MRMC PTA-1 User manual

CRANES AND RIGS | BROADCAST | HEADS & DSLR | PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY | RENTALS
PTA-1
Quick Start Guide
QSG Product code: MRMC-2266-00
Product Covered: MRMC-1555-00, MRMC-2251-00

ii
PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
Product code: MRMC-2266-00
Product Covered: MRMC-1555-00, MRMC-2251-00
© 2021 Mark Roberts Motion Control Ltd. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or translated
by any means — graphical, electronic, or mechanical — including
photocopying, recording, taping, or storage in an information retrieval
system, without the express written permission of Mark Roberts Motion
Control.
Although every care has been taken to ensure that the information in this
document is accurate and up to date, Mark Roberts Motion Control
continuously strives to improve their products and may make changes to
the hardware, firmware, and software described in this document. Mark
Roberts Motion Control therefore cannot be held responsible for any
error or omission in this document.
All product names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners.
Contact information
Mark Roberts Motion Control Ltd.
Unit 3, South East Studios
Blindley Heath
Surrey
RH7 6JP
United Kingdom
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]m (sales and general enquiries)
[email protected]m (customer support)
Web: www.mrmoco.com
www.mrmocorentals.com

iii
PTA-1Quick Start GuidePTA-1Quick Start Guide
Contents
Chapter 1 Quick Start..................................................................... 1
Important safety instructions ...............................................1
Power and connections................................................1
General care...................................................................1
Location .........................................................................2
Intellectual property .....................................................2
Overview ................................................................................. 3
Mounting positions................................................................3
Setting up the hardware ........................................................3
Connecting the cables ...........................................................8
Appendix 1 Troubleshooting........................................................... 11
Typical symptoms, causes, and actions .............................11
Appendix 2 PTA-1 connectors ........................................................ 13
Connector pin-outs..............................................................14
Panel mount connector..............................................14
Panel mount connector..............................................15
Power In connector ....................................................15
Mains In connector ....................................................16
SDI Out Connector ....................................................16
Switchable 24VDC 1A Connector............................16
Video In Connector....................................................17
Serial Lens connector for internal servo LCMs......17
Focus, Zoom connectors for external servo
LCMs ............................................................................18
CAMERA POWER 12VDC OUT 10A
connector (large 4-way XLR) ....................................18
Appendix 3 Specifications............................................................... 20

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
iv

1
PTA-1 Quick Start GuidePTA-1Quick Start Guide
Chapter 1 Quick Start
Important safety instructions
To ensure the best from the product, please read this manual carefully.
Keep it in a safe place for future reference.
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover from the
unit. No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified
personnel.
Power and connections
This unit must be connected to a mains socket outlet with a
protective earth connection.
This unit is not disconnected from the AC power source as
long as it is connected to the wall outlet.
When not using the unit for a long period of time, ensure that
the AC power cord is disconnected from the wall outlet.
The AC wall outlet should be installed near to the unit and be
easily accessible.
Do not plug in or attempt to operate an obviously damaged
unit.
General care
Do not force switches or external connections.
When moving the unit, disconnect the mains cable and then
disconnect the long umbilical cable.
Do not attempt to clean the unit with chemical solvents or
aerosol cleaners, as this may damage the unit. Use a clean dry
cloth.
Do not use around flammable gas. All electrical equipment can
generate sparks that can ignite flammable gas.
Keep away from pets and children. The head has powerful
motors that can pinch, so take care not to get your hands
trapped in the head or cabling.

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
2
Keep cables tidy. Use cable ties to keep them out of harm’s way.
If you have a head with slip rings then make use of them; avoid
running any cables between the base and the rotating head or
camera.
Location
Installation of this unit should be away from sources of excessive heat,
vibration, and dust.
Intellectual property
This product includes confidential and/or trade secret property.
Therefore, you may not copy, modify, adapt, translate, distribute, reverse
engineer, or decompile contents thereof.

