Parts for building a DIY DSLR Slider

Brainiac Bar
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#1

Glenn Asks,

Hi, some newbie questions follow. I’d very much appreciate any help / advice you can provide!! I’m looking to make a simple linear actuator to move my DSLR Camera back and forth over a distance of say 20cm.

Though I’m not sure how I would attache my camera to it. Also I’d need a longer shaft. Do you sell longer shafts or can you advise where I could get one? Also would this motor be strong enough to move a digital SLR camera plus lens? If not can you advise on something that would be? Thanks Heaps!!

Thanks for your question Glenn, lets see how we can help!

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The easiest way to build one of these would be with the [Actobotics Channel Slider Kit][1].

Actobotics Kit - Channel Slider Kit

These are currently out of stock, but should be available again by Sep 5, 2015.

In terms of extending a servo shaft, what you need there is a Coupler or Collar.

We have a whole heap of these available here: http://littlebirdelectronics.com.au/collections/couplers-collars

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or queries whatsoever!

Cheers,

Marcus
[1]: http://littlebirdelectronics.com.au/products/actobotics-kit-channel-slider-kit

#2

Thanks heaps for your reply Marcus!

What I’d like to do is be able to move the camera forward in increments of very small distances (say 0.1mm or less) for macro photography. That is, I’m looking to build something like this: https://www.cognisys-inc.com/products/stackshot/stackshot.php

Would this slider kit + a stepper motor + stepper motor driver + arduino controller be the best way to achieve this? If so, which motor and driver would you recommend?

Really appreciate any help!

#3

Thanks for the comment Glenn.

One of our suppliers has made a video of whats possible with the slider below.

What I’d like to do is be able to move the camera forward in increments of very small distances (say 0.1mm or less) for macro photography. That is, I’m looking to build something like this: https://www.cognisys-inc.com/products/stackshot/stackshot.php

Given the slack commonly found in a belt based system, you probably aren’t going to be able to get the (say 0.1mm or less) accuracy you’re after. For this you’ll need Stepper Motor with Lead Screw

Stepper Motor with 38cm Lead Screw: Bipolar, 200 Steps/Rev, 42×38mm, 2.8V, 1.7 A/Phase

This unit can move 40 µm (1.6 mil or 0.04mm) per full step, and can achieve a finer resolution with micro-stepping.

You’ll have to make a slide similar to those in the video below:

or

Cheers,

Marcus

#4

0.1mm is extremely fine resolution for focus stacking. Are you sure you want it that fine? The (pretty extreme) Canon MPE-65 lens has a DOF of around 0.05 mm at 5x at f/2.8m.

Also, if you’re using a Canon camera, I can recommend Magic Lantern custom firmware. It has a focus stacking function which will take a series of photos and automatically adjust focus between each shot. This can yield similar results to physically moving the camera between shots.

I’m using a DC motor with 128:1 gearbox and 2048 step encoder driving a ball screw with a 10mm lead as a means of locomotion for my astrophotography barn door tracking mount. With that, 1 encoder step is equivalent to approximately 0.00003mm :smiley:

1 Like
#5

Hi

Thanks heaps for the comment and suggestions!

I’ve played around a bit with Magic Lantern but based on some brief research understood that a higher quality image extreme macro can be produced with stacking by moving the camera rather than changing focus. (I may be wrong!)

Yeah I wasn’t really expecting to go to 0.1mm steps, but though it would be nice to be able to do so as I’m assuming I can always do multiple steps between photos.

Maybe I’ll try astrophotography next. Haven’t done any of that (am only a novice photographer :slight_smile: )

cheers

–
Glenn