3D Shape Engineering Motorized Camera Slider v1 Operator's manual
Motorized Camera Slider v1
Documentation & Instrusctions
©2018 3D Shape Engineering
3dshapeengineering.com
3D Shape Engineering Motorized Camera Slider
Documentation & Instructions
Thank You for purchasing our camera slider! Please take some time to read over this
documentation, and if you have any additional questions, please reach out to us via
email at [email protected] You can also find us on instagram at
@3dshapeengineering or on facebook at fb.me/3dshapeengineering as well as
3dshapeengineering.com
Package Contents:
-Camera Slider with Motor
-Electronics Module
-Battery Caddy & Protection Case
-¼” Female to ⅜” Male Threaded Adapter
-Instructions
Electronics Module
This camera slider comes with a detachable electronics module that sets the speed
and controls the direction of the slider plate on which the camera mounts to. It
features a control knob and a direction change button. Turn the knob left to
decrease speed, turn right to increase speed, press the knob down to resume or
pause movement. Long pressing the knob will reset the time back to zero. Pressing
the Direction change button will change the direction the slider plate is moving in
real time. The slider plate in its current configuration does not have any way to
sense if it reaches either end of the slider, before it reaches the end, you will
need to manually change the direction or tell it to stop.
The lcd screen is used to display battery life, movement speed (in millimeters a
second), the amount of time it will take to move across the entire length of the
slider as well as the current state of the motor movement.
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3dshapeengineering.com
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3D Shape Engineering Motorized Camera Slider
Documentation & Instructions
The motor connects to a port on the inside of the electronics module. The
connection is labeled STEPPER CONN and is on the opposite end of the opening for
the motor wire.
The electronics module is easily removable so you can change settings without
disturbing the slider. The electronics module arm has a cable holder for the motor
cable. Make sure the motor cable does not come in contact with the wheels of the
slider plate.
Powering The Camera Slider Electronics Module
The electronics module currently supports the use of (2) 18650 3.7v batteries. Insert
the batteries into the caddy, making sure to pay attention to the + and - signs on one
of the ends. Align the ends of the batteries up to the line near the + and - markings
and insert the caddy into the electronics box when you are ready to use the slider.
When the slider is not being used, please remove the battery caddy and place the
Battery Protection Case over the Battery Caddy.
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3D Shape Engineering Motorized Camera Slider
Documentation & Instructions
*18650 Batteries and Battery Charger are not included.
Practicing Battery Safety
All v1.0b Slider Electronic Modules will shut off motor movement when the battery
has been drained to the point where the display reads “LOW 0%”. Once your battery
has reached this state of discharge, remove it and charge it immediately.
Discharging lithium batteries below a certain voltage can cause damage to the cells
and / or a risk of fire due to the cells becoming unstable.
Attaching a camera / cell phone / recording device to the slider plate.
The slider plate features a standard ¼”-20 bolt. We highly recommend purchasing a
tripod head (not included) to attach to the slider plate, making camera angle
adjustments easy. The slider plate can handle up to 5-6 lbs of weight, depending on
the angle the slider is running on. If the motor is bucking (struggling to move,
making odd noises), the load is too heavy. The slider is designed to handle the load of
a DSLR with a decent sized zoom lens with a decent sized aluminum ball head.
Some tripod heads require a ⅜” threaded bolt to attach, in this case you will need to
purchase a ¼”-20 to ⅜” converter.
©2018 3D Shape Engineering
3dshapeengineering.com
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3D Shape Engineering Motorized Camera Slider
Documentation & Instructions
Setting up the slider on the ground or on a tripod.
The slider comes with 4 M5 bolt legs that are adjustable to level the slider when
shooting on a surface without a tripod. The slider plate has a spirit bubble level
which can be used to level the slider when the plate is in the middle of the track. The
slider can also be set at an angle up to 90 degrees. Make sure to secure the slider
when doing this to avoid damage.
Thee slider has 3 ¼”-20 threaded holes on the bottom of the track. It can be held up
with one heavy duty tripod in the middle, or two lighter duty tripods on both sides.
Using a single lighter duty tripod to hold it up can lead to instability and possible
damage to the tripod and / or slider.
Securing the Slider Plate while idle / not in use.
When the batteries are installed and the motor is not running, the electronics
module will still send current to the motor to hold it into place. While power is
applied to the electronics module, do not manually move the slider plate or you risk
damaging the motor / electronics.
Before removing the batteries from the electronics module, make sure to tension
the stopper bolt on the side of the slider plate. Failure to tighten the stopping bolt
can lead to the slider plate moving / shifting suddenly as well as possible damage to
your camera equipment. Make sure to loosen the stopping bolt when you resume
use, as to not damage the motor, belt or electronics.
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3dshapeengineering.com
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3D Shape Engineering Motorized Camera Slider
Documentation & Instructions
Specifications
Input Voltage: 7.4 - 8.4 volts
Battery Life: Varies Per Battery Capacity
Slider Travel Length: ~1000mm
Maximum Rate of Speed: 62mm/s or 2.4”/s
Minimum Rate of Speed: 0.016mm/s or 0.0006”/s
Time to span entire length of slider: 15 seconds - 16 hours
Slider Plate Weight Limit: 5-6 lbs or 2.7 kg
Troubleshooting
1. The Electronics Module will not power on. - Ensure the batteries are
oriented correctly (see diagram on the battery caddy) and that they are fully
inserted into the battery caddy, stopping at the line marked by the arrow in
the center. Double check that the batteries are charged up properly.
2. The motor does not move or hold position when electronics module is
powered on. - Reseat the motor connector firmly into the motor port. Ensure
none of the wires of the motor pin have separated from the motor connector.
3. The slider plate struggles to move / the motor is making strange noises -
Check to make sure that the stopper bolt is loose and not engaging with the
slider frame.If that doesn't work, you may have to reduce the weight of your
camera setup to a usable weight limit. (Typically 5-6lbs)
4. The electronics box / motor is really hot or smoking. - Disconnect the
battery caddy from the electronics module if safe to do so. If the batteries are
hot, put them in a place far away from flammable items.
5. The slider plate movement is no longer smooth. - Ensure the slider track
where the wheels make contact as well as the wheels themselves are clean of
any dirt or debris. Use only isopropyl alcohol to clean the wheels / track.
Warranty
We offer a 1 year limited warranty that is included with the initial purchase of this
product. Any persons making a warranty claim must have the original receipt / order
number of the purchase for the warranty to be honored. This limited warranty
coverage may change at any time and is up to the discretion of 3D Shape
Engineering. In order to place a warranty claim, please contact us at
[email protected] or 3dshapeengineering.com/pages/contact-us
This warranty currently covers these issues up to (1 year) after purchase:
❖Electronic / Mechanical failure caused by manufacturing defects.
❖Excessive mechanical wear caused by normal usage.
❖Physical damage caused by shipping and / or normal usage.
The warranty is void under the following conditions:
©2018 3D Shape Engineering
3dshapeengineering.com
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3D Shape Engineering Motorized Camera Slider
Documentation & Instructions
❖A defective or incorrect battery / power adapter was inserted into the
electronics module.
❖The batteries were inserted the wrong way, causing damage to the
electronics.
❖Physical / Mechanical damage caused by improper use / abuse.
For additional information on how to use and care for your slider check out the
following link or scan the QR code below:
[help page url]
[help page QR code]
Thank you again for your purchase! We hope you create stunning footage with this
awesome tool! If you share any of your slider footage on social media, make sure to
tag your post with #3dsecameraslider so we can feature your video on our social
media!
©2018 3D Shape Engineering
3dshapeengineering.com
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