New eTitan/Raptor 360 degree Askman PanCam Mount

[GGoodrum]

Here are the first shots of the new larger PanCam mount, shown here with the lower frames from the eTitan conversion kit:


http://www.tppacks.com/photos/eTitan-PanCam-01.jpg

http://www.tppacks.com/photos/eTitan-PanCam-02.jpg

http://www.tppacks.com/photos/eTitan-PanCam-03.jpg


As you can see, the combo is a nice "fit". :) The bottom plate on the eTitan frames is pre-configured to use with the PanCam mount. To fit this mount on a regular Raptor, you will need an additional support plate attached to the frames.

This is one solid design. The tolerances on everything are perfect. The main base, the legs and camera frame/gimble come as separate assemblies, but go together quickly.

I will post some more pictures later, after I marry this up with the rest of the eTitan. I am using a Z50A-600, a 12T pinion (with the included 95T main gear...) and two 10-cell a123-M1 packs in a 10s2p configuration. Originally I was going to use the Z50A-800 but decided to go with the -600 instead, mainly because the lower rpm will induce less vibrations, I think, and everything should run nice and cool. This is an extremely efficient motor. Even in a 3D configuration, pulling 4000W with 15s a123 and 12s LiPo setups, it wouldn't get any hotter than 134F, and that was with ambients above 90F. In this configuration, it won't get too much above body temperature. :)

I'm hoping to get this up and running by tomorrow. I plan on doing some test panos with a Sony a100 and an 11-18mm lens.

-- Gary

[dreslism]

Hmmm. From what I can see, this thing mount mounts directly to the frame of the raptor?

I was afraid of that because other askman mounts are like that.

On a 50 size heli, this makes it VERY hard to travel with it, or even put it in your car and drive around with it, as the heli is now sitting much higher than normal. I was hoping/expecting that you could take your raptor and just sit it on top of this new mount and bungy it on or something.

The pan looks gear driven. I though askman said it was going to be belt driven for the 50 size 360 mount?

I can't quite tell from the picts of the camera mount, but is there a way to mount the camera in portrait mode? Is that what the slots are for on the sides of the camera mount?

Does it come with the pan and tilt servos?

If so, what servos are they?

Thanks,

[askman]

I have the belt pulleys, but they sent me the wrong belt. the pan pulley will definitely be belt driven in the final version. I am waiting on the new belt, and they will be sent to testers when I receive it. ,

I may be able do a zip tie adapter plate for LG/AP.. let me look at it. :)

the pan/tilt, I am using hitec robot servo. it is factory continous. there is slip clutch that should protect the servo. I use it for pan and tilt.

the new structure is much stronger. the smaller setup will also have same contruction with thinner material.

I think I figured out a zip tie system for those who want it. stock LG will also have to be zip tied though when it is swapped out.

[AZ ChopperCam]

I'm in for this! Can't wait til they are available! I'm doing more and more stills and less video and am going to convert one of my Raptors to stills only and this is just what the doctor ordered.... would be the perfect mount for my new Canon A640!

Nice job Andrey.

[dreslism]

Thanks for the update askman. Maybe it's not as bad as I think (i.e. it won't sit as high as I think since the stock lg will be gone. I'm just picturing how high mine sits now with my bungied on mount.

Another guy somewhat close to me in Michigan is getting one of your first raptor mounts from Gary, so I will hook up with him so I can see it first hand before I buy one.

Thanks again for the update. I'm very excited about this mount!

[rerazor]

Yea "another guy". :D :D :D :D :D

The stock landing gear is 3" tall.

[askman]

it sits 9" off or so with pool noodle on the bottom. plus you have 16x15 base. One thing about this design is that you need to secure the top so that it does not turn while travelling. may need to design in some kind of travel lock. :)

[GGoodrum]

Without using the eTitan frames, this would sit a bit higher even, as it needs a plate that would attach to the bottom of the standard Raptor frames.

As soon as I get the right belt, I'll swap out the gears for the belt drive, allthough they are more than up for the job, I think.

-- Gary

[cainebean]

Looks nice as usual! I totally agree with Scott about wanting something I can strap on and off easily. I suggested a bungie type setup but I guess that wouldn't be the best for panos. Might have entirely too much tilt.


What are the holes on the bottom for? Put a pair of skid through? If so, I really like that idea!

Caine

[rerazor]

My mount arrive today (sunday :?: ). Very cool design. I can see the need for a removable mount but I won't really need it. It will fit in the back seat of a car or the back of a SUV no problem.

I guess you could always us some type of a quick connect (i.e. wing nut, pin w/clip etc...). Once I get it altogether and have "both legs" (:glasses2:) I'll get a better idea.

Wife is gone for the day so i will be building and watching football etc.... Good Times!!!

