Build your own Arduino-controlled camera slider!

[@Jeff121456]

I would suggest end-stops just for a sanity check (emergency shutoff). Certainly if you expect to leave expensive equipment on this unsupervised.

[@IanSRutter]

Finally I have found a great slider. Thanks for what you have done. I will start this after I finish helping my son with his arduino robot. Thanks again.

[@janhagedorn]

I guess this will be my first Arduino project then! Been considering building a slider for quite some time now and this one hits a perfect balance of features and expandability, thanks for sharing Tom!

[@janhagedorn]

Ok, thanks for the hint. Gotta love Adafruit anyways, what they are doing is awesome.

[@RobinCernyMitSuffix]

Or use a HD44780 compatible character display. Cheap, easy to use und enough space for such a small project ;)

[@UDoIt2]

My coworker shared this with me. Thank you for making your design open source.

[@UDoIt2]

This is a great message!!! This is what I do but I haven't been able to put it to words like you did here.

[@marekzawada6250]

Great project!! The timelapses are stunning. Astrophotograpchy Cool.

[@theeds]

good timing! I was just thinking about making one of these for my next project. I made a 3 axis gimbal for my DSLR last week and it works great.

[@ajmckay2]

awesome video and camera slider! I agree with your idea to clean up the electronics area. even putting a back cover on would help quite a bit.

[@ALiSaPHieN]

Dude, you are one of the best quality youtubers out there. Great job and thanks.

[@makermonkey6591]

You are becoming one of my youtube favourites. Well done.

[@patrickgonda8238]

Tom your videos look extremely professional but when you brought up that circuit diagram you really made me chuckle, it looks like straight out of MS Paint, look on the diagrams on Arduinos website for clean and pro looking diagrams because it really breaks the "flow" of the video.

[@nicomichiels1050]

Thomas Sanladerer maybe you can use fritzing.org that looks great :D

[@FuriouSoul]

Yeah, wish I could see how you wired it all up a little better. I am having trouble with my encoder not moving through the menu correctly, can't change the time without messing with it. Tried to rewire the Clk, DT, and SW pins in every combination, but no luck. You have them labled as ENC 0 and ENC 1 in the sketch and S1 and g2 (not really sure if that's a g) but I am all kinds of confused now.

[@loremipsum3454]

Hello Can you confirm if you got this circuit running? I got the pin-out correct for Encoder and works as it should...but no movement in my motor...:( Appreciate your help if you would let me know and if my uploaded below diagram is correct. app.box.com/s/66d412frc23q4plaji25w6yjyw5mocva I tried all options…as per Thomas wiring, and external power to (Polulu A4988) Motor Driver… I don’t get any movement in step motor … Thanks.

[@johnkozinsky]

I would like to know what the program you used is?

[@HIEPPIEFUSARO]

Best electronic schematic ever! 10/10 no scoop 360(?

[@kingsmod8777]

Built something similar with pan and tilt and mostly 3d printed. will make a video soon. Thanks for the inspiration

[@HariWiguna]

Thanks for sharing your "secret" for getting those super-smooth moving time-lapses! You've inspired me to build one too.

[@RookieReefer]

Great video! Would I be able to use a 12v battery pack without changing components? Mainly resistors I guess. Appreciate it 👍

[@fernandojerez3444]

Great project!! The timelapses are stunning.

[@DarkArtGuitars]

I am already printing the second part, thank you so much for sharing this as I didn't have much success when I tried it myself.

[@DavidGetchel]

Nice! I have a slider that I should motorize. Seems fairly straightforward.

[@andreashanny8897]

Great video, but where do I find the code? On youmagine there are only the libraries, where's the sketch?

[@3dPrintCreator]

because of Arduino boards being slow with the screen attached, use more Arduino boards for separate tasks. let them communicate via i2c and you build a rocket fast system. one arduino for the slider motion, one arduino for the camera tilt and pan motion and a third arduino for the display and human interface. work with the interrupts to be failsafe and PLEASE add end stop switches for safety. Also, why is that bearing near the motor installed. the way I see it, there will always be friction on one of the sides?

