instructables

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider

by thediylife

I've been looking at building a camera slider for quite a 2040 V-Slot Gantry - https://amzn.to/3sORpCM
while now. A couple of weeks ago some sliders popped
up in my Amazon suggestions and this re-ignited my GT2 Tensioner – https://amzn.to/2XZWJVZ
interest in building my own. A quick online search
reveals hundreds of DIY designs and ideas ranging from GT2 5mm Pulley – https://amzn.to/3c7dua5
cheaper builds that use plumbing components to really
expensive and elaborate designs with machined parts GT2 Belt - https://amzn.to/39RARBI
and lead screws.
2 x Nema 17 2.5” Stepper Motors –
I have an old 3D printer that I had scrapped, so I had a https://amzn.to/2MaESsD
few motors and basic t-slot components lying around
which could be put to good use. Camera Ball Joint Mount – https://amzn.to/364gO1H

So here's how I turned some of those scrap components M5 T Slot Nuts – https://amzn.to/2Ni4GDE
(admittedly less than I initially planned) and some
bought out components to use in building a motorised M5 Machine Screws – https://amzn.to/2AtFG5W
camera slider.
Arduino Pro Mini 5V - https://amzn.to/3qEhdQg
The slider can pan, rotate and track objects and works in
almost any orientation, being able to lift a mirrorless 2 x TMC2208 Stepper Motor Drivers –
camera like my Canon M50 vertically as well. https://amzn.to/3sLm7wC

If you enjoy this Instructable, please consider voting for 2 x 100uF Capacitors - https://amzn.to/2UzqNqj
it in the Microcontroller Contest
128x64 I2C OLED Display - https://amzn.to/3neur41
Supplies:
Rotary Pushbutton – https://amzn.to/3e2j8aY
The parts list for this build is quite lengthy, but a lot of
these components you may having lying around if you
Header Pins – https://amzn.to/2wY3k9g
do have an old 3D printer.

Slider Switch – https://amzn.to/2Dqvn4c

The 3D printer I've used to print some of the plastic
components and housings is a Creality Ender 3 Pro.
Links from Banggood (A liate)
Links from Amazon (A liate)
2040 Aluminium Extrusion 700mm –
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/3v3dSFoqEt
2040 Aluminium Extrusion 700mm –
https://amzn.to/39XxadP
Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 1
2040 Gantry -
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/mK3R9PaUEi

GT2 Tensioner –
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/K3GhI5a2Ea

GT2 5mm Pulley –

https://www.banggood.com/custlink/m3DYi5lMd0

GT2 Belt -
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/GDKdItOzhN

2 x Nema 17 2.5” Stepper Motors –

https://www.banggood.com/custlink/K3vhiPoMdM

Camera Ball Joint Mount –

https://www.banggood.com/custlink/DKGdiVLMR7

M4 T Slot Nuts –
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/DvDyIVoqrm

M4 Machine Screws –
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/v3DY9toMJh

Arduino Pro Mini 5V -

https://www.banggood.com/custlink/GGvYiFlkCC

2 x TMC2208 Stepper Motor Drivers –

https://www.banggood.com/custlink/333EZVLzp5

2 x 100uF Capacitors -
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/DKDdIPakc9

128x64 I2C OLED Display -

https://www.banggood.com/custlink/mKDdStLkco

Rotary Pushbutton – Not Available

Header Pins –
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/mvGhSHLqJ6

Slider Switch –
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/vvmR9HoMrN

https://youtu.be/h5faZXlyLzY

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 2

Step 1: Using Aluminium T-Slot Extrusions

One of the easiest ways to build sliding rigs is to use I picked out a 2040 extrusion for my slider, along with a
these aluminium t-slot extrusions. They're widely used in basic mount for a stepper motor, a sliding gantry, a belt
hobby CNC machines like 3D printers and laser cutters, tensioner and then the belt and pulley. I also got a ball
so there are loads of accessories available for them and joint camera mount so that the angle of the camera
they're relatively inexpensive. could be adjusted when it's mounted to the slider.

Very simply, the shape of the extrusion is such that You could also just use the aluminium extrusion and
specially design nuts t into the slots to secure brackets gantry to build a really cheap camera slider that is not
and accessories, and platforms or gantries are also able motorised.
to slider over them.

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 3

Step 2: Mount the Pan Motor

I mounted the pan motor to one end of the aluminium extrusion, with the motor shaft positioned in the middle of the
upper slots. The motor bracket is held in place using some M5 button head screws and some M5 t-slot nuts.

I also installed the pulley onto the motor with the belt groove centred with the t-slot.

Step 3: Assemble and Mount the Rotate Motor

I then designed and 3D printed the rotation motor housing and hold it in place with some more M3 screws.
components. These components house the rotation
motor and secure it to the gantry as well as mount the The ball joint is mounted onto the adaptor using some
ball joint onto the end of the motor shaft. The 3D print M4 screws and is then pushed onto the motor shaft and
les can be downloaded from the blog post. held in place with an M3 screw.

