MMM camera pivot

[James Harr]

If/When it breaks again, we might try a design closer to this. It'd require some modifications since the camera is different, but the direct drive might work out pretty well if the servos can take it.

http://www.thingiverse.com/image:164292 

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^[:wq^M

[David Knaack]

I think that even that little might be overkill. If we use slightly larger servos we can just stick them together with the camera on the end. Pan servo screwed down facing up, the next sits sideways on that (just epoxy the horn to the side of the servo), and then attach the side of the camera to the second servo. Arrange the mount points so the rotation axis are approximately balanced and it should be good. 

[James Harr]

Agreed. I like the balanced, direct drive [low play] design was the part that I was really interested in.

What size of servos are on there now? How large would you go? Any good/bad luck with particular manufacturers? I was contemplating getting a couple to play with anyway. Because, you know, I can't order just the stuff I need from hobby king.

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[Kevin Fusselman]

The ones on there now are size tiny. Size "standard" is probably fine for no heavier than the camera is...

[Brandon Norris]

Something like this would be plenty i would think

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__2__HXT_10kg_Servo_metal_gear_55g_10kg_16sec.html 

[Ben Hutcheson]

I wouldn't necessarily bother with metal gears, though. You can go even cheaper if you skip that; any standard size servo will be more than adequate (I've mounted quarter-horsepower motors directly to servos weaker than Brandon posted).  I'd be tempted to cheap out and play with something like these.

[David Knaack]

Even the tiny ones would probably be fine as long as the load on the tilt servo axis is close to the camera center of mass.

The MMM has a linear ramp on the servo position already (it could actually go faster, but it puts too much stress on the flimsy control rods), so the rate can be adjusted to keep the dynamic load on the servos reasonable.