[@xshooter969]

also curious about the bearing near the bore pulley

[@Veptis]

hyperlapse. that is the word for a timelapse with continuous motion. combine this with dolly/upward pan and good focus control and you get yourself a nice effect. best tool to get a series of pictures into video is virtualdub. print a vase in case mode, with a consistent layer leghts. so either a straight up cylinder or a twisted cylinder. measure you layer time... or average aross 10. now set you interval slightly higher/lower for the timelapse and the result will look awesome as the print head moves slow while the print is really fast. looks like magic. try it!

[@jaistanley]

Love this.. I'd like to make one that slides and has a turn-table also that could keep the camera fixed on one spot as it panns past... The maths of calculating the rate of rotation, VS linear motion and focal distance would be quite fun too.. Thanks for the video Thom! It's great to see other types of video from you: a controls engineer like you could make all sorts of awesome project videos.

[@Icuosnas7]

You could very easily put one of those sonar-based range finders for arduino, and program in a radius value; then attach another stepper to the camera's "Z" axis and have it turn automatically... Set to auto-focus and done XD.

[@TheVideoVolcano]

how does the stepper have enough power to move the camera. I made a slider (different to this) and the steppers just stall and cannot turn because the load is too much.

[@DeonMitton]

Great video - thanks Thomas!

[@larrymortimer4833]

Nice project Tom! Do you think you will add stops at each end, or will you program stops with the stepper motor like Falko suggests?

[@CoyoteFPV]

Hello Thomas, nice design, I'm printing the parts now, but making the electronics slightly different. I have a question though. In your STL files you have a shim file but do not mention where is goes in the build video or description. Where does it go ? Thanks Ian

[@Auggie246]

Finally one to replace my outdated miniengine slider

[@learnMax]

Thomas it is awesome! I was starting to think of something similar. The one added feature I am interested in pursuing is the ability to hang the camera underneath (might be just flipping the whole thing) so some additional mounting would likely be required. Will definitely be using yours as a source of inspiration!

[@Alan_AB]

A brilliant video. Thanks Tom, i'm gonna use some of your suggestions. I'm still trying to construct a suitable pan setup for the camera so that it can "target" my subject as I shoot.

[@StefsEngineering]

Here's your thumbs up again ;) As said in your other upload, Awesome job and I do have some ideas. I will build it and share when I am done!

[@crrocky1]

This kind of projects was th e thing that brought me into 3D printing! Hope I can build one of my one! Thanks again for the video!

[@Adikimenakis]

Can i use the slider for constructing a small cnc machine? Will they be stable enough?

[@felixdietzCGN]

Did you already think about cable management when adding another axis on the camera platform? I'm thinking about using the igus rail because I could fit a small e-chain in the rail and under the sled. But that stickyness-concern is right...

[@andrewnorth2976]

It wold be better (IMHO) if the controller also controlled the camera shutter so you could do move-shoot-move Nice project btw

[@MadeWithLayers]

Many modern cameras have interval shooting built in, and that's usually enough to get steady shots. The slight movement during even longer exposures has not been a problem for me so far.

[@MSVSanjok]

@@MadeWithLayers edu puertas Did you connect the MS1, MS2, MS3 modes to the micro-step?Thank you!

[@vasilshterev]

Can't wait to build this myself!!! I do have couple of things I am not sure of and would love to get some help:) 1.Since the LCD screen goes into the 5V of the arduino and covers it, to which port should I connect the stepper driver and rotary encoder on the arduino? 2. How many Volts should the battery be?

[@reblliouspear]

Did you ever solve your first problem? This is the issue I'm having too. But the battery should be 12v.

[@hypertuch]

good video. Are you using limit switches or what if the slider reacheds one of the ends ?

[@mr.lumbergh7273]

The display you used is no longer available and the new version I was able to get doesn't match up exactly with the pinout on the Mega. Would you mind the pins on the Mega and which they connect to on the display so we can connect it with jumpers if needed?

