Camera mounts

[JiriK]

Hi,

I´v built some camera mounts..
This one (or it´s new version) fits Trex450 and TT MiniTitan e325
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Project/Trex/Kamerakehikko/KK1.JPG
More photos: http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Project/Trex/Kamerakehikko/

And this one is for Hurricane EP550 / HDX500 / Hirobo Lepton
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Project/Hurricane550CP/V1-1.jpg
More photos: http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Project/Hurricane550CP/

This big version can be equipped with remote up/down (well, mostly down) adjustment and trigger..
I made that big version for some swedish guys who saw that smaller one and wanted a bigger version for a Hurricane helicopter

Comments?
pm if interested.

[trireme]

what are you using to fabricate the components?

[crewchief]

Hi JiriK,

A couple of obvious questions:

1. Isn't the skid cross brace in the front (T-Rex 450 pic) right in the way of a normal downward view angle? Wouldn't it be just as easy to position it behind the camera?

2. How do you compensate for the normal tilt required to overcome translating tendency in a hover? Otherwise all your pictures are going to be seriously crooked.

[bullaculla]

A lot of the pro style mounts have a little movement in the gimbal to compensate for slight tilt, but you almost always have to do a free transform in PS. Especially with a 450. My 600 is all over the place! :rolling
Take a look at Askmans website, lots of good products, and info, especially for the 450. Also a few nice pics of a familair bird :o

:edit:
Sorry JiriK, I didn't realize you made the mounts. I wasn't trying to take any business away from you or anything. Looks like a good lightweight mount, but without some kinda of dampening or being hung from bungee, you are going to have some vibe problems.

[JiriK]

Hi JiriK,

A couple of obvious questions:

1. Isn't the skid cross brace in the front (T-Rex 450 pic) right in the way of a normal downward view angle? Wouldn't it be just as easy to position it behind the camera?

2. How do you compensate for the normal tilt required to overcome translating tendency in a hover? Otherwise all your pictures are going to be seriously crooked.

1. That cross brace can be freely moved where ever needed.
It´s a separate part and only connected to landing skid pipes.

2. Didn´t think aboat that when I made that first version.
Well, I was just a beginner back then so didn´t know much aboat helicopters,
except that they brake easily.. :( Well.. Back to drawing board :)

I found a small video I shot a bit over a year ago:
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Project/Trex/Kamerakehikko/KK110706.avi
(Just a beginner pilot then.. Now I do it inverted.)

-----------

trireme: I have a small CNC-mill: http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Project/cnc/

[JiriK]

A lot of the pro style mounts have a little movement in the gimbal to compensate for slight tilt, but you almost always have to do a free transform in PS. Especially with a 450. My 600 is all over the place! :rolling
Take a look at Askmans website, lots of good products, and info, especially for the 450. Also a few nice pics of a familair bird :o

:edit:
Sorry JiriK, I didn't realize you made the mounts. I wasn't trying to take any business away from you or anything. Looks like a good lightweight mount, but without some kinda of dampening or being hung from bungee, you are going to have some vibe problems.

Yes, they´r DIY.

I made those clear side plate thin so they could act as a dampener between camera and rest of the parts.
But I´ll have to redesign that camera mount anyways, to allow camera to stay level while helicopter is tilted.

[trireme]

trireme: I have a small CNC-mill: http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Project/cnc/


Nice.... what does one of those cost??? I really need to step up to that. You might take a look at the camera mount I built, I imitated Big Dipper. I hang it from the top so I can set it to automatically level. But building peices without CNC is a pain. Anyone know where to get one of those things used??

[JiriK]

Nice.... what does one of those cost??? I really need to step up to that. You might take a look at the camera mount I built, I imitated Big Dipper. I hang it from the top so I can set it to automatically level. But building peices without CNC is a pain. Anyone know where to get one of those things used??

That mill is DIY.. Bought parts from ebay, junkyard, other hobbyist etc. Parts cost maybe 500€

I´m currently designing a gimbal system for that Trex450/MiniTitan mount.
I make parts maybe tomorrow.. We´ll see if it works.

[trireme]

DIY, nice. Great job. I will look into that. Pretty useful machine. Can you only do plastics? Or can you do metal? Is it 2D only? or also 3d?

