Motorized time-lapse dolly: test footage

Microcontrolled motorized dolly for time-lapse filming. Shoot-then-move synchronization. LCD+keypad interface. Similar inventions made by other people can be seen at www.timescapes.org

Specifications: about 5 feet of travel Synchronized move-shoot Curiously strong stepper motor + 180:1 (I think) worm/spur gearing (Meade worm gear from the autostar 492 kit). The drive-roller is from one of those ludicrous 'indoor bicycle trainers.' The pulley at the other end is an old bottom bracket from my bike (highly recommended) Microswitches at either end for emergency stop/power-down, to prevent catastrophic overshoot. Microcontroller with LCD/keypad interface, of course: usual motion intervalometry functions + parameter saving, ramps, power management, multiple cameras etc. Has basic internal intervalometer but also accepts external trigger. The use of pegged-down wooden planks for leveling worked very nicely. Had to be light enough to carry into the woods. Ground-level camera head worked out surprisingly well - more bicycle parts. When you're 1 inch above the ground, 5 feet of travel is more than enough... Smallest possible step size: a mind-crippling 0.000004metres. That would require 375,000 shots to travel from end to end.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• timelapse
• time-lapse
• time lapse
• dolly
• microcontroller
• pic
• stepper motor
• photography
• PUSA

[sciencelookers]

Very nice modular design. Its infinitely reconfigurable and uses such a wide array of semi-off the shelf components that you almost need the video to understand it. I especially like the unique mount that slings the camera over the side for those unprecidented closeup shots. If someone were to copy it, would you recomend the angle iron track over something like an aluminum ladder as an off the shelf track?

[astronomerroyal]

The rails needed fine tuning to get them perfectly parallel, but once done the whole set-up proved to be very light - I don't drive a car. A ladder would be overkill for my setup. If I made it again I'd use the same aluminum angle, but allow for vertical shots. A ladder might limit the design.

[yakonfire]

I disagree, sir; you do indeed seem to have items to lose, such as bolts, multimeters, and of course the priceless motorized tim-lapsed dolly itself.

[astronomerroyal]

I diss a greaser. You, doing deed, seem to have the iTims to lose.

Still waiting for the video of your Grand Unified Cosmologist-powered dork-energy machine...

time passes ...

W-go west, E-go east, SPACE-drop the ball.

[bushwackediam]

This is what I call fine YouTube content!

[reballuk]

is it running on windows or mac?

[BlueSun1971]

Badass. I love macro and never even thought of this. Pure craziness. Awesome.

[BILLSVIDIOT]

Nice!

[linearpcm]

ill post my engine dolly to vimeo prety soon, its 1/3 of this size and 1,3m long with gearbox and 2 diff. speeds, made of aluminium if some wanna watch it

[nunnster06]

can you make me one, i need a move shoot move dolly with sync shutter fire for doing night shots, i suppose im lazy

[LibanPhotography]

Good stuff man. I wish I can build something like this! Or if i can find and easy assemble it yourself (on the field) so I can put it together when i'm traveling.

[Myleso]

Seems to stutter quite a bit. Is that YouTube or is it the same on your system?

[adarkoner]

great footage! whats the song as well?