My Custom Built Camera Crane

[DeterminedFilmmaker]

It looks great. The arm is looks really strong. Look's solid and safe, good job rogar-BigGrin(DBG)

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

Hi fellas sorry to bring this back from the dead. Im happy to say the crane has seen alot of action! lots of friends borrowing it for shoots and projects. I have been working so so much lately i have not had a chance to work on it at all.

Just a taste of it in action - shots 1-2-5-6 and 7 were done with the crane! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92G8_0Z7aKY

Plans still to come include:

trimming excess aluminum
painting
cable load setup

But most importantly, a redo of the electronics that control the remote head. Throughout the jobs that the crane has been on, the remote head has been the most troublesome. from the speed controllers not working well, to the batteries im using. its just not a well sorted system.

fortunately i have 10 days off for Christmas coming up and i am looking to do an overhaul. Earlier in the thread Paul F mentioned using these speed controllers - http://www.pololu.com/catalog/category/95 - the jrk series for better control of the unit. - my goals are such:

- to remove the wireless system. it is unneeded battery weight on the end of the crane and too unreliable
- switch entirely to a 12v system
- build a custom electronics box with a joystick built in
- improve on the speed controllers
- have a closed loop system that is easy to learn and hard to break (unlike my current setup)
- one switch on and off

With these improvements, i would feel far far more comfortable renting the crane out on jobs and such.

My first question is regarding battery voltage and amperage. I would like to use a 12v 4800mAh battery to control the motors. comes in a nice case with a simple on off button. do i need to worry about operating amperage with a unit like this? http://www.ebay.ca/itm/12V-DC-Recha...641?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5d27e471

secondly i will need 2 of the jrk speed controllers. But i am at a loss as to which of the three i need to pick up? what is the differences between them.


So im bringing it back from the dead.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

nother update

speed controllers shipped, oh goody

I nearly completed an upgrade to the crane today

essencially it allows the 2 sets of arms to stay attached together and just extend without needing 2 people.

A small upgrade but it took bloody forever

making the ball bearing mounts

testing

Ran into town for some parts and managed to come back with a new toolbox :stupid:

this little do dad x 12......

gettin there

all done

the most time consuming part was running the 24 taps into the rails so i could attach the bearing mounts. - hate running taps by hand....

 

[Jordan Scott Price]

My first question is regarding battery voltage and amperage. I would like to use a 12v 4800mAh battery to control the motors. comes in a nice case with a simple on off button. do i need to worry about operating amperage with a unit like this? http://www.ebay.ca/itm/12V-DC-Recha...641?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5d27e471

I know nothing of which of the controllers you need or how to use them, but if they require at least 3 amps to work properly, that eBay battery may not work - I wouldn't know for sure, as I haven't used it myself. You may want to try to contact the seller and ask for max amp output at 12V (it actually should be on the sticker on the AC adapter wall wart).

You may want to check out bixnet.com. They are a small company based in California that specializes in portable, compact batteries for laptops and for charging phones, but I've bought some of their products before to use on a camera rig, and am buying another battery soon to power a field monitor. Their customer service is fantastic, and they will help you find the right battery for your needs. Some of their bigger models output 4-6A DC, too.

You could also look into the Tekkeon batteries. Just Google that or look them up on B&H. I know the 3450 models output 4A DC.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

I know nothing of which of the controllers you need or how to use them, but if they require at least 3 amps to work properly, that eBay battery may not work - I wouldn't know for sure, as I haven't used it myself. You may want to try to contact the seller and ask for max amp output at 12V (it actually should be on the sticker on the AC adapter wall wart).

You may want to check out bixnet.com. They are a small company based in California that specializes in portable, compact batteries for laptops and for charging phones, but I've bought some of their products before to use on a camera rig, and am buying another battery soon to power a field monitor. Their customer service is fantastic, and they will help you find the right battery for your needs. Some of their bigger models output 4-6A DC, too.

You could also look into the Tekkeon batteries. Just Google that or look them up on B&H. I know the 3450 models output 4A DC.

It turns out that little ebay battery outputs 4 amps! - It works absolutely perfectly with the new controllers as my following update shows


Ok a good update

Im VERY happy with my new controllers. Changing directions on the motors is now instant instead of the 2 sec delay with the old ones. The system is now fully 12v running off of one 12v 4amp battery instead of two 7.2v batteries before. This is giving me the full speed on my motors - another big improvement.

The controllers are fully customizable via usb and a config program on the computer. everything from acceleration rate to recording moves is possible. I set them up to run with my RC receiver with the wireless joystick.

So First thing to do was rig up all the units in order for testing and configuration

Here is a video showing them in action
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151127061690455&set=vb.563420454&type=2&theater

Next was to bundle them all up in a small package

The reason the cable exits the box then comes back in is so when the unit needs charging, unplug the controllers and plug in the charger! nice and simple - the 4 prong connector is what connects the 2 motors.

I will be Redoing the electronics box cause this looks hack but for now its functional

I have a video of the pan/tilt head with the new controllers but having trouble uploading, will try again tomorrow. gnight!

 

[Braedon]

That.Is.Amazing.
How much was the total cost of the project?

 

[Paul F]

Sorry I missed your posts. That is the same battery I'm using for my jib. Glad to see you figured out how to use the controllers. They are pretty simple once you figure it out.

The only thing I am dissatisfied with using this setup is that the range of speed is limited. It doesn't matter what combination of motor and gears used, I am not able to get the range of speeds I would like. Switching motors for different needs is not that practical.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

That.Is.Amazing.
How much was the total cost of the project?

thanks!

well the project definitely isnt finished. but considering all in all, controllers im not using anymore, wasted batteries, wrecked parts, trial and error - i think im around $900.

Im considering remaking everything in a second prototype this summer, possibly looking to make a production version - but il tell u it will look nothing like this one. hehe.

Sorry I missed your posts. That is the same battery I'm using for my jib. Glad to see you figured out how to use the controllers. They are pretty simple once you figure it out.

The only thing I am dissatisfied with using this setup is that the range of speed is limited. It doesn't matter what combination of motor and gears used, I am not able to get the range of speeds I would like. Switching motors for different needs is not that practical.

Yea i have to agree with you the range of speed is very limited. i think im around (head jib revolutions per minute) 0.5 - about 15

My next move is finding some quieter and smoother motors. ive got the electronics perfect, once i source out the motors and rebuild the head unit smaller,lighter and more efficient i should have a unit worth selling in the $1200 range i think. we will see

 

[Paul F]

By the way, it is not the controller that is limiting the range. It is the motors. They don't start moving until they get about a 15-20% pulse width. So the low end is lost. I've done a lot of research on this and gotten nowhere. Fujinon and Canon have figured out how to do it. Their lenses can zoom so slow you can hardly see it, yet that can zoom the full range very quickly.

Quiet quality motors are expensive. The Maxon motors seem to be the prefered motor for some professional heads; over $300.

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

my next step is upgrading the motors. im going to be contacting maxon motors very soon to see what they have to say.

 

[cholson]

wow, this looks like a pretty serious setup... thanks for sharing

 

[spoz]

bumping this thread because i'm planning to make a jib myself.

I think almost all your pictures are dead, can you repost it please?

 

[Jeremy_Sawatzky]

Yea thats what i get for using facebook as a photo server. I cant spend the time right now, maybe later in the week.