Understanding your gear
How I built a slider first time around
To use a tool you need to know how to use it. Obvious right? Paperweighing with a Hammer; Hammering with a spanner; spannering with a micrometre*. Tools often don’t get used for their intended purpose. Knowing how you can use a tool properly can make it more invaluable. however, there are tradeoffs.
*no micrometres were harmed in the making of this post
*no micrometres were harmed in the making of this post
Intimately knowing a tool makes developing projects easy. When the tools aren’t known it can often lead to the final product looking a bit jank/Heath Robinson (1)
Not often do my personal projects have such a succinct project development and execution phase. In the design of this slider, I encountered a series of interesting dilemmas. Through the process, I became acquainted with how 3D printing can be used to create complex parts. In a single design loop I designed a timelapse slider to create smooth time-lapses like this:
Not often do my personal projects have such a succinct project development and execution phase. In the design of this slider, I encountered a series of interesting dilemmas. Through the process, I became acquainted with how 3D printing can be used to create complex parts. In a single design loop I designed a timelapse slider to create smooth time-lapses like this:
Sliding all over the world:
Professional sliders have speed control tilt axes and many other features. The cheapest is hundreds of pounds.
These bits of film equipment are essential for the production of smooth dynamic time-lapses. It is much easier to do a static shot with a timeplase. But with a slider, the movement creates an extra unnoticed intrigue into the shot. Compare these two shots of me drawing plans for a pizza cutter.
Although the framing of the shot with my back to the camera is worse the dynamysism of the slider makes it more engaging. You can tell when this effect is faked in films and documentaries as the parallax (2) is all wrong.
The shot’s fast action paired with the camera’s slow-motion through the scene complement one another. This technique is usually the domain of high-end movie productions. However, through the use of 3D printing, the cost can be significantly reduced. Design for 3D printing enables many different designs that would be impossible with subtractive or transformative manufacturing processes.
The shot’s fast action paired with the camera’s slow-motion through the scene complement one another. This technique is usually the domain of high-end movie productions. However, through the use of 3D printing, the cost can be significantly reduced. Design for 3D printing enables many different designs that would be impossible with subtractive or transformative manufacturing processes.
3D printing revolt
3D printers have opened up manufacturing capabilities to many people. but it is often undertaken by people with a limited understanding of the power of the tool available to them. To get the most out of the technology understanding the limits is key so that these limits can be pushed. 3D printing (3) excels at four bullet points to the left.
To create the slider internal features and complex geometry was used. Multi-part assemblies are great, providing your printer can create fine tolerances, and compliant mechanisms are functionally brilliant, however, neither was needed in this project.
To create the slider internal features and complex geometry was used. Multi-part assemblies are great, providing your printer can create fine tolerances, and compliant mechanisms are functionally brilliant, however, neither was needed in this project.
Internal features
Simple electronic control was implemented to stop the motor when the slider carriage reached the end of travel. End-stop switches integrated into the mechanical system work well as it is entirely electrical, no PCBs are required. A spaghetti of wires around the slider could be the result.
Using routing tools the design of 3D printer parts enabled the cable routing to be fully integrated within the printed components so that no wires needed to be exposed. (opacity showing cable routing.) Using hollow tubes as the frame enabled cables from the far end-stop to be fed through the frame creating a clean look and increasing the longevity of this filmmaking tool.
An upgrade maybe to give it a basic memory so that once the end stop is reached the carriage automatically returns in the opposite direction. But the current system works well with the electronics shutting off once the end stop is reached:
An upgrade maybe to give it a basic memory so that once the end stop is reached the carriage automatically returns in the opposite direction. But the current system works well with the electronics shutting off once the end stop is reached:
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