EEVblog #493 - DIY Video Camera Dolly For Workbenches

[ddavidebor]

Dave search on goodluckbuy.com, there is tons of cam goodness in the electronic category

[Ed.Kloonk]

Put some grease on it already!

OMFG!

I just "listened" to this video. I say listened because the video was playing on the monitor behind me while I was soddering.

Takes on a whole different visual when Dave uses phrases such as "Velcro on the tripod shaft".

And at one point, when mentioning how easy it is to slide in and out, I was too frightened to turn around and look.

 

[madires]

Is mounting a camera dolly at the bench where you're working a good idea? I mean any vibration caused by working at the bench would hit the camera too, even more if it's mounted on a long arm.

[Radio Tech]

I like this.
I also noticed that it will always be a problem where it can be in the way sort of. Even the tripod gets bumped around some.  You said in the video that you cannot attach to the roof since it is just a lay in type structure.  A solution is conduit.  By using 2 vertical rigid conduit at either end on the bench with 2 pieces running horizontal to make a trolley system, this would keep it up and out of the way when not in use and out of the way when you are actually shooting.

[Telequipment]

Put some grease on it already!

OMFG!

I just "listened" to this video. I say listened because the video was playing on the monitor behind me while I was soddering.

Takes on a whole different visual when Dave uses phrases such as "Velcro on the tripod shaft".

And at one point, when mentioning how easy it is to slide in and out, I was too frightened to turn around and look.

 

I was soldering at the time and I agree sounded a bit to hot for me, may he's branching out.

[Ed.Kloonk]

Hey, at the risk of getting yelled at, why not do the videos wearing the gopro? Switch in and out between camera angles in post editing.

[Ed.Kloonk]

Put some grease on it already!

OMFG!

I just "listened" to this video. I say listened because the video was playing on the monitor behind me while I was soddering.

Takes on a whole different visual when Dave uses phrases such as "Velcro on the tripod shaft".

And at one point, when mentioning how easy it is to slide in and out, I was too frightened to turn around and look.

 

I was soldering at the time and I agree sounded a bit to hot for me, may he's branching out.

He's a good lookin' guy. When this electronics caper fizzes out there's still one way to make some dough on the internet. 

[Things]

Hey Dave - one idea I used for a laser cutter where I needed an adjustable lens, was to get a couple more of those linear ball bearings you have (But maybe the closed ones), and some tubing the right diameter. That way you can easily slide the tripod legs up and down, and use a simple screw to clamp the rod to stop it falling down.

[jazz]

Hey Dave, I probably would have tried to put it overhead as well, just to have it completely out of the way. The ceiling apparently can't be used, but what about mounting something on the wall above the shelves? One of those sat dish wall mounts (mounted upside down) might work quite well for that. They're available in different lengths, and the ones out of aluminium aren't all too heavy.
Then attach some kind of camera arm to it, or just use the tripod upside down. You could even put your rails onto the wall then, and be able to slide the whole thing left and right without anything being in the way.

BTW, that whole thing basically screams for a spindle and a stepper motor (and some electronics) to turn it into some kind of CNC camera dolly

[John Coloccia]

Why don't you just hire Francis Ford Coppola to shoot it?  I think it would also bring a certain feel to the blog that's been missing.

"My Tekway!!  Look what they did to my Tekway....all full of jitter.  I didn't know until this day it was Rigol all along.  Hey, leave the Weller...take the Vegemite."

Hmmm....yeah, maybe not.

[jahonen]

I thought some time ago that an industrial robot might make a nice and sturdy camera stand over a bench, plus that it could make nice camera pans along programmed path in automated fashion



Regards,
Janne

[Winston]

You might benefit from combining your idea with this, using a four bearing sled with two drawer slides under your bench, perhaps giving the drawer slides much better stability by mounting them as they are intended to operate on the sides of something configured like an upside down drawer upon which the articulating lamp/magnifier is mounted.  Might be getting to be too heavy of a load for those upside down operated linear bearings, though:

YouTube DIY (Bench) Camera Boom



YouTube DIY (Bench) Camera Boom - Part 2

[Dongulus]

Some strong neodymium magnets could work. If you apoxy a group of magnets to the right angle bracket on the dolly then you could fix some more groups of magnets along the tripod leg at various locations to achieve the desired heights. This way you could easily snap on and off the tripod to different lengths quickly.

