EEVblog #493 - DIY Video Camera Dolly For Workbenches

[EEVblog]

Dave makes a DIY camera dolly system that mounts under his work bench.
It's not complete yet, it possibly needs a 2nd rail platform and better tripod mount, but otherwise works fairly well.

[Monkeh]

Put some grease on it already!

Try mounting the tripod using pipe clamps. You can probably 3D print some spacers to suit the different size tubes!

When you put a second rail on, mount the drawer runners the way they're meant to be used, and it'll be smoother and more stable, also far less likely to be broken accidentally.

[DrGeoff]

A jib crane with a counterweight might have been a little easier to build.

[EEVblog]

Put some grease on it already!
Try mounting the tripod using pipe clamps. You can probably 3D print some spacers to suit the different size tubes!
When you put a second rail on, mount the drawer runners the way they're meant to be used, and it'll be smoother and more stable, also far less likely to be broken accidentally.

Yes, yes, and yes.
I need some suitable angled aluminium and some suitable spacers first.

[EEVblog]

A jib crane with a counterweight might have been a little easier to build.

Where is it going to mount?

[marinedalek]

Yeah, an extra pair of bearings would make sense, then you attach a plate (wood, aluminium?) across the front of the two black angle pieces to eliminate the side-to-side wobble. As for holding the tripod, how about a pair of something like this? http://www.xump.com/science/Burette-Clamp-Single-Coated-Jaws.cfm
The screw thread on the rear of the jaws looks like it has potential for mounting through the centre of the plate between the angle irons.

EDIT: Something like this:

[Hewball]

Maybe this will give you more idea's
http://openbuildspartstore.com/v-slot/

[Postal666]

You'd have to hack up your tripod (maybe find an el-cheapo one), but if you reverse the way the leg is mounted, i.e. largest tube mounted to the angle bracket and the "foot" attached at the top, it would solve your up-down telescoping problem.   

[DrGeoff]

A jib crane with a counterweight might have been a little easier to build.

Where is it going to mount?

On the tripod.

Something like this, with the camera plate able to be mounted in vertical and horizontal positions.


Made one recently with a few lengths of steel tubing (mop handles I think) and a couple of weights from the local sports store. Less that $20 in materials.

[Short Circuit]

A monopod like this might make things a lot easier

http://www.officesupplies-b2b.com/b2b/shredders_and_cutters/2/tabletop_monopod_94.html

[Nextor]

I would at least try to use these.



I would even try to get the battery out of the camera and use external power supply to reduce the wobble.

Another great project for the future ?

[free_electron]

mount the rail on the ceiling. have a stepper motor to roll it along the desk.
have a worm drive telescope arm that can lower / raise camera ..

now that would be fun.

[Monkeh]

mount the rail on the ceiling. have a stepper motor to roll it along the desk.
have a worm drive telescope arm that can lower / raise camera ..

now that would be fun.

The ceiling moves.

[David_AVD]

mount the rail on the ceiling. have a stepper motor to roll it along the desk.
have a worm drive telescope arm that can lower / raise camera ..

now that would be fun.

The ceiling moves.

That can be solved (horizontal rail on vertical pipes poking through the ceiling tiles in a couple of places and affixed to the slab above.  A lot more work of course.

[Monkeh]

mount the rail on the ceiling. have a stepper motor to roll it along the desk.
have a worm drive telescope arm that can lower / raise camera ..

now that would be fun.

The ceiling moves.

That can be solved (horizontal rail on vertical pipes poking through the ceiling tiles in a couple of places and affixed to the slab above.  A lot more work of course.

An excellent way to piss off the neighbours upstairs, too.

[David_AVD]

The ceiling moves.

That can be solved (horizontal rail on vertical pipes poking through the ceiling tiles in a couple of places and affixed to the slab above.  A lot more work of course.

An excellent way to piss off the neighbours upstairs, too.

Do the construction at night - they'll never know!  lol

I'm sure the transmitted noise of the camera rig running along the rail will be muffled by the corporate type upstairs going about their work taking over the world.   

[Yaksaredabomb]

I put this in the video comments but the forum topic is probably a better place:

Maybe a 3/4" or 1" diameter PVC or metal pipe could be attached to the angle bracket you’ve made.  Then, the tripod leg could slip in and out of the pipe very easily and quickly, like a cup in a cup holder.  Of course you’ll need a strap across the bottom hole of the pipe or another method to cap it.  If the pipe is long enough and snug enough, wobble should be minimal.

Seems like a pretty good way to do it, at least based on what you've already built.  Cheap, easy, convenient.  The biggest concern is probably wobble, but if it's too bad you could use a set screw (or equivalent alternative) to "lock" the tripod leg in place in the tube.

[gardner]

The drawer slides are strong and reasonably rigid, but they have no torsional rigidity, and are a bit bendy on the thin axis.  To get enough torsional rigidity you will need two running in parallel.  If you go to the local DIY to the section where they keep the aluminium extrusions for windows and shower doors and such, you should find a 5x5cm U-channel that would be suitable for mounting a drawer slide on each side of.  You could then mount them vertically, as they are a good bit more rigid in that direction.

[mswhin63]

Hi Dave,

I have used these conduit clamps for a couple of project, really cheap at Bunnings. Take the tripod down and see if they fit.

http://martybugs.net/wireless/images/collinear_conduit_clamps.jpg

It may be difficult for 3 sizes but maybe something similar.

[SeanB]

2 vertical rails to get it out of shot height above the bench then you can do a drop down tripod to the bench. The ends will just screw to the desk, and can be out of the way, using some aluminium square tubing to make the frame to hold the rails above so that the dolly runs smooth. Look to what Todd Harrison did in his garage, just a little smaller. His is quite smooth, and was made very cheaply.

[einstein]

It might be better to use plain bearings, they don't make so much noise!

[Simon Weel]

One of these telephone swing arms mounted on the back or wall of the bench would be much easier? The space in front of you will be completely free, in contrary to the stuff you made up so far...


Simon

[EEVblog]

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

[Telequipment]

Well at least your not tearing down another bloody multimeter

[Telequipment]

Do we need to club together and buy you a directors chair now "Action"