Me too, and I'm trying to learn the firmware code so I can experiment on it myself. But that might take awhile.

Originally Posted by mattchase

Me too, and I'm trying to learn the firmware code so I can experiment on it myself. But that might take awhile.

That will take me another life time that I don't have.

How about the plan to kit some of the required parts?
I will definately build a gimbal from your plans. Should i wait for a kit?
You think it's going to happen?

Originally Posted by tigar

How about the plan to kit some of the required parts?
I will definately build a gimbal from your plans. Should i wait for a kit?
You think it's going to happen?

I do expect to make a kit for the gimbal, but I don't expect it to be available for at least a couple weeks. I've ordered all the parts I can imagine needing, and once they arrive I'll start fitting the plates.

Cheers,
Rusty

Ya, I'd love to see you test the multiwii controller on this gimbal.

Would the multiwii perform better as a standalone gimbal, vs. flight controller & gimbal control? Or is it going to be pretty much the same both ways?

Originally Posted by 13brv3

I do expect to make a kit for the gimbal, but I don't expect it to be available for at least a couple weeks. I've ordered all the parts I can imagine needing, and once they arrive I'll start fitting the plates.

Cheers,
Rusty

Awesome rusty...can't wait.....

Seismic,

What is the breakdown on the components for weight? plates versus hardware?

i.e. would it make that much difference to use CF or better still ultra stiff CF laminate/composites such as .125 balsa-CF laminate?

If it is only a 100g saved then probably not worth the trouble.

Originally Posted by SeismicCWave

Ok I flew the carbon tube version today and it is performing as expected. There were no wind so pretty hard to test. I had to do some gyration with the quad to check the stabilization. My conclusion, the roll is perfect. I have to tune the tilt just a little. It may be over compensating or under compensation. However the movements are all very smooth so the gimbal works as expected.

The penalty is the 700 grams of the gimbal.

I will post video in a while. Here are the pictures of the machine after the flight.

Originally Posted by FlyingRodent

Seismic,

What is the breakdown on the components for weight? plates versus hardware?

i.e. would it make that much difference to use CF or better still ultra stiff CF laminate/composites such as .125 balsa-CF laminate?

If it is only a 100g saved then probably not worth the trouble.

Not worth the trouble with end grain balsa carbon plate. The reason is that they tend to crush and you have to sleeve all the holes.

Just stumbled across this thread today. Nice job! I know you have seen my gimbal ( http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1740497 ). I found the carbon fiber tube on my gimbal had too much twist that led to flex. I was running 12mm but it looks like yours my be 14mm or larger? I went to aluminum tube and that cleared up the flex mostly. With the design of our gimbals hanging out the camera so far away from the down pole it makes it more difficuly to eliminate play and flex. I've been looking at other designs (hoverfly) that hangs the camera below and you wouldn't have that problem but the mechanism is more complicated. Anyhow great work!

I also tried the second level isolation (Similar to what Gary did) using 8 of the ears but for my gimbal it led to oscillations on the nex-5n. It wasn't vibrating all the time just occasionally. It did isolate the HF vibes nicely but the NEX-5 maybe a bit heavy for it.

I like what you did with putting the roll servo on the tilt arm. The benefit is that you can locate the camera gimbal closer to the multirotor to help eliminate flex. The downside is you are adding more weight to the roll component. I don't think this will be an issue though.

Askman is right when he says there is no free lunch in this. Definitely a lot of engineering and re engineering goes into the development on one of these. I ordered the HF gimbal controller to just get a benchmark of where my gimbal sits compared to what others have built. I'll probably just opensource all the files for mine in hopes that the community can contribute to making it better.


Brendin

Originally Posted by mattchase

I've been using a CC as well and the tilt axis has been my nemesis. I can get the roll axis somewhat close, not great but acceptable, but the tilt axis is either too fast or too slow. I'm not sure if this is in part due to my servo or not, and I'm using the CC as both flight controller and gimbal controller so can't fine tune it as well as when it is used as a gimbal controller only. I have an extra CC now as well as a new Paris board that I bought with the intention of using it as a gimbal controller, I'm not quite ready to give up on the CC doing both flight and gimbal control just yet but probably will eventually go to a dedicated gimbal controller.

I have also used the CC for gimbal control and pretty much think multiwii works a bit better.. I even used the custom f/w for just gimbal control on the CC. Roll always lags and does not like yawing! IMHO They will need someone on the team that understands the logic behind what is needed on a gimbal only controller and fix the hardware supply runs, so they can have more testers / contributors !

Also another FYI, Talked with Stacy @ HF and they have no plans for a 2axis gimbal controller as of Sept 3rd.

with popularity of HFG and lack of competition, I can see why HF don't want to create a 2 axis version now. that is too bad, as they were thinking about it earlier.

I know most are not using the Naza for gimbal control, is it the speed??


Thanks,


MIke

Originally Posted by power

I know most are not using the Naza for gimbal control, is it the speed??


Thanks,


MIke

It is to a point. Naza gimbal control is pretty limited. I had a roll twitch but that went away. I am working on tilt bounce but that is not because of the Naza. Also the servo travel adjustment is tied to the gain control which makes it difficult to tune.

Rusty - rough idea of what the gimbal kit might cost? Assuming it'll be designed to mate nicely with your camera dampener plates.

I'm using a NAZA FC - just to chime in on the discussion.

Dan

could someone tell me what is the purpose of the potentiometer?
tks