[victor]

You might benefit from combining your idea with this, using a four bearing sled with two drawer slides under your bench, perhaps giving the drawer slides much better stability by mounting them as they are intended to operate on the sides of something configured like an upside down drawer upon which the articulating lamp/magnifier is mounted.  Might be getting to be too heavy of a load for those upside down operated linear bearings, though:

YouTube DIY (Bench) Camera Boom



YouTube DIY (Bench) Camera Boom - Part 2

I was going to suggest something similar, some kind of arm or crane jib. I suspect that mounting it on the table would certainly pick any vibrations.

maybe would be easier to mount it on top of a tripod.

http://www.amazon.com/Dino-Lite-MS52B-Articulating-Stand-C-Clamp/dp/B006YCW434/ref=pd_sim_sbs_p_18

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Photo-Studio-Light-Kit-Boom-Arm-Stand-Tripod-no-bulb-/250692239924

[lilshawn]

C'mon man, we are engineers! We don't buy things, WE BUILD THEM. (and make it damned complicated too)

[warp_foo]

Since everyone is submitting their ideas, I'll submit mine:



Near infinite adjustability and coolness points. 

m

[mickpah]

Anyone know a source for these flexible monitor arms in Oz?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/202684-REG/Delvcam_DELV_FLEX_Delv_Flex_Flex_Arm_and.html

Hi Dave,
think this is what you are looking for  http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod9328.htm , Australian store used them about 2 years ago before seemed ok

[EEVblog]

You might benefit from combining your idea with this, using a four bearing sled with two drawer slides under your bench, perhaps giving the drawer slides much better stability by mounting them as they are intended to operate on the sides of something configured like an upside down drawer upon which the articulating lamp/magnifier is mounted.  Might be getting to be too heavy of a load for those upside down operated linear bearings, though:

Yes, I have though about something like that. I even have an articulating magnifying arm I can try.
But as Martin found out, getting a square shot is important.
And a big artciulating arm like that looks messy on the bench, that's why I wanted to try an under bench solution first and see what it was like.

[elektronicks]

guys, one question:

next to the very inteligent sollution found byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy DAVEEEEEEEEEE (and many neanderthal men), there is a +10k  3d microscope whatever that is and next to it an agilent +10k also .. so now..

what is this rant about:

a. dave building a dolly system (showing us nothing is impossible if you do it with your own two hands) ?    

b. dave performing on a stage (like the actors do) guiding audience towards expresing ideeas which then benefit somebody not defined, so he reports his chiefs on "building confidence", "beeing an enthusiastic leader". (founded by the industry of course)

c. dave performing on a stage (actors too) but not getting the ideas from others. instead they meassure active-ness, creativity so that the industry knows the resources to build upon looking at the graphs per topic / subject

i know i'll get heat from everybody. i can't care less. truth is still the truth even in minority of one.

 

[EEVblog]

guys, one question:
next to the very inteligent sollution found byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy DAVEEEEEEEEEE (and many neanderthal men), there is a +10k  3d microscope whatever that is and next to it an agilent +10k also .. so now..
what is this rant about:
a. dave building a dolly system (showing us nothing is impossible if you do it with your own two hands) ?    
b. dave performing on a stage (like the actors do) guiding audience towards expresing ideeas which then benefit somebody not defined, so he reports his chiefs on "building confidence", "beeing an enthusiastic leader". (founded by the industry of course)
c. dave performing on a stage (actors too) but not getting the ideas from others. instead they meassure active-ness, creativity so that the industry knows the resources to build upon looking at the graphs per topic / subject
i know i'll get heat from everybody. i can't care less. truth is still the truth even in minority of one.

Did anyone understand a word he just said? 

[SeanB]

Overhead slide with a drop down camera dolly will probably work out best, you can put it up high enough that it does not come into shot easily, and then it will be easy to work with as well for both seeing the viewfinder and working on the bench under it as well.

[FrankT]

My 2 cents...

I would have chosen square linear rails as they bear the load better in both directions.  In your application, you could probably get away with one rail as long as the load isn't too great. 

The second hand square rails I have aren't very noisy, but the are name-brand parts.  Another quiet option is to use v-groove rails which can be used with plastic wheels.

As for mounting, I think having it up and out of the way is more convenient.  I would have tried to mount them underneath the top shelf, then use an articulated arm to hold the camera above the bench.

[Telequipment]

guys, one question:
next to the very inteligent sollution found byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy DAVEEEEEEEEEE (and many neanderthal men), there is a +10k  3d microscope whatever that is and next to it an agilent +10k also .. so now..
what is this rant about:
a. dave building a dolly system (showing us nothing is impossible if you do it with your own two hands) ?    
b. dave performing on a stage (like the actors do) guiding audience towards expresing ideeas which then benefit somebody not defined, so he reports his chiefs on "building confidence", "beeing an enthusiastic leader". (founded by the industry of course)
c. dave performing on a stage (actors too) but not getting the ideas from others. instead they meassure active-ness, creativity so that the industry knows the resources to build upon looking at the graphs per topic / subject
i know i'll get heat from everybody. i can't care less. truth is still the truth even in minority of one.

Did anyone understand a word he just said? 

NO, but I've always been confused

[Stonent]

The easiest mount I could see would just be to use some spring clamps.

Use the Velcro to set the height and clamp this over the leg to the L shaped metal.

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-12-nylon-spring-clamp-69290.html

[mickpah]

the meccano set like features of this appeals to me