[@zk_6312]

Looks good. One thought though as you say the Arduino Mega is a bit slow, you should try the Arduino Due as it is 32-bit with a faster clock and more memory. It is basically a drop in replacement for the Mega.

[@techtutorpl]

This is looking great :) I started doing similar project on my yt channel, but i am planning to control my slider via smartphone :) BTW this are great pictures you have taken with this slider :D

[@motionpicture77]

Great video. I am adding a motor to a ratrig slider. How long does an np-f950 battery last before recharge. I have these batteries for my camera rig, and it would be very practical to use this for the slider as well.

[@rodrigo.guimaraes]

Hello Thomas, First time I'm commenting your videos, but I've been following for a while. In mid 2016 I got myself a big 3d printer.. Vulcanus Max40 (you can find it in instructables). For the last couple of months I've been thinking about developing an easy motorized slider! Thank you for the help on that part!

[@kalef1234]

Does your source code support stop and go motion? I would really only use this for astrophotography time lapses where 20 to 30 second exposures are needed, requireing the slider to stop, wait, and then move. I am proficient in c++ which I see is what you used to code this thing, and I know I could add that in pretty easily myself. Just thought I'd ask! Looks like an awesome summer project!

[@abcdefgh90590]

Hi Kalef, Did you manage to do the stop and wait function.

[@raul7293]

3:36 It's April 2021 and I was wondering if anybody at this point shared the improved designs for the 3D printed parts?

[@prabhakarrao4922]

Great job! Love your enthusiasm. Thank you

[@RJMaker]

THANK YOU TOM, I'm going to build one!! I love it.

[@paddymarsden]

Hi Thomas, I think this is an amazing build but I'm having a few issues with the wiring. Would it be possible for you to take some close up pictures of your breadboard setup? I sorted my original problem with the code and the .h files. I also have an issue with my touchscreen which looks similar to yours but I'm curious which screen you got? The issue ive got is with the touch element not working. I'd really appreciate some help on this project. I'm purely using your guide for the electronics as i have printed a slider from Harrope.com Many thanks!!

[@ElliHoy]

Hi, an amateur tinkerer here. Would it be easier to use a regular low rpm motor with pwm?

[@Hyngvi]

Hey, awesome design! Is the torque great enough to angle the slider upwards?

[@MadeWithLayers]

Without a heatsink on the stepper driver, it will hold and move my Panasonic G7 + lens at up to a 45° angle. A beefier stepper driver or a geared stepper motor could significantly improve this.

[@Hyngvi]

Nice! Stronger than i imagined, will probably try and construct a similar design.

[@BrasilCurtas]

Hey Hilmar, I'm doing the same, i striped every LCD part of the code, got it working but the didn't managed to get the soft end-stop working, it just keeps ramming at the end. What var does it measure the distance?

[@navjotsinghDhanoa]

I managed to get the slider running with some updated graphics. I observed that the motor doesnt stop when the time duration has passed. what method can we use to stop the stepper motor when it hits a limit switch. digitalwrite(step,LOW)?

[@tylerwatt12]

Use fast shutter speed, then use frame blending in premiere pro for the best of both effects. Even better if you set your project to 60fps

[@orlandodasilva8117]

Great Video very interesting. I have a question, it is possible with a Arduino, to program it for an "Endless Loop " Thank you

[@FlowTfpv]

omg omg omg, i made one last year, 1mt too!!! open builds. now lets see if your controller is better than mine.....

[@motionpicture77]

Really love this slider. Got the rest of the parts from ebay this week, and I am testing the libraries and Combined Slider file. Seems I dont have the TimerOne library. Any idea where to townload this?

[@reblliouspear]

Hey did you ever find the timer one library? This is my latest issue.

[@motionpicture77]

Found a timer, but i was not able to upload the script. Came out at 160%.

[@dot4636]

Really good and informative video, thank you

[@labomat]

Hi Tom, kennst Du eine Deutsche Bezugsquelle für die OpenBuild-Bauteile?

