Automated Tool for Amateur Film Maker

This report represents a project for creating simple automated solutions to support amateur filmmakers. Currently, amateur filmmakers are creating content on growing social media platforms such as Tik Tok and YouTube. Therefore, there is an increased interest in filmmaking tools to create and produce beginner-level content. Using sourced research from professional filmmakers, our team researched the most critical parts of creating film tools including object tracking, stabilization, quality, and mechanical transmission. Stabilization is successfully achieved through a series of different methods being used simultaneously. Mechanical transmission allows for the film to be more mobile and stabilized and core concepts such as lighting and image quality muSst be taken into account when creating our solution. Requirements will be conceived to ensure this solution needs to be achievable by a beginner level of expertise. The cost is to be less than one hundred dollars as well so that the project is affordable for amateur filmmakers.

1. 1X2X8 Furring Strip

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Part Number: 1031515

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2. National Hardware 4” Nickel Sash Lift

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3. Madison Mill ½” x 36” Oak Round Dowel

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4. Midwest Fastener #10-24X1” Stainless Steel Hex Drive Coarse Thread Socket Cap Screw

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5. Grip Fast® #10-24 Grade 2 Zinc Nylon Insert Lock Nut - 16 Count

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6. Grip Fast® #8 x 2" Star Drive Yellow Zinc Flat Head Construction Screw - 1 lb Box

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7. Grip Fast® 1" Wire Brads - 1.75 oz

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8. Midwest Fastener® 1/4" x 5/16" Stainless Steel 3-Prong Tee Nut - 1 Count

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11. Jeremywell #40 Roller Chain Idler Sprocket 5/8" Bore Hardened 17 Tooth

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14. STEPPERONLINE Nema 17 Stepper Motor Bipolar 2A 59Ncm(84oz.in) 48mm Body 4-lead W/ 1m Cable and Connector compatible with 3D Printer/CNC

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15. ELEGOO 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire 40pin Male to Female, 40pin Male to Male, 40pin Female to Female Breadboard Jumper Wires Ribbon Cables Kit Compatible with Arduino Projects

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17. ACEIRMC 3D Printer CNC Shield V3 Engraver Expansion Board with 4X A4988 Driver Module and 4 x Radiator

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Designs for the project include a frame, rail/track to slide upon, a carriage, a motor for the carriage, power transmission, a motor to serve as a rotator, a rotator itself, a controller for digital control, and a mount for fastening a recording device. Since 3D printed materials are often not easily accessible to the general public, it was decided to offer multiple component choices for selection so that users could have more options in the creation of the device even if they do not have access to a 3D printer.

1. Cut all the parts to build the frame and rails: 4: 1x2x12 rails 6: 1x2x4 rails.

2. Then drill two guide holes at each end of each 1x2x12 rail on the 2” side. (label A

3. Then drill two guide holes at each end of each 1x2x4 rail on the 1” side.

4. Use a right-angle clamp and eight screws to make the bottom rectangle using two 1x2x12 rails and two 1x2x4 rails. (label B)

5. Once connected, flip the rectangle over and drill four guide holes on each side of the 1x2x4 rails of the base.

6. Put the base aside and drill two holes on both ends of the other four 1x2x4 rails, which will be used to sustain the last two 1x2x12 rails.

7. Screw-in eight screws from the bottom of the base to connect the base to the 1x2x4 rails. Make sure to clamp your pieces, in order to get a straight connection.

8. Once completed, screw in the two 1x2x12 rails to the top of the vertical 1x2x4 rails.

Frame issues:

Warped wood was the only issue encountered. Make sure when buying wood that it is not warped or bowing.

Originally the rail was supposed to be one continuous piece but when working with the chain tension adjustments it was realized that the chain needed to be lower than the rail. As a result, a portion of the rail (label A) was cut out so that the chain could be lower.

1. Cut four 0.75x1.5x4 rails.

2. Drill two guide holes at the end of each part.

3. On the opposite end of the guide, holes drill a 0.625 shaft hole.

4. Lightly hammer the two dowels into the larger drill holes.

5. Place a spacer, sprocket, and another spacer on each wooden shaft

6. Hammer in the second shaft mounts onto each wooden shaft.

7. Once assembled, drill two guide holes on either side of the four vertical 1x2x4 rails.

8. Then screw the shaft mounts on the outsides of the vertical 1x2x4 rails.

Troubles with shaft mounts:

Hammering various pieces into the wood proved to be a more difficult task than initially envisioned. Care had to be taken so that the wood was not damaged during hammering and hammering needed to be done in such a way that pieces remained straight. Initially, pieces were not hammered on straight.

1. Measure out the chain so that there is tension throughout.

2. Place the chain into the system and try to reconnect the chain.

- If this is hard to accomplish loosen the tensioner enough for you to put the chain in place ad then tighten it.

Troubles with Chain and Sprockets:

Initially, the chain was not the correct size. We used a chain breaker to break the chain to make the chain smaller but one too many links were broken off so a master link was needed to add an additional link to bring the chain back to the correct size.

1. Use the CAD drawings to ensure you cut and drill the motor mount correctly. Make two of these since one will be used for the carriage later.

2. On the side of the frame connect the motor mount to the frame.

3. Screw in the motor and place the tensioning sprocket on the shaft. Add a washer and screw or a shaft collar to secure it.

Troubles with the tensioner:

When tightening the tensioner, at first the tensioner was too tight and needed to be readjusted. After a second attempt, the tensioner was then too loose to function correctly. It took a third adjustment attempt until the tensioner was tensioned correctly.

Use the CAD drawings to ensure you cut and drill each side of the carriage correctly.

1. Connect the main box using wood glue and clamps. Place the motor mount facing up, place the bottom of the top section of the box (label A).

2. Then hammer four nails across every connection point after the glue has dried. (label B)

3. Once that is completed screw in the camera motor ensuring the wires are routed nicely. (label C)

4. Then place the carriage on top of the rails and connect it to the chain using a screw, washer, and lock nut. (label D)

5. Finally, insert the undercarriage section below the rail, clamp, and hammer in four nails for each connection to the main box.

Troubles with the Carriage:

Just as with the rails, the only trouble that was encountered with the carriage was slight bending of the wood material. The wood was not always straight which occasionally made it challenging to bind the wood with other wood pieces.

1. The rotator consists of 4 pieces and a camera mount part on top. (label A)

2. Cut all wood pieces according to designs and also cut a hole on the bottom wood piece so that the wood dowel can be inserted. (label B)

3. Nail the pieces together and insert the camera mount on the top piece. (label C)

Design change rotator:

During construction, it was realized that the rotator could be made with fewer pieces so a design change was made to reflect this. The picture on the right is a picture of the final design.

1. Connect the 12V battery, motors, and Arduino according to the picture.
2. Place the CNC onto the Arduino, with the reset button at the left corner next to the upload port. Remember that the CNC board has to be offset by 2 pins to the “right” (if the upload port of the Arduino is on the “left” side) (Lable A). You will know your orientation is correct if the ground pins on the Arduino line up with the CNC shield ground pins. Also, the reset pin on the Arduino should line up with the reset pin on the CNC shield.
3. Using a female to male jumper cable, connect two Ena/GND pins on the CNC board ( to the breadboard so that they are grounded. (Label B)
4. The drivers, which are responsible for driving the motors, will need to be installed on the CNC shield. Both drivers will have the same orientation on the CNC shield. (Label C)
5. With the upload port of the Arduino being “bottom”, orient the drivers so that the EN pin on the board is on the bottom left-oriented towards the device, and the STEP DIR pin is located on the bottom right away from the device. Use the two CNC sockets that are located on the “left”, on the device side of the CNC shield. After this, we will need to wire the two servo motors to the two drivers. A single servo motor will have 4 wires: black, green, red, and blue. Starting from the “left” or device side of the CNC shield, take a single servo motor and wire it to the driver in the following order: black green, blue-red, with black being on the device side of the CNC shield and blue being on the CNC shield side that is furthest from the device. Match what is done for the next step. (Label D)

1. Connect the power supply 12V to the system as well as the ON/OFF switch. (label A)
2. The electrical socket has three holes that wires will need to be plugged into. With the power supply being in the “bottom” direction, take wire 7 (label 7) and attach the end of the wire to the bottom-most hole in the socket.
3. Wire 8 (label 8) serves as a ground and will connect to the middle hole in the bottom of the socket. (label B) The topmost hole will have a small wire going to the cathode of the switch (label C).
4. Lastly, The red wire, wire 9(label 9) will then go to the anode of the switch.

// Include the AccelStepper Library
#include <AccelStepper.h>

//Control Parameters

//Linear Control
int MaxSpeedX = 1000; //Max Speed: 0-1000
int SpeedX = 1000; //Min Speed: 0-1000
int AccelerationX = 100; //Acceleration 0-100 NO GREATER
float PositionX = 22; //0-22 in Inches; Positive: Left, Negative: Right

//Axial Control
int SpeedY = 15; //10-50
int AccelerationY = 100; //acceleration 0-25
float AngleY = 90; // degrees from 0-180


//DO NOT TOUCH BELOW


// Define pin connections
const int dirPinX = 5;
const int stepPinX = 2;

const int dirPinY = 6;
const int stepPinY = 3;

// Define motor interface type
#define motorInterfaceType 1

// Creates an instance
AccelStepper StepperX(motorInterfaceType, stepPinX, dirPinX);
AccelStepper StepperY(motorInterfaceType, stepPinY, dirPinY);

void setup() {

  PositionX = (PositionX * 950.0/22.0);

  StepperX.setMaxSpeed(MaxSpeedX);
  StepperX.setAcceleration(AccelerationX);
  StepperX.setSpeed(SpeedX); //inital speed
  StepperX.moveTo(PositionX); //target pos 0-950


  AngleY = (100.0/180.0 * AngleY); //Degrees to position
  
  StepperY.setMaxSpeed(SpeedY);
  StepperY.setAcceleration(AccelerationY); 
  StepperY.setSpeed(SpeedY);
  StepperY.moveTo(AngleY); //target pos 0-100
}

void loop() {
  // Moves Both Steppers
  StepperX.run();
  StepperY.run();
}