HandOfCronus216b - The integrated pan and slide camera system

thingiverse

I've created a system that can accurately move a digital camera along a predetermined path, creating great time lapse and movie recordings. Although the concept is familiar, my approach is innovative. This design includes all of these features in one compact module while keeping the rails as simple passive components. As a result, the system is easy to transport and set up, allowing it to be versatile like most others. The system can run at speeds suitable for both movie recording and time lapse photography, giving pan motion and/or slide motion shooting, both with one of the "SmartRail" rails or on a regular tripod. This project is also featured in the Arduino Blog; see the link below: http://www.arduino.org/blog/handofcronus216b-project How I Designed This Inspiration The photographing community has seen many systems to assist in time lapse and movie recordings, but all of them share common problems. They are bulky, expensive, and demand a special motorized rail system. So, I set out to create an unique and versatile pan and slide camera system. A rugged system with independence and compactness that can be fitted to any kind of rail. It can be short, long, or even concave, whichever is needed but most importantly, a rail that is easy to make. Or if only the pan motion feature is needed, it can easily be mounted on a tripod with its Quick-mounts that fit all standard cameras and tripods. Function This system was initially meant for time lapse photography, but it was soon extended for use in movie recordings as well. This is selected via knobs on the front panel that control settings such as run speed, direction, locking or disabling of the steppers. And all of this information is then fed to the operator by the OLED displays easy-to-use graphic interface, which also includes hints for camera setup. The module is powered by a regular li-ion battery accessible from the outside, and charging can be done just like a phone, with its built-in USB charger. Build Instructions This "Thing" is mainly meant as an inspiration for those wanting to design and build their own camera pan and slide system. This is because many of the components that I've used are not readily available, but with that said, all of the components that I designed and printed can be downloaded, along with a model of the aluminum chassis. The Arduino code that I developed for the ATmega2560 processor that controls the module can be found under "Files" and it requires the following Arduino libraries: Adafruit_SH1106, Adafruit_GFX, and AccelStepper. Some of the components used are: A IIC controlled 1.3" OLED display, two A4988 drivers with low profile 3D printer steppers, a 18650 Li-ion battery with holder and USB-charging circuit, two binary coded hexadecimal rotary switches, a Meduino Mega2560 R3 Pro Mini, etc. Feel free to post your prints!