Pan & tilt for outdoor webcam

Help & Support Robot Parts
1

Hi, it’s first time I post, I hope to be in the right section.

I would like to make a pan & tilt for outdoor webcam (particulary way the tilt, pan isn’t essential).

I’ve seen BPT-KT device, but I have some duobts about my webcam weight: it’s about 2Kg (4,41 lbs).
Does it support the weight?

Then it’s an outdoor webcam, working up to -20 °C.
Would be the servo damaged?

I would like, if possible, have an encoder to make a set of pre-defined positions. Can I do this with the servo embedded?

If not, please give me advice about which servo to use.
Thanks.

2

For making a servo pan/tilt for heavy cams, you need to make a pan/tilt mount that is balanced such that the servo only moves the cam and does not support any of its weight. Servo city makes a heavy duty servo pan/tilt mount, but it is somewhat expensive.

3

Also, servos are not weather tight and may not like being outdoors in wet weather. Additionally, if you experience freezing weather, there are additional concerns - like literally freezing up the works!

In this post from 2007, italian_guy299 describes how he enclosed his robot in Lexan and caulked all seams for operation in weather - Military Armed Reconaissance Combat (MARC) Robot

:slight_smile: dj

4

I’ve used the Servo City Pan/Tilt with good success. Fair weather!

For adverse conditions, I’d make up some sort of vinyl “boot” to keep the servos and gears warm. A little 7.5W lamp could help here, but you’ll have to work out just how much heat to add.

Alan KM6VV

servocity.com/html/medium-duty_pan_systems.html

5

Here is one from servo city but it is very expensive, but if your cam is 4 pounds you need something stronger than the 4 pound capacity so when it starts and stops, it wont snap or break.

6

I’ve been thinking about…I don’t know in english, but we say “endless screw”.
It doesn’t matter if it’s slow, but it works even if there isn’t balanced load.

7

Probably would help if you posted a picture of the camera you want to use.

8

Sounds like “lead screw”? screw drives can give you the torque. You can alter an R/C servo to allow the “continuous rotation” you’d need.

the Servo City link I posted has well-geared tilt/pan, but costs upwards of $100 as I recall for the set and the servos. Good stuff!

Alan KM6VV