3D print Camera Pan Tilt Head from Digital Bird Motion Control

This is the Digital Bird three axis balanced pan tilt head part of the Digital bird motion control system. The head can be used on its own or as part of the wider Digital Bird system.
Features:
• 360 deg of continues rotation in the pan axis and 130 deg in the Tilt axis
• Capable of lifting a Tilt payload up to 3.5KG
• Automated mount/dismount via two buttons on the control panel
• Sony NP style batteries with 7.5v external power port
• 3rd axis support for Focus motor through RJ45 port
• Full feature interface though Digital Bird compact WIFI remote or PTZ remote
• OLED battery monitor and PTZ slave ID
• Battery lock for Inverted mounting safety
• Camera shutter control
Operating modes:
• A-B straight run
• A-B with acceleration controls (ramp/Ease)
• A-B-A Bounce mode
• Time-lapse mode with built in intervalometer and camera shutter control.
• Six key sequencer for more complex moves.
• Stop motion functions for animators.
• PTZplus real-time camera functions.
Links
3D Print files: www.thingivers...
Kits : digital-bird-m...
Software: www.github.com...
Digital Bird V6 Firmware:
With release 6 of the Digital Bird firmware you can know control 4 camera systems with the Digital Bird PTZplus controller with 9 presets/system together with two special presets which allow you to call upon the programed moves A_B or Sequencer with or without bounce.
Music provided by: www.bensound.com
Credits:
This project makes particular use of two main open source arduino libraries for which I am very grateful.
gin66/FastAccelStepper A great resource for controlling multiple stepper motors with acceleration control on all steppers
Seithan/EasyNextion Library An easy to use method of setting up and actioning commands from the Nextion displays.

[@SonPham-v1w]

Your design looks really really amazing. But I wonder if anyone has successfully built and used this system to its potential?

[@NormalHillStudio]

Yeah. I’m really interested too, but have not seen any reviews yet. Link?

[@YellowPeaks]

you design and builds are pro level stuff

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Thanks for your support. Stay tuned for more

[@funguy4900]

Your design is amazing.

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Glad you like it!

[@bretwills4602]

Hi Colin, I’m in the middle of the build and found the ss cap screw for the pan wheel is too short. Provided screw is 45mm and it just comes flush with the bearing on top. Same with the tilt wheel, the 50mm screw comes to the end of the wheel instead of through the gt2 pulley. Just letting you know

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Hi bret You probably have not dug out enough support material from the pan wheel. There is a second pocket for the head of the bolt below the bottom of the Large adapter. The 50mm screw for the tilt should also push in deep enough to pass all the way through again there must be something obstructing the head of the bolt going deeper.

[@bretwills4602]

Hi Colin, is this meant as a replacement for your previous pan/tilt head? I have the parts kit for that one but I'm liking the looks of this design, and will also be making the jib arm when that's available.

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Hi Bret This is not a replacement for the OT head but is the best option for the New jib since the other head would upset the balance of the jib as the camera goes over. The two heads have different advantages and disadvantages. The OT head has the advantages of being more compact with a greater degree of tilt. The balanced head has the advantage that the Tilt is balanced And the weight distribution does not change as the camera Tilts. The two heads share many of the same components though cable lengths will be different there are a few different smaller bearings on the balanced head and the balanced head uses a much smaller geared Nema11 stepper with an additional Timing belt. The Control board is the same but runs a slightly different version of the software. The OT head being more compact is probably better on the slider particularly when using the vertical base since it can pan further without hitting the rail but if you plan on building the Jib the balanced head is a must. Hope this helps Colin

[@GabrielPass]

I've been looking for something like this for so long... But would it be possible to add a LANC output to control Canon, or Sony camcorders?

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Hi Gabriel The next big update will add VISA over IP and POE power. This will allow the head to be used by applications such as OBS studio and vMix but while I have this working it is not ready for release yet. Likely it will come as an add on inline translator.

[@GabrielPass]

@@digitalbirdfilm So do I hear you saying that LANC will 'likely' be an an add on inline translator for camera control? You're probably well aware, but I just want to stress that... If you include LANC camera control, your product will be on par with DataVideo's $2000 PTR-10 MARK II. Though DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are outstanding for cinematic film, they're less commonly used in industry for PTZ applications. If I could use this for both my Canon production cameras as well as my mirrorless cameras, I would invest in 3 or 4! I think a lot of other people would as well.