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
3
Overview
Thank you for using the PTA-1 robotic camera head from Mark Roberts
Motion Control (MRMC). The versatility of the PTA-1 to work with any
camera and lens combination and fully remote remotely operable makes
it suitable for Outside Broadcast environments. It has a high payload
capacity of 25kg without a reduction in operational speed and can be
deployed in height-restricted areas. With the IP65 rating, the system can
be permanently installed in outdoor locations (stadiums, racecourses etc.)
and due to its removable sled, any camera can be easily mounted and
removed as required.
You can use the Ethernet connection on the PTA-1 to connect directly to
a PC running Multi-Head Controller (MHC) software.
Setting up the hardware
1. Mount the Pan Tilt Arm (PTA) onto a heavy-duty scaffolding pole
by securing the PTA to the pole using the two scaffolding clamps.
Ensure the nuts on the clamps are tight and the arm cannot twist on
the scaffolding plate.
Note
Ensure the mounting bar can take the weight without stress and that
the space on the bar is free to allow full movement of the pod when
panning without hitting any obstacles. The maximum weight of the
PTA system is 30kg but due to motion and, if mounted outdoors
possible high winds, the bar should be able to support at least 100kg.
The torque setting of the screws in the scaffolding clamps is
159.1Nm. Always ensure there is enough thread going through the
nyloc nut.

Nuts
PTA underslung
PTA overslung
If the head is going to be
used for target tracking,
then ensure that the PTA
is perfectly levelled to the
ground using a spirit level.
PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
4

Note
Safety cables should be wound up to keep them short:
PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
5
2. Attach the safety cable around the bar, through at least one eyelet,
and through the pan safety hole (near the connector socket).
Remove any excess slack by making extra loops around the bar.
Then join with a carabiner and screw the carabiner shut.
In the event of a fall, the falling item has less opportunity
to get speed before the cable catches it.
This prevents them catching on any moving parts.
Pan safety hole
Eyelet Wind any excess
cable around
scaffolding pole
Carabiner screwed shut

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
6
3. Attach the roll ring to the arm by sliding the roll wedge into the side
plate and ensure the safety catch locks into place —preventing the
roll ring to be detached again. Then tighten the two captive screws
to firmly secure the roll.
Safety catch Once the roll ring is
attached to the arm, safety
catch locks into place
Tighten the screws
using 4mm allen key.
The torque setting of
the screws is 11.2Nm.
Do not touch the
contacts on the
PTA.

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
7
4. Once the PTA-1 is fully constructed, test the movement of the unit
by hand before connecting to power. Ensure that full movement of
pan and tilt axes is possible and there are no obstructions.

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
8
Connecting the cables
Attach the power cables ensuring each connector is fully secured into the
socket and that the cable or connector is not caught in any moving part.
Communications / POWER 24V
PC/laptop running MHC
Software
ETHERNET
SDI OUT
From Mains
100-240V 447-63Hz
1.6A Max
1
2
3
4
USB joystick, such as an XBox
joystick or MRMC Joystick
Controller
5
6
USB
Break-out box

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
9
1. Connect the short umbilical cable to the power connectors in the
PTA and the Pod. Ensure the red markers on the socket and the plug
align.
2. Connect one end of the long umbilical cable to the
PTA-1 and the other to the power supply socket in the
break-out box. Ensure the red markers on the socket
and the plug align.
3. Connect one end of the network cable to the Ethernet connector in
the junction box and the other to the PC. If your setup contains
multiple heads connected via Ethernet, then the network cable
would connect to a network switch, which in turn would be
connected to the PC.
4. If you are using the D5 in video mode, connect the SDI Out
connector to a video output device using a standard coaxial cable.
The maximum recommended length of the cable is 5m.
5. Optionally, connect the USB port on the PC to a joystick, such as an
Xbox joystick or a MRMC Joystick Controller. This device gives you
a precise and real-time control of the camera direction and
functions. You can use the MHC screen to control the camera
instead if you omit a joystick.
6. Finally, connect the mains cable to the power supply.

