A Low-Cost Camera Slider for High-Quality Footage
Mr Innovative's motorized slider can be made using aluminum extrusion, steppers, and an Arduino Nano.
When documenting your projects, high-quality video is a must, but if you can make a smoothly moving shot that slides and pans while keeping your subject in view, this can make things look amazing. Although purchased slider options can be expensive, YouTuber My Innovative shows how to make such a rig using relatively simple parts and methods.
The main body of the slider is constructed with a pair of 20x20 aluminum profiles. These are press-fit side by side in a wooden base, impressively cut out using manual power tools and filed. The unit that holds the camera mount and panning NEMA 17 stepper motor/belt drive is also made out of hand-cut wood, with bearings and angled wheels that allow it to move. Sliding motion is actuated by a second NEMA 17, which pulls the carriage with another drive belt. This, along with an unpowered wheel on the end of the slide assembly that holds the belt in place, are fastened with 3D-printed components.
The device is controlled by a custom PCB, which mounts an Arduino Nano and two stepper drivers. User interface consists of a 0.96” OLED display and a rotary encoder to set the sliding and rotational motion, enabling it to keep an object in the center of the frame throughout its travel.
Code and more info is available via this Dropbox link, and you can see it in use/being built in the video below!