[@escsun]

Thank you. Really very nice!

[@TheRedSith]

I get a lot of vibration with my Diy and I have a sony a6500 ;( Any help to tell me how to remove all this vibration will be much appreciated.

[@Harvestcreativemedia]

How noisy is the motor?

[@Relax-Music-Thai]

It is a very good project If it adds Time Lapse + Tigger, it must be the best project I hope this project You will develop completely soon. Thank you very much

[@DoubleG1960]

the links in the description arrives to the main page and no to the individual products, I am speacially interested in wheels and bars (the slider itself) I am fromSpain, could you pls help me in order to find the specific materials?

[@BenBrownbobthemac]

Is there any real benefit using the openbuilds gantry set it seems quite expensive for what it is at around £27

[@jedijeremy]

Nice work, Tom! I've got two suggestions for the next-gen version: take a look at the VL53L0X "time of flight" distance sensor from adafruit. $15 gets you 1mm accuracy over 1m, would fit nicely on the arduino-end of the track, would magically eliminate the need for a remote endstop, and could detect mid-track jams too! I recently built a stepper-turntable (using parts from an old record player) but I used an ESP8266 as the main controller instead of Arduino, so that I could command it over WiFi rather than having to add physical screens and buttons to each device. (I plan to have many) It was a stupid amount of software development to shave off $20 of hardware, but let me know if that's of use to you. (I needed it for compactness reasons) ps. Yes, this is @JediJeremy from Twitter :-)

[@kurtwagner6574]

Very nice!

[@fntsmn]

Great video is something that I want to do for sure. maybe in the next months :D

[@dougsbir]

Hi great project ! could you direct me how to control one stepper motor and two endstops for now please? cheers

[@dougsbir]

using arduino megaramps 1.4 i have from old 3d printer

[@thebeststooge]

My 3d printer I am building uses the Delrin solid wheels and I hate them. If you leave it sitting then the next morning it will have a flat side and no amount of tension, or lack thereof, helps that. I will never touch anything from OB again.

[@MrBoXon]

Is that the Lumix G7 you're shooting with?

[@reblliouspear]

Great video but how do I connect the bettery and everything to Vin, 5v, and ground on the arduino if I have the touchscreen shield on? I am using the Mega 2560 but Vin, 5v, and the other GND are being used by the display. Edit: Update 5/15 - I figured out the wiring, I realized there is two extra 5v pins and two extra GND pins on the mega. Now the only question that remains is where do I find TimerOne.h ?

[@jasongudex4157]

Had the same questions and you answered it (mostly). What did you do for Vin?

[@FalkoRichter]

The stepper should know when to. Stop if you zero it. It should have a fixed number of steps until it reaches the end. Even manual zeroing when booting it up would help, right?

[@Minoguai]

where can i find the code ?

[@m6proyector368]

good video thanks. M3 threaded inserts for what need ?

[@Baumi333]

Hallo Thomas, ich habe da eine Frage zu deinem Code. Wenn ich ihn auf mein Board lade (ich habe die gleiche Hardware wie du) dann wird mir nur ein weißer Bildschirm angezeigt. Libaries sind alle ok. Wenn ich ein anderes Beispiel lade, funktioniert das LCD Touch Panel. Hast du vielleicht eine Idee woran das liegen könnte. Bg Christian

[@do4bmw]

habe das gleiches problem ...

[@Baumi333]

Hey Benny, sag mal, hast du schon eine Lösung für unser Problem? Ich habe irgendwie das Gefühl ein teureres Display kaufen zu müssen.

[@flyinlo1474]

What angle can this handle? I have a GH5 and wanted to be able to do vertical climbs on my rail. Thanks for the video!!

[@MadeWithLayers]

+timmyd I've been running my stepper drivers on the weak side to make microstepping smoother and it was able to lug a medium-weight camera setup (G7 + EF lens) up a 45° slope. With a compact lens, the GH5 isn't any heavier, so if you crank up the current a bit it might be able to handle it,

[@flyinlo1474]

Thank you sir! Been wanting a 3D printer so I ordered an A6 to be able to print the parts :) Are you planning on putting any End Stops on this? If so I hope you do a video to help show how to add/program them.

