Camera Slider With Rotation, Wooden Prototype

I made this camera slider with rotation for some video new effects. See how i assembled the prototype without a plan in this video.

I researched the mechanism with adjustable rotation previously in another video. The result is useful, the slider could be made more compact and the resistance when sliding, especially with rotation, should be minimized so the images can be taken more smoothly without any jerks.

A CNC milled slider is projected, i will then drive it with a motor, transmission and a timing belt for time-lapse motion videos.

The -cam slider in action- video is coming up and i will link it here!

Step 1:

I took some old ball bearing, plywood, wooden round bars, wood screws and washer disks, two squares with a slot hole on one side and knurled screws, a hinge and three rubber bands and a threaded bar.

I use the drill, a saw, sand paper or a plane and some glue and clamps for this construction.

Step 2: The Sled and the Slat Rail

I cut the plywood into 2 side pieces and the slat into a distance piece and a rail piece.

The ball bearings are screwed onto one side of the plywood. They are the upper support for the sled

The distance piece is then glued between the side boards.

The rest of the slat is the guiding rail and should be made slightly thinner with the plane or sand paper so the sled can run freely but with support. I put some dry soup on the sides of the guiding rail for a better sliding effect.

Step 3: Sled Clamping Hinge

Something needs to hold the sled onto the rail.

So i made some place for the mechanism on the sled by cutting away some wood, took a hinge and screwed it onto the bottom side of the sled.

I screwed another ball bearing on a wooden distance price which i screwed onto the hinge. I checked if the bearing is running flat on the rail to optimize the slide.

Two screws for a rubber band at the side. The rubber band presses the bearing onto the sled and holds the sled on track.

Step 4: Rotating Platform

Next was to make the rotating platform. It has to be supported with 2 bearings with a distance in-between to prevent any friction and to be able to transmit the linear motion onto the rotation axis.

I took the plywood to make a platform, drilled a hole in the center for a round bar fitting the inner diameter of the bearings. The bar is glued into the platform center hole and is checkt for square.

The sled now gets the hole drilled with the outer diameter of the bearings. One bearing sits on the bottom of the hole and the second is fixed on the shaft oft the platform. The place in between must be enough for the passing by linear transmitter, the threaded bar.

Step 5: Rotation Control Telescope Sled

The linear transmitter is a threaded bar witch touches the shaft oft the platform by engaging with the thread.

Therefor the thread is impressed onto the wooden shaft of the platform.

I made a telescope sled to direct the threaded bar next to the platform shaft.

The telescope sled is made out of a piece of plywood and two round bars as guides. On the top there is a ball bearing for the motion control rail during the slide.

The threaded bar in the center must touch the platform shaft all alone and engage wit the impressed thread.

A rubber band pushes the thread into the previously impressed thread.

A second rubber band pushes the mechanism out with the bearing onto the control rail.

Step 6: Assembling the Rotating Platform the Sled and the Motion Control Thread

With one bearing inside the sled and on the platform shaft i simply inserted the shaft into the Sled.

Step 7: Frame and Feet

The frame must hold the guiding rail and the control rail for the rotation mechanism.

I made it with adjustable feet for more flexibility on any ground.

Step 8: Rotation Control Bar

A second slat serves as control bar and in this case it also reinforces the frame.

The control bar is fixed with two knurled screws and slot holed squares on the frame for adjusting the distance on both sides.

Step 9: The Handle

At the end i took the handle from a floor drilling machine and mounted it on a reasonable position.

Step 10: Testing and Improvements

The first test was bit wobbly but after souping the wooden telescope mechanism the rotating cam slider works quite well. I could get much experience for my CNC milled cam slider i have planed to make next.

The frictionless motion is most important, the bearings work great but the wooden telescope is not perfect.

Also the Frame and the control bar must be made rigid for no tolerances and a smooth rotation while sliding along the control bar.

I like the adjustable range from 0 up to 2 full rotations in both direction.