| Mounting the Servos The Video Rig uses two servos, one for panning and one for tilting. Both servos have been modified for continuous rotation, and both have a modified pinion gear mounted on the output shaft. |
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The tilt servo mount is made from 1/16" thick aluminum stock. The servo is attached to it with 2 short bolts and nuts. If I were really concerned about weigh, I would shorten the bolts until they were just long enough to thread nuts onto. |
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The mount rests against the inside of the frame. The width of the mount along the backside of the servo is wide enough so that the servo does not contact the frame. |
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Two slots were made in the mount. Two corresponding holes were made in the frame. Two small bolts with nuts hold the servo in place. The slots allow the servo/mount to slide, thus enabling the mesh between the large and small gears to be finely adjusted. |
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The mount for the pan servo before the mounting slots were cut. The large square cutout provides clearance for the head of the 8-32 bolt that functions as the rotational shaft. |
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Slotting the servo mount. Two closely spaced holes become a slot when a rat tail file is applied. |
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The pan servo mount in place without the servo attached. The pan gear/shaft assembly has been removed to facilitate the positioning of the mounting holes in the top of the frame. |
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The complete pan servo mount and pan servo. |
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The pan servo bolted to the frame prior to reattaching the rotational shaft and gear. |
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The two larger holes in the rotational shaft support piece allow access to the servo mounting screws. |
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By lining up one of the pre-existing holes in the pan gear and one of the holes in the support piece, the servo mounting screws can be tightened. This allows the mesh of the two gears to be adjusted. |
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The pan servo in place, the gear mesh set, and the the mounting screws tightened. We're ready to spin!! |
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The pan and tilt servos mounted. The tilt servo at this point will spin continuously which even the most casual of observers will note is a disaster waiting to happen. This will allow the camera cable to become wrapped around the tilt axle if extreme care is not taken. I plan to replace the tilt servo with an unmodified servo and the proper gearing to allow 90 degrees of camera movement. |