[@P0llut1on]

great job!

[@pingu99991]

Hey Tom! I'd love to see if you've updated this at all?

[@alexl66]

It has been a while since this video but I finally build one my self.I wrote my own software since I use another display on wanted another GUI...anyway question is when running very slow vibrations of the stepper/belt (at 1/32th stepping) re visible in the footage. I added a damper as mount between motor and motor holder but I still see it. Do you see it in your footage too? and remove it in post?

[@MadeWithLayers]

There is one speed where my slider will resonate - so I just go a bit faster or slower. Speeding up footage is much easier than removing shake + rolling shutter.

[@alexl66]

thanks, will try that

[@bernardoanselmo421]

hello i am having some problems with programing... can you help me ?

[@onecarwood]

This is great I love it

[@JOEBLACK1979]

Awesome bro thabks for sharing

[@theperpetualprocrastinator9776]

What is the screen you're using?

[@Baumi333]

Hello! I Have got a bg problem. I installed all the components like Thomas (the libaries too) but when I upload the software to my andruino the screen is only white. If I upload an other sketch, it works. So I think there is maybe a problem in the sketch, but my programmer skills are very poor. Maybe someone can help me ....

[@navjotsinghDhanoa]

I had the same issue. You mite need to change a bit of code to make it work, give this a try: comment out the following lines: //#include // Hardware-specific library //Adafruit_TFTLCD tft(LCD_CS, LCD_CD, LCD_WR, LCD_RD, LCD_RESET);

[@OtroPl4n]

Bravo!! yhank you very much fur the information

[@NoahR-di1nu]

can you show us how to make the same one without a motor

[@Auggie246]

An enclosure for the arduino and other electronics would be good

[@FabioFerretti3D]

thx a lot. nice design. one quick question. where do you find "V slot compatible" in europe that doen's cost you a kidney ? I go to motedis, but the groove is not realy in V shape.

[@FabioFerretti3D]

thx.

[@wdonders]

Can't believe i actually did some googling for you :-) France: www.vslot-europe.com Netherlands: iprototype.nl/products/accessoires/construction England: ooznest.co.uk/Openbuilds Belgium: tronixmaker.com/fr/43-openbuilds Denmark: makersupplies.dk/

[@FabioFerretti3D]

thx a lot ;)

[@understandwithakashs1367]

How would you do it with TMC2130?

[@bogdanSherback]

Great! That will make you content even more hi-tech. XD

[@iLEXKing]

Hello there. Thomas, tell me please, how to make this cool effect on 8:18 ???

[@MadeWithLayers]

Filmriot explains it best: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epfUinmEZ694kKs

[@iLEXKing]

Thomas Sanladerer thanks a lot :)

[@karistuck]

hi, thank you for nice video. and I looking for sketch file How can I get to arduino control file for sketch?

[@mortezanouroozy3755]

where can i find your codes

[@therealdjdemond]

Its a cool gadget but why wire it all up that way? Why not just use a mega/ramps with one stepper driver, since they're pennies, and then use printer firmware to control the motor? You could mount the belt above the aluminium profile, like a large delta tower on its side. Just an idea.

[@LemberTheMember]

Ahh he fixed it ☺️👍

[@alexchong1979]

my i know how much is the total cost for this Project?

[@grimmsalem]

Can you do some glamor shots with this just to show it off some more.

[@raspberrypiploy771]

Its good but if it changed direction automatically at each end it would be even better. You could then set it to the slowest speed and make some good timelapse movies without having to watch it

[@FlanChaves]

The links are not working 😰

[@autoelectrical1463]

*_NICE_*

[@MSVSanjok]

Nema 17 motor 42BYGH 1.7A (17HS4401S) ?

[@SeekAdventureMedia]

Where can I find the code for this project?

[@lplsa6940]

In the description is a link to Youmagine. The Code is there