I put my homemade gyroscope on two chopsticks. Balances pretty well but as video shows I needed to apply a little force on one side now and then to stop the gyro from precessing and keep it balanced and centered. Seems shoddy workmanship can only go so far. Still quite interesting and it shows that possibly using a servo controlled counterweight could potentially dynamically control the gyros precession and restore balance to the gyro. You see a file clip and some magnets I added to the right side of the gyro frame which I used as counter weight to stop some precessing;the weight of the gryo really needs to be centered over the chopsticks or the gyro will precess and eventually fall over.
I got smart and started using a PWM to control motor speed and use a wall wart for power. Tired of recharging AA batteries.
What I really want to try next is what is shown in this photo:
which shows counter-weights attached to gyro gimbal which restores the car to center when it starts to tilt. That would be awesome.
Also, I want to get away from rotors made of cds. On my last rotor I drilled holes through the cds and bolted them together (bad idea as the screws love to chew through things like clothes and skin) and this cracked and delaminated the cds and then one of them shattered and exploded at a few thousand rpm. Didn't hurt me but a piece of that in the eye would ruin your days.
I now have a rotor I stole from a PowerBall but had to have a machinest friend make me an axle collar. Also I am going to use a caster wheel for a rotor using the same collar. Should be a smoother running gyro.
This photo shows university gyro that inspired my gyro:
and link to their website: http://www.oberlin.edu/physics/catalog/demonstrations/mech/balancinggyro.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Kz9emht80