[MLaBoyteaux]

I've found I realy like having my Raptor permanently mounted to the mount. I can lift up the back seat in my truck, and travel with it rigged and ready. Pull up on site, unfold the blades and I'm in the air in a minute. Fold the blades up and put it back in the truck. Much simpler than having to rig up one of the gassers.

I can see where it'd be a problem if you're driving a Mini :D

I've also found on my raptor with the underslung design, it has a tendancy to want to tip backwards. On the Raptor, with the CG under the main shaft, the majority of the skids are forward of this point. Once you fold the blades back with it on a mount, it will tip backwards. I've put CF tubes on mine for skids, with them extending to the rear by several inches to keep it from tipping backwards and setting down on the tail. I once installed a brand new set of CF tail blades, to save time setting up the pitch curves, I was setting down and leaving the heli spooled up while I tweaked the curves. It was windy. I was studying the radio while the heli sat nose into the wind. I heard a buzzing noise and looked up to find my heli with it's tail in the dirt. $30 tail blades lasted one flight. :oops:

I'm now running the cheapo plastic $7.95 specials. And longer skids.

[askman]

the hole is for the skid tube and pool noodle. I am a firm believer of pool noodle. :) the main axis is rotation should be right in line with the main shaft or very close to it. that is why it is so far back. I wanted it to be centered.

I do have an idea about a zip tie option. I will get it made up before the end of the year.

I did send off the other leg yesterday via express mail. should have it by tomorrow with any luck. sorry about that. I had(still do) bunch of orders go out, and messed up. I got another busy day today, and my website is still down. (1and1 is being slow setting up my website) I have it temporarily up on friend's site, but it DNS has not propagated out yet.

[rerazor]

No problem at all.

After rough mounting the new frame kit I think (95%) I can leave the motor in the stock location and also leave the 120 ccpm conversion as is and still get the correct CG. It might entail moving the ESC etc.. more forward but its not that far off with a 10s1p brick up front and one in back. This is all in mock up so real test results will begin this week.

Thanks

[GGoodrum]

The holes are for two carbon tubes that aren't yet installed in the pics. The pool noodles then go over these and really do give it a lot of stability.

I too like mind "ready-to-go" and I really don't think this is too much taller than my regular 3D Raptor setup. After I get this finished up, hopefully today (my wife is NOT out-of-town, so my time today is not my own...), I'll take some side-by-side pictures.

-- Gary

[rerazor]

15s a123 will CG no problem

[askman]

I am thinking of adding simple travel lock. simple hole that lines up between the top plate and the lower frame. it should be easy to secure that way using ziptie. it could be handy for travelling or if you want to shoot without pan.

[Nitrospazzz]

Instead of zip ties maybe a bolt with a hole in the end of it then one of these little pins to hold it in place

http://www.ssinserts.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/hood_pins_s.jpg couldn't think of the name, but the clip/pin in the picture

[rerazor]

All built up. Will mount the 360 mount tomorrow afternoon.

10s2p a123's.

[rerazor]

Did some more work on the mount. Should be ready for a test flight tomorrow then mount the rest of the mount electronics. Very clever and simple design. Everything is high quality and had no problems at all with installation etc....

Anxious to use my new HC3.

Really like the frame kit, nice to have a purpose built frame for battery's.

Thanks again Andrey and Gary.

Need to clean the basement now :arggg:

[rroback]

looks nice, but got a few thoughts. what esc is that? you might want to think of better organizing your wiring, keeping the high powered stuff as far away from the receiver antenna as possible. might also want to consider what could snag a servo wire, and how to bundle them, looks sweet though.

r

[dreslism]

Sweet! Man that HC3 looks so tiny in that mount. I did not realize it was that small. I want one of those real bad.

Hey I have a use for that HC3.

Take it out of the mount, fire up your new pan 360 and use your HC3 to video your heli spining around on the ground. :mrgreen:

Get that thing done man!!!

I have to come see it. SOON!

[rerazor]

The esc is a HV 85 with new shrink wrap (had to replace the clear stuff because the heatsink came loose :?: ). The current electronic placement is more or less to see if I could get the correct CG. I'll move everything around a few more times. I still have to mount the AP2000i when it arrives and that will just add more wires to play with.

I'll end up moving the 3s 2100 to the mount and just connect the UBEC to the esc wires. I like having a separate ubec/rx battery but will also need one for the rx/bec that will be needed on the mount for downlink and 2 servos. I'm setting it up for a two man operation.

Already thought about a 10 sec. HD video of the pan. :D

Still need to get a set of 620mm blades and mount the Titan boom/belt.

[rerazor]

Had some free time and some G10 thought I would try a skid mount.

Also added the belt (thanks Andrey). Seems to be much smoother and the belt will skip if a major load was put on it.

[Tonystott]

I love the way ideas become done-deals within moments here :D:D

[askman]

good job robert. the way I am planning on implementing it is by using 3 piece setup. I want to be able to move it back and forth for balance centering. belt drive is the way to go. too bad, I can't use it on the smaller pancam, as it has very little room.