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
10
Notes

11
PTA-1Quick Start GuidePTA-1Quick Start Guide
Appendix 1 Troubleshooting
Typical symptoms, causes, and actions
Symptoms Cause and/or action
PTA-1 head did not
appear connected in
MHC
Check that all cables are connected, and all
devices have power.
Check you have added the correct IP address of
the PTA-1 head in MHC.
If you have connected more than one PTA-1
heads, connected the MRMC system to
another local network, or moved the PTA-1
head between networks, check that correct
addresses have been entered in MHC.
The LEDs on the
PTA-1 head did not
light up.
A ‘!’ appears
with the
PTA-1 head
icon in the
MHC Main
screen.
Click the spanner( ) icon appearing below
the PTA-1 head icon to allow MHC to correct
the error.
PTA-1 tracking is not
accurate
Ensure that the PTA is installed perfectly
levelled to the ground. Ensure that you have
checked this with spirit level.
While tracking the
camera is pointing in
the wrong direction.
The Pan axis must move to the left when
position is moved positively. If it is incorrect,
then scaling for the axis will need its sign
changing.
The Tilt axis must move up when position is
moved positively. If this is incorrect, then
scaling for the axis will need its sign changing.

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
12
Notes

13
PTA-1Quick Start GuidePTA-1Quick Start Guide
Appendix 2 PTA-1 connectors
Connector plate summary
4321 5 6 7
1. SWITCHABLE 24VDC 1A connector is the 24V DC outlet for
powering a camera or HDMI/SDI signal converter. Centre positive.
2. VIDEO IN input connector for the video 1 signal from the camera.
This circuit is rated at 3 GHz and internally connects with the
VIDEO out connector in the junction box via the Power/
Communications cable.
3. SERIAL LENS connector is for the serial (digital) lens that has
internal servo motors for focus, zoom, and iris.
4, 5. FOCUS, ZOOM connectors for external servo Lens Control Motors
(LCMs).
6. CAMERA POWER 12VDC OUT 10A connector for powering a
camera. The maximum allowable load for the outlet is 10Amps.
7. CAMERA ETHERNET connector is the RJ45 Gigabit Connector
rated at 1000 mbits/sec for communications between the camera
and the head.

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
14
Connector pin-outs
Panel mount connector
Panel mount connector is the 22-way (female) connector of type
EGG.3K.822.CLL1 on the camera platform and the arm.
1. 24V
2. GND
3. 24V
4. GND
5. 24V
6. GND
7. Ethernet 1
8. Ethernet 2
9. Ethernet 3
10. Ethernet 4
11. Ethernet 5
12. Ethernet 6
13. Ethernet 7
14. Ethernet 8
15. CANL
16. CANH
17. Motor+ (ROLL)
18. Motor-
19. Encoder A
20. Encoder +5V
21. Encoder B
22. Motor Limit (detect if motor is connected)
13
12
19
22
1

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
15
Panel mount connector
Panel mount connector is the 22-way (female) connector of type
EGG.3K.822.CLL1 on the arm base and in the power supply box.
1. 24V
2. GND
3. 24V
4. GND
5. 24V
6. GND
7. Ethernet 1
8. Ethernet 2
9. Ethernet 3
10. Ethernet 4
11. Ethernet 5
12. Ethernet 6
13. Ethernet 7
14. Ethernet 8
15. Not assigned
16. N/C
17. N/C
18. N/C
19. N/C
20. N/C
21. N/C
22. N/C
Power In connector
Power to supply the head and the power output connector on the junction
box. It is a XLR 3-Way (Male) connector. The PTA-1 can run from 12-35
Volts DC.
1. GND
2. N/C
3. +24V
13
19
22
112
2
1
3

PTA-1 Quick Start Guide
16
Mains In connector
Power input connector n the junction box for the PTA-1 head. It is a
3-Way (Male) C14 IEC connector. 240 Volts AC.
1. Earth
2. Live
3. Neutral
SDI Out Connector
Connector for SDI Video signal from the camera in the junction box.
1. Video Out (HD or SD) Centre
2. GND
Switchable 24VDC 1A Connector
24V DC outlet for powering a camera or HDMI/SDI signal converter.
Centre positive.
1. GND (collar)
2. 24VDC
2
3
1
21
1
2