PhotoShip One VR360 CARBON User guide

1Copyright © 2009 PhotoShip One LLC
VR360 CARBON
ASSEMBLY & SETUP MANUAL
anks for purchasing the VR360 Carbon by PhotoShip One. e VR360 Carbon is a camera
mount solution for RC helicopters. In standard form it is intended to be used for shooting 360
degree spherical aerial panoramas. However, there are accessories available for the VR360 Carbon
to convert it to an oblique and video camera mount.
e VR360 Carbon is fully adjustable. Camera position & orientation are easily adjusted as is the
center of gravity location once mounted to a helicopter. No other commercially available RC
helicopter camera mount offers the level of adjustability and modular upgradability that the VR360
Carbon offers.
Being modular in design concept, the VR360 Carbon is nearly future proof. As PhotoShip One
continues to design and offer upgrades you can be certain that in most cases the upgrades will be
compatible with your VR360 Carbon.

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e VR360 Carbon has several features that make it the best RC helicopter camera mount available.
ADJUSTABLE CAMERA MOUNTING BRACKET
e camera bracket on the VR360 Carbon is adjustable in 3 axis to allow
precise positioning of the camera. Adjustