Products that offer solutions for
camera movement!
This page details what servos are
suitable for use with
gent360
PAN modification &
gent360
TILT suitability
:: 360° Servo Modification ::
gent360
products use servos that have been modified for 360º or continuous
rotation. There is a full list of
modification methods on the kaper
website. Method 3
(and 4) are the methods commonly used, and can be used by
gent360.
This page details the modification to the
servo and how
gent360
PAN can be used. I have used the same names as the kaper
reference:
NOTE: When the rotational speed is reduced individual pulses or
steps in the motor become more noticeable. Our tests conclude that whilst this
looks disconcerting, any effect they have is dampened out by the suspension
system. This is not the limiting factor is positioning the camera.
Method 3
 As
shown left the servo is opened and the feedback potentiometer is cut out and
discarded.
 A
5Kohm cermet trimmer replaces the potentiometer.
Depending on the exact layout inside the servo it may be
appropriate to use a vertical or horizontal device.
It is also preferable (but not essential) that you can adjust
the potentiometer through a hole in the outer case of the servo.
Make sure that the center pin of the cermet is connected to what
was the center pin of the original potentiometer.
 The
diagram left shows one possible orientation of the potentiometer.
 Finally
check the gearing and mechanism for any "stops" to prevent rotation
beyond the normal 90º. Remove as necessary.
Again this detail varies from servo to servo.
Method 4
 Method
4 is similar is concept to Method 3. This time, instead of replacing the
feedback potentiometer electrically, the existing potentiometer is disconnected
mechanically, but left in circuit.
The gear in the red square is modified to remove the plastic
cross in the center. When this is done the rotation of the gear no longer
rotates the potentiometer (the brass post at the right of the servo block).
 The
diagram to the right shows how this is done (white area drilled out).
 As
for Method 3 check the gearing and mechanism for any "stops" to
prevent rotation beyond the normal 90º. Remove as necessary.
Again this detail varies from servo to servo.
Thanks to David Hunt and www.kaper.us
for the material used here. So far you may have done this work already, read on
to the next section to see what you have to do additionally to use
gent360
PAN.
Calibration of gent360-PAN
With both these methods the cermet and potentiometer are
normally adjusted roughly to stop rotation with the transmitter stick in the
neutral position. With
gent360
these adjustments have to be made more accurately.
The
gent360
has a built-in calibration mode which you only need to use once for each modified
servo.
By connecting
gent360
directly between a battery and the servo you then adjust the cermet, or the
potentiometer, in the servo to stop rotation. Once this is done you don't need to
adjust the servo again, simply connect the
gent360
in series with the servo lead between the RC receiver and the pan servo.
Full instructions are included with the device when ordered.
:: 90° & 180° Servo Suitability ::
 gent360
TILT is designed to extent the rotation of a standard servo. In the
mode that does this to a full 180° some non standard servos will not work. Note
we a re no talking about servos that have been modified for continuous or 360°
operation!
This section allows you to check if the servo is suitable for
180° operation.
-
Take the servo and add a standard plastic fitting to the
drive so that you can apply some purchase with your fingers.
-
With the servo unpowered apply pressure and rotate
the output slowly. Inside the device there are mechanical stops and you
should feel increased pressure when you reach the end. Note this point and
rotate back to find the other stop.
These points will be 200° apart in a standard servo, if not do
not use gent360
TILT.
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