Camera Slider Utilizes Skateboard Trucks

Camera Slider



17 thoughts on “Camera Slider Utilizes Skateboard Trucks

  1. Put the lead screw in tension. With a stout bracket on each end supporting an angular contact ball bearing and the rod tensioned it won’t whip until a much higher RPM is reached.

  2. Go back to non-slip tires and drive them with spring grabbing counter rotation. Geared stepper.
    Now you are ready for extending the line any way. Curves, excitement.

    1. I had thought the same thing when I saw the picture… Possibly. There are machines that utilize bearings on “gas pipe” with angle iron and skate bearings… But those bearings are flat against the pipe not riding the edges like this is.

    1. Yeah that’s pretty common, this sort of thing:

      Downsides are your motor needs to be on the moving bit (adds weight), plus you need to run a cable for power & control (not too difficult).

      Better performance than threaded rod, still has a few problems over long runs with belt rebound etc.

      Using the skateboard trucks is clever, cuts down the fab time by having the nicely bearings lined up for you.

      1. Why does the motor need to be on the moving bit? Fix the motor at one end, use an open belt, and fix both ends of the belt on the moving carriage.

        Better yet, use a spool on the motor and Spectra fishing line. This project is well down the budget road, no reason to ruin it with expensive belting.

        1. Because you halve the amount of belt you need, plus less belt = less stretch etc.

          Plenty of people use a loop with the motor at the end (my lasers do).

          Cable drive (fishing line) is basically the same as belts. Tensioning can get a bit fiddly.

          Most things work fine until they hit a limit, like threaded rods whip as the RPMs go up. Then you try belts, and rack & pinion after that. Or clamped rubber wheels if you can get positioning to work accurately.

  3. for extended use you will notice a flat getting worn towards the centre of the rails, you can rotate the rod in it’s place every 6 months or so to get a bit more life out of it… that is more a problem from continual oscillation (manufacturing) so you might get away with it here.

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