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DSLR Gimbal using 3d printed parts and carbon.

Posted by Vince Hogg on October 4, 2013 at 1:00pm

 

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 Having just completed the new Octa frame with vibration isolation system it was time to design a gimbal for it.

 One great advantage of 3D printed parts is variable density. They can be almost hollow where stress is low.

 It comes in at 900g including NEX 5n camera with zoom servo and bracket, also 3D printed.

 

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Motors are 4008 -150 size with Alexmos controller.

Camera socket can be adjusted so it goes back exactly on the balance point every time. This base also includes the IMU unit.

Even with the controller mounted as close as possible to the camera base the IMU cable was still too short and had to be cut and extended. Longer cables please guys.

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Here is the Octa going through its paces with a 1kg 'dummy' camera hanging below.

Now all the plastic parts are designed it wont take long to produce more of these. Other colours are available.

 

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Comments

  • Luiz Miranda October 5, 2013 at 9:48am

    oh,okay, that helps a lot, with the glue it should be strong enough...good job 

  • Vince Hogg October 5, 2013 at 8:25am

    Luiz, the lower motor mount was printed with its back to the bed like this.

    3692847301?profile=originalso that there are many continuous layers between the motor and the square tube, which is glued in with epoxy.

    Likewise the top mount is quite thick in that area and the tube glued also.

    3692847215?profile=originalThe prints are weaker between layers but its not that bad if you thicken the part.

  • Luiz Miranda October 5, 2013 at 7:35am

    looks very nice, One question, you are not afraid of these 3 D parts breaking at these 2 points?3692847253?profile=original

  • Vince Hogg October 5, 2013 at 2:01am

    M2 bolts? Yes possibly. The motors are threaded M3 on both sides so that accounts for 16 of them. The 8 on the elbow clamps and roll clamp need to be fairly tight so I kept them M3 as well so didnt bother with the few remaining.

    I could print some of the parts that could be epoxy glued in place and save a bit more weight.

    This can easily be scaled up to Cannon EOS or bigger by changing the 4 12mm carbon tubes.

  • Ben Carson October 5, 2013 at 12:31am

    Amazing, looks incredible!

  • Crashpilot1000 October 4, 2013 at 11:26pm

    Very nice!

    Perhaps using M2 screws instead of the M3's (where possible) could reduce the weight.

  • Joshua Johnson October 4, 2013 at 9:19pm

    Can someone fix the open space at the top of this blog?

  • Waladi October 4, 2013 at 4:21pm
    Do you put your design on shapeways?
    It willl be awesome to see the video result also..
  • Joshua Johnson October 4, 2013 at 2:11pm

    Hey Vince,

    You have an amazing skill in CAD!!! I'm a CAD Engineering student and specialize in CAD Robotics.  I'd love to know what CAD Program you used and also if you're willing to send me your CAD Files/Drawings so I can check em out that'd be awesome!!

This reply was deleted.