EEVblog #493 - DIY Video Camera Dolly For Workbenches

Dave makes a DIY camera dolly system that mounts under his work bench.
It's not complete yet, it possibly needs a 2nd rail platform, angled brackets, and better tripod mount, but otherwise works fairly well for a quick trial.

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[TonyButchT]

Great Idea and design!
The upside-down sliders, which do not yield ultimate ball bearing action, might actually help with camera stability?

[EEVblog]

Yes, I need some suitable angle bracket and spacers to try this. This was a first test to see how just one did.

[bitrot]

I like your willingness to dive in with a few rough ideas and potential parts, to see what you can come up with.

[johnfranks]

Unistrut/Superstrut suspended above the bench from threaded rod or steel cable. You can mount lights, trolley camera rig, whatever. Cheap, easy & versatile.

[hooverphonique]

yes.. I was going to suggest exactly that as well.. and then maybe a couple of broomstick clamps/holders for attaching the leg of the tripod.. that way you can attach it on any of the three telescopic parts for different heights..

[jesperahman]

I would recommend using two bearings on each rail, using only two gives them the ability to twist a bit, and then they'll wear out faster and be less stable.

[davak]

Yes, absolutely. I looked for ratcheting hose clamps, but only found one brand with no price listed. I was thinking of hose clamps, but with a rollerblade type ratchet for easy use. Maybe rollerblade parts would actually work.

[EEVblog]

I said in the video the ceiling track is not an option.

[BrianDorey]

If you add a second pair of bearings to the rails and space them around 15cm apart, it will reduce the amount of sideways wobble . I had the same problems using the same bearings and rails on my DIY pick and place machine when I only used one bearing per rail

[sparkyprojects]

Round over the corners of that bracket, sitting astride while videoing you could catch your leg on the points
Use 2 sets of rollers and 2 drawer slides for stability (mount vertically with a small platform in between), a ring clamp for a round bar that has the same fixing at the top as a tripod leg

[LPFthings]

One way you could do it is get a couple more of those linear ball bearings that fit the diameter of the tripod legs, smooth movement up and down, just use a simple screw to lock in the height.

[WhitentonMike]

If you flip the one edge track and mount it to a long board with spacer blocks between the board and bench you can have the bearing loads proper. The aluminium bar would go under one roller and over the other. Fairly simple fix.

[Sfolter]

To mount the tripod I would suggest to use a tube with one end capped and then fix it on the existing plate you have. The tube has to be just a little bit wider than the tripod arm so it can fit snugly. This way you can easily take out the tripod when you don't need it or you can extend the arm. I hope that this would be helpful. :)

[toast_recon]

If I understand you correctly, the linear rails will be mounted on the sides of the block, yes? So wouldn't the stress on the sliding attachment still be perpendicular to the intended direction unless there's a lot of tension in the mount?

[JulianRaya]

Having built a slider before, here is my humble recommendation. Being that you already have the forwards and backwards movement of the camera by using the friction lock and upper most section of the tripod, I would ditch the drawer slider, solidly mount the tripod leg to the L-bracket using u-bolts (would allow you to loosen, and shift the tripod leg up or down for height changes) and still allow all of the functionality I believe you're looking for, with a LOT more stability. Just my .02¢

[WhitentonMike]

Dave, if you put a second set of rollers beside the first spaced a bit apart and use an aluminium plate instead of a bar, you can get rid of most of that rocking flex from side to side. This would also give you a stable platform to mount a triangulated right angle piece to.

[kevincozens]

If you want to more rigidly mount the tripod to the right angle bracket you could use a pair of pipe clamps. You might have to get out a wrench to tighten and loosen the bolts when you want to add or remove the tripod, or to adjust its vertical position, but it should work a treat.

[Pnoid]

suggesion: one or two small tension / lashing straps ... regarding vertical angle stability: V-grooved piece of material mounted vertically - the round piece will auto-fit - and 0you could even use a second one with a normal clamp for a really good mount, too.

[markbell]

Hi Dave, Take one of the legs off and reverse it so the big diameter is mounted to the L-bracket and the small diameter mounted on the tripod lock ring. Then you can slide it up and down and lock it with compression clips. Cheers

[victorcastillo]

for the height/leg of the dolly you might unscrew the remaining leg of the tripod, screw an aluminium tube of the height you want to use, then use two pipe clips to hold it, one metallic that is a bit loose, on a lower positio, just to hold it to go off the sides, and an adjustable one so you can loose it, move it to place, then tight it to hold the leg in place... the adjustable can even be done with fabric strap and and a butterfly nut... sorry if i'm not very clear, not my native lenguage!