.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

k update, il post more pics later. i spent a solid 10 hours on it the past couple days.

yea it was bloody complicated...

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

kk a few more pics of the suspension head

another motor mount

ive got about 7.5 inches of travel on the head, plenty to take out any harsh bumps - and the rig is super smooth.

 

[Rick Burnett]

Can't wait to see some video!

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

kk update

waiting for parts officially sucks.

the suspension head is very very cool. when this rig is in the back of a truck, it will help quite a bit. ---- downside: i now need around 70lbs of counter weight - its a bloody ton of weight on the rig

since i am waiting on another speed controller, i can only use one of the axis at a time. But ive tested both the pan and tilt while moving the crane around and its very impressive how smooth it is. I wont lie ive surprised myself how well its working. Its guna be great to have both axis working at once.

its like 99% done, im just waiting on a new motor and speed controller. - i need to modify the main bearing assembly to remove some wobble. Tighten up the jib head, and add a permanent solution to mount the battery and electronics.

The lcd works great for a monitoring solution and with enough slack in the hdmi cable, i have no problem spinning the head around 720 degrees.

one thing is for sure, i wasnt anticipating the rig weighing over 150lbs. Im very happy i built that tripod like a tank. there is zero movement from the tripod :yippie:

 

[Derrick_SA]

very cool!

- Derrick

 

[stip]

Impressive, Jeremy!
The LCD hood needs an update
Will you paint it?

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

Impressive, Jeremy!
The LCD hood needs an update
Will you paint it?

heh, yea that was definitly last min add on. Should have the final parts next week - i expect to do some trimming of some excess aluminum, then its guna get welded - then i cant decide if powdercoated or rattle-canned.

 

[asm]

cool and creative. thank for sharing

 

[marian1202]

.... you shoot something?? great, great job !!!!!