Screw the stepper motor onto the housing's cover plate. You should then have a complete rotation motor
Then mount the bottom of the housing onto the gantry assembly which will slide smoothly along the extrusion.
with some M5 screws and then put the motor into the

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 4

Step 4: Add Some Legs to Stand the Slider On

I then designed some legs for the camera slider to stand my tripod with two holes in it to bolt onto the gantry.
on. These were also 3D printed in black PLA. You can
download the 3D print les from the blog post. Install one leg on the motor side of the extrusion, then
the tripod shoe in the middle and then nally the leg on
I also wanted the slider to be able to be mounted onto a the other side of the extrusion. These were all secured
tripod so that it could be better positioned and angled with M5 button head screws and t-slot nuts.
around my workspace. For this I designed and 3D
printed a replica of the camera shoe which came with

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 5

Step 5: Add the Belt and Tensioner

To nish o the mechanical assembly, we just need to the other side of the gantry, again with a 3D printed
add the belt. clamp to hold it in place. The belt should be trimmed so
that there is about 3cm of overlap on each side of the
The belt is held in place by wrapping one end around gantry.
the gantry so that it overlaps itself and then clamping it
together with one of the 3D printed clamps. The belt You can then tension the belt by screwing in the
then goes around the motor pulley, through the middle tensioning nut on the end of the slider.
of the extrusion, around the tensioner and connects to

Step 6: Test the Electronic Components

Now that we've got the mechanical components I started out by connecting the main components
assembled, we can get started with getting the motors together on a breadboard to check that they all worked
moving. correctly and that I had made the correct connections to
the Arduino. I didn't test both stepper motor drivers as
To drive the motors, I used two TMC2208 stepper motor the interface to the Arduino would be the same.
drivers, which are controlled by an Arduino Pro Mini. I
also added an OLED display and a rotary pushbutton
encoder to select modes and input parameters.

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 6

Step 7: Design and Assemble the PCB

I drew up a schematic and designed a PCB to mount the I then soldered the components onto the PCB, using
components onto. You don't have to use a PCB, you can header pin sockets for the Arduino and the OLED display.
leave the components on a breadboard, but a PCB just I used header pin sockets for the OLED display as I
makes a stronger and more reliable build, especially for wanted to mount the display onto the lid of the case and
something that you'll be moving around a lot. run a short cable to the PCB.

I got these PCBs made up by PCB Way, you can

download the Gerber les from the blog post.

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 7

Step 8: Make a Housing for the Electronics

I then sketched the PCB into my CAD model and I put a switch onto the PCB to use if you'd like to, but I
designed a plastic case to house it and to mount onto prefer to just have it on when it's plugged in and o
the slider rail. when it's not. If you'd like to use the switch then you'll
need to modify the case to have a cutout near the switch
I installed the PCB in the case, holding it in place with so that you can access it. The switch is useful if you're
some M3 screws. I also made up a short power lead running the slider on batteries or if you've got it
which fed from a 5.5mm barrel socket on the side of the permanently set up somewhere.
case to the two power input pins on the PCB.

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 8

Step 9: Program the Arduino

With all that done, it's time to program the Arduino, I rather stupidly assumed that this was easy. You move
which was more of a task than I had anticipated. the camera from A to B and rotate it at the same time by
around 120 degrees. So I'd just divide up the pan and
Making menus with the rotary pushbutton encoder is a rotate movements and it would work perfectly.
great way to input information with a single device, but
you do land up having to do quite a lot of programming Except that that's not how it works at all.
to make up for it.
In order to keep the camera xed on an object, you need
I got the simple pan and rotate functions working quite to rotate the camera slowly in the beginning, quicker in
quickly and then got started on the object tracking the middle and slower at the end again. There's a bit of
mode. trigonometry involved, but I got it working eventually.

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 9

Step 10: Finish It Off

To nish o the slider, I closed up the electronics case with some M3 screws and put the stepper motor wiring into some
sleeving to keep it neat.

Step 11: Using the Camera Slider

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 10

When you plug the slider in, you're brie y shown a motors are enabled and locked, and a countdown runs
splash screen, and you're then taken to the main menu. for 3 seconds before starting the movement.

The main menu allows you to choose between the pan, At the end of the movement, the motors remain locked
rotate, pan and rotate and object tracking modes. You in the end position until the pushbutton is again pushed
use the rotary pushbutton to move the pointer between to release them. This is done to prevent the camera from
options and then push to select one. dropping (if at an angle or vertical) as soon as the
movement is nished and the motors are de-energised.
Within each mode, you have a parameter screen that
asks you to input the distance, angle, time and directions I hope that you enjoyed this Instructable. If you did,
for the movements. You can adjust each option with the please vote for it in the Microcontroller Contest!
rotary pushbutton and push to con rm the values.
Also, let me know what you think of it and what you
The slider then goes into a "push to start" waiting screen. would have done di erently in the comments section.
This allows you to set any starting positions and line up
objects for the shot. Once the pushbutton is pushed, the

Make a Motorised Pan and Rotate Camera Slider: Page 11