-
Edelkrone Style DIY Motion Time Lapse Slider with Rotating Camera Axis on V-Slot Rails
As soon as I saw the OpenBuilds V-Slot system for the first time I thought ‘Camera Slider’ and a few minutes later I could see that not only was it pretty much ideal for motion capture rigs, but I would also be able to create a DIY slider that adopted Edelkrone’s approach whereby the rails slide on the tripod mount at the same time as the camera carriage slides on the rails.
I haven’t used it extensively yet, so I can’t testify to long term durability, but I’ve used it for both time lapse and video, for each of which it seems to perform pretty well. This DIY camera slider offers 778mm of camera movement from a unit that is 665mm long and weighs 2.4kg including the motor. Nowhere near as good as Edelkrone’s SliderPlus, but this is my first slider project, and I can already see where I can make improvements. To achieve 778mm of travel using a conventional slider would probably require a slider of around 980mm in length.
To add a little more interest to my shots I’ve also included a rotating camera axis also made from OpenBuilds V-Slot rails. Only a bench drill, chop saw and basic hand tools are necessary to build something like this. I’ve posted some photos here.
My first efforts at time lapse below, so plenty of scope for improvement!
Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Google Youtube” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Google Youtube” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
-
10 Replies
-
Wow, Andy! Great work on the slider and on the time-lapses. You’ve got some great scenery to work with there in the UK.
Your slider is like an Edelkrone/Kessler Parallax hybrid. Very impressive!
I just recently received an Edelkrone SliderPlus and now I’m waiting for the Action and Target modules to arrive.
Jason Jenkins
Flowmotion Media
Video production… with style!Check out my Mormon.org profile.
-
When I originally looked at the SliderPlus they didn’t have the time lapse unit, hence why I went down the OpenBuilds route. I ordered the V-slot, got side tracked and did nothing with it for a few weeks, then when I finally started work on the slider project, Edelkrone announced the time lapse unit just a few days later!
I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it once you’ve tested it out.
-
One thing the Edelkrone setup won’t do, is a vertical slide. The motor isn’t strong enough. Judging by your time-lapse samples, it looks like your slider will do vertical just fine.
Jason Jenkins
Flowmotion Media
Video production… with style!Check out my Mormon.org profile.
-
That’s interesting – I didn’t realise the SliderPlus wouldn’t lift vertically. The drawback with this design of slider is that the motor isn’t just lifting the camera, head and carriage, but also the entire weight of the rails and the motor itself, so it does require a fairly hefty motor. I’m using a DigiSlider slow motor which seems well suited to the job.
To be fair, the shots here were taken with the camera in descent. Although it can lift the camera, I think this may result in inconsistent movement steps. The weak point in my setup is probably my choice of belt; a 6mm Synchroflex. Plenty strong enough, but the teeth are a little on the small side, and the belt jumps if not correctly tensioned. I wish I’d used the 10mm belt and pulleys I have. My heaviest camera lifted with this slider is a D600 (hence the sensor spots – currently back at Nikon) with the 24-85 kit lens.
-
That’s really cool!Well done!
-
[Andy Cox] “I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it once you’ve tested it out.”
The 4 week lead time on the Action and Target modules have turned into a 6 week lead time… so, I’m still waiting.
Jason Jenkins
Flowmotion Media
Video production… with style!Check out my Mormon.org profile.
-
Hi i have been trying to work on a similar project as the one you have done, i have gotten it to move linearly with a nema 17 motor and i want to apply the same mechanism as yours for the panning, however i am unsure what part you have used for the rotation part, could you please advise me on that? if you are interested i can also post my project progress with you, but to be fair i didn’t start the project from scratch but from a edelkrone knock off slider and 3D printed housing for the motor and arduino system that i created for this project
-
The head mount rotates on a couple of bearings that sit on a bolt running through the v-roller plate.
An easier option for alignment would be to use a couple of spherical rod ends. Self aligning but not as compact as roller bearings.
-
Thank you so much for the prompt reply, so I suppose you tailor made the middle column with the some bearing and bolts, it’s a shame that I don’t have access to a work shop for any tools other than my bare hands
So I think I will continue with the vslot method but bringing the external rod on top of the base plate of the head, creating a angled rail system
As for the rotating mechanism I think I will buy some ready made rotating disc for furniture with bearing integrated then mount a vslot plate on top with the rail system
I’m sorry if I’m not articulating very clearly as I don’t really have too much of an idea too
Was hopping that your middle column is an easier option but it seems like it is being my ability
Thank you so much for your response after all these years much appreciated
-
Yes, it is tricky when you just have hand tools. The most sophisticated tool I have is a small bench drill.
There are some pretty compact and inexpensive camera heads that will do what you want, and will probably be more cost effective in terms of your time and offer a smoother action than a home brew affair.
As I mentioned previously, spherical rod ends are very forgiving. You only need to drill a single hole for each one, and then adjust the offset with the locknuts.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up