[@digitalbirdfilm]

@@GabrielPass Hi again Gabriel. I am currently in the process of finalising the design of a new PT head with VISCA over IP capability and am just trying to establish which cameras people would prefer to use with the head other than the usual mirrorless ones. You mentioned you use Canon production cameras can you provide a little more detail? Colin

[@GabrielPass]

Thanks for considering adding LANC control. If you look around, you'll find it's the main remote control protocol for any Canon, Sony, or Panasonic video production camera. If you look to actually supporting video production, I think you'll find its most of your market share. Those cameras all support servo control lenses. I use Canon XF605 cameras. But all of cannons EOS cinema line uses LANC as it's remote control protocol. For example, in the specs of the new EOS C70 under Input/Output > remote terminals, it reads remote "standard LANC compatible".

[@shydragonfpv]

Yeah that would be awesome. I'd love to be able to use one of these for cameras with servo lenses or fixed lens camcorders.

[@IoVideoMaker]

That’s incredible how good this is even compared to professional systems like Edelkrone. I’m a videomaker & youtuber, already too much work to do… would it be possible just to buy the RTR kit, or even assembled? Thanks! Ciao!

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Hi Thanks for the support. Unfortunately I do not have the time to print and supply complete systems. The project has already consumed more of my time than would have been possible had it not been for Covid! The aim of the project has never been to design a commercially competitive system but rather a DIY makers alternative, capable of delivering as many professional features as possible at considerably lower cost. Colin

[@gbauer9919]

Hey! I'm totally amazed by this project!! The eye for detail and usability is perfekt. One question is still left: how fast can the system go in term of pan?

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Thanks for the interest. Currently I have PTZ mod setup to pan very slowly about 360Deg in 60 seconds however it is possible to tune this up to as fast as 360Deg in 3 seconds. You would have to edit some numbers in the software to achieve this. I am planning to add speed tuning to the control menu in the near future. In programmed mode it can already do this depending on the time setup. In short it is not a limitation of the head but simply the software setup. If you need it to pan very fast this is possible Hope this helps

[@themikeymikechannel2947]

I need one that does a 9 to 10 minute tilt-pan (arch) to follow the rocket from (lift off horizon) to end horizon. Got any ideas of what I'm looking for?? THANKS

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Not quite sure what you require here. If you are looking for auto tracking then its not on the Digital Bird heads... yet!

[@funguy4900]

Do any of the 3D printed part require supports when printing. Are all parts printed on an fem printer or do you also use sla?

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Yes many of the parts require supports however most slicing applications will provide those automatically for you without much effort. I currently use the IdeaMaker slicer. I have no idea how strong the parts are from an SLA printer and so cannot comment on that one.

[@hsnorh8180]

OMG...😀 There will be a jib too?...🤪

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Yes Still working on the design but there will be a jib design going live in the next month or two.

[@hsnorh8180]

@@digitalbirdfilm any development on the motion jib?

[@davidkernahan2413]

What is the maximum payload?

[@digitalbirdfilm]

The system will handle 3KG easily The limitation for large camera systems is the height of the Tilt Arm plate. The Tilt must be reasonably balanced and therefore larger camera systems with higher centre of gravity will have to drop lower and closer to the top plate of the head. To this end I am planning to offer a taller unit which allows this to happen. The parts required will be the same except the Tilt drive belt which will have to be longer with a taller tilt support. In short its not so much the weight but the height of the camera system which becomes an issue. The distance between the bottom and centre line of the lens for a typical DSLR body is around 35-40mm. As it stands the system will accommodate a bit more than that up to about 55mm.

[@digitalbirdfilm]

Some additional Info Base to CofG assuming centre of lens Red Komodo 47.63mm Red V-raptor 52mm Z-Cam E2 49.6mm Black Magic 4K 46mm Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro 70-75mm approx. So perhaps the height of any larger variant need to go up around another 20-30mm for larger camera systems

[@hsnorh8180]

Hello Man, is the jib coming or what...😀

[@digitalbirdfilm]

The Jib will be here in the next day or two

[@hsnorh8180]

@@digitalbirdfilm thanks...🙏🙏🙏