Look forward to seeing your gimbal. Make sure you make the swing point adjustable to you can adjust for the CG of the camera.

[JiriK]

DIY, nice. Great job. I will look into that. Pretty useful machine. Can you only do plastics? Or can you do metal? Is it 2D only? or also 3d?

Look forward to seeing your gimbal. Make sure you make the swing point adjustable to you can adjust for the CG of the camera.

Yes, It´s useful machine :)
When I started building my cnc-mill, I didn´t have any plans on what to do with it.
But then I started this helicopter hobby...

I use mostly plastic materials (POM, clear PC etc) and glass fiber, but I´v made some aluminium parts also:
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/MPIIHeader/
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/MiniTitan325/Bmount.JPG
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Pixyzap/
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Forsale/RCkamat/TFCF.JPG
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Forsale/RCkamat/TFGF.JPG


2D or 3D.. Just matter of programming and control software. I use MACH3, but I´v had some problems with Windows so I may try EMC next.

CG adjustment is already planned.. I bought two LRP Shark shock absorbers (or whatever..) today.
I´ll use them too on this 450 camera mount project.

[trireme]

Did you use existing plans to design the mill? Any suggestions?

[JiriK]

Did you use existing plans to design the mill? Any suggestions?

No plans, I just used components I had or were inexpensive to buy.

If you´r going to build a cnc-mill, go to www.cnczone.com

[JiriK]

Prototype of the 450 size stand is ready..
Pictures: http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jikuuk/Images/Project/450CSt/

Still need to change a couple of things..

[crewchief]

Good job, very nice!

[trireme]

Looks pretty good, how well does it level out??

[JiriK]

Looks pretty good, how well does it level out??

I think it should move smoother than it currently does.. But I haven´t yet tried to fly with it.
I made machining files for lighter camera bracket (to replace that aluminium part..) today.
I´ll make parts tomorrow or Wednesday and maybe test it then.

[Tonystott]

How much does it weigh without the camera?

[JiriK]

How much does it weigh without the camera?

At it´s current state (the way it is in those pictures) it weights around 170g..
I estimate that it loses maybe 30g just by replacing that aluminum part with fiberglass construction.
We´ll see.

[crewchief]

JiriK,
As far as a dampener is concerned most people think it's necessary to use something sophisticated like RC car shocks, but actually it can be done much more simply. Since the heli is always moving, vibrating and shaking to a certain degree, you can use a simple pivot point with some means to adjust friction between two smooth surfaces, such as extruded aluminum or by using a warped washer. The main objective is simply to correct for hover tilt and to dampen out pendulum effects. The friction dampener may bind slightly when dry, but just the slightest touch of machine oil and voila - an inexpensive and reliable leveler.

[JiriK]

JiriK,
As far as a dampener is concerned most people think it's necessary to use something sophisticated like RC car shocks, but actually it can be done much more simply. Since the heli is always moving, vibrating and shaking to a certain degree, you can use a simple pivot point with some means to adjust friction between two smooth surfaces, such as extruded aluminum or by using a warped washer. The main objective is simply to correct for hover tilt and to dampen out pendulum effects. The friction dampener may bind slightly when dry, but just the slightest touch of machine oil and voila - an inexpensive and reliable leveler.

The pivot point is constructed so that making a spring loaded friction adjustment isn´t a problem.. I´ll try it sometime.

New parts for current design: Fiberglass camera bracket.
Camera stand lost approx. 30g, total weight without camera is now 136g.

[JiriK]

Two test flights today.. Still need to change a thing or two.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nR3nfy-VWsI
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_js56IBXNq0

[trireme]

lookin good. How do the stills look?

[JiriK]

Don´t know.. I have AR6200 rx installed on my MiniTitan. Only 6ch, and all are in use currently.
Also triggering that camera.. Do you know if there´s a way to trigger Canon digital Ixus 40 without a servo?

[Aaalie]

Home made front mount Logo 600...
http://www.vanuitdeluchtbekeken.nl/modelbouwforum/Logo%20frontmount.jpg

Kind regards, Aldert

[infinity005]

very nice guys.

Where do you get the parts to make this stuff?