Texanite's Acrylic Skater Dolly

[Texanite]

Yeah, sek is right. These are really intended for tabletop rotational use where you can do a rotation around an object and even keep an object perfectly centered in the frame without any panning of the head. The wheels can be locked down in any position, so you can do it in a straight alignment as well and I have a link to my vimeo video in the other thread, I think which shows the dolly going straight as well as around a glass. People have also made platforms that fit onto light stands which hold the dolly up in the air so you get more of a person-height dolly move.

You're right about the time and complexity though. it would be much simpler to make these without any moving parts.

 

[Huy Vu]

So will you be selling this one to get to the next version ?

 

[Texanite]

So will you be selling this one to get to the next version ?

Could beeeee.... PM sent

It's taking me months between any kind of changes but the tweaking seems endless as one new 'fix' brings along new challenges. So yeah, anybody who might be interested in the future should send me a PM. You never know when I might have another extra one.

Thanks

 

[Daniel Schaumberger]

I also finished my diy skater (from Bill Hawkins plans) but I can't use the rotation calculator (excel file from the original skater mini) because the design is a little bit off compared to the original skater mini from p+s.

Does somone know how to edit the values in the excel file to make it fit on a custom design? I searched the whole excel file but I don't understand how the formula for the wheel positions work.

http://www.pstechnik.de/downloads/SKATER_RotatCalc1-0_excel.zip

thanks
Daniel

 

[Daniel Schaumberger]

Custom Rotation Calculator Dolly skater ( for Bill Hawkins's design )

Custom Rotation Calculator Dolly skater ( for Bill Hawkins's design )

Finally I did it myself and after a couple of hours I succeeded to change that formula. Now the custom calculator is giving me the correct values (matched for Bill Hawkins's design).

I've attached the zip file here for others with the same problem. The calculator can now be simply modified by putting your own values into the formula.

Using correct values is essential for the skater to work properly. If you guess the values than the skater will slip and you won't be able to do repeatable moves/curves.

Also checkout the pics of my diy skater.

thanks
Daniel

 

[photonashville]

Daniel,

Superb. A couple questions:

Did you CNC cut the wood?
What material for the wheel blocks, Delrin plastic?
Specific links to the laser you are using?

I built a wood skater last year and it's worked out well. http://tinyurl.com/ylg88mv

You've taken it to a new level. Great craftsmanship you have there.

John

 

[Daniel Schaumberger]

Hi John,

yes it's all done on a cnc mill - no laser.
The wheel blocks are delrin (allows smooth rotation in the wood chamber).

Thanks but your dolly looks also very good.

best regards
Daniel

 

[photonashville]

Daniel,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry if I wasn't clear, I see you are using a laser for setting the wheel blocks. Where did you find the small laser? I see many on Amazon.com but most have terrible ratings.

I appreciate it.

John

 

[dcetrtic]

Great job! Is it posible to get a drawing? I would like to make one by myself. Regards

 

[Daniel Schaumberger]

Sorry but I didn't saved all of my drawings when building my skater.

Here is also a simple (but very clever) design that works almost the same: http://vimeo.com/10516250
It's much easier to produce it.

Daniel

 

[schpeedy]

Hello, i have finished my Dolly and now i want to write a little iPhone app
for the wheel calculation. If you are interestet, let me know.

Peace Stephan

 

[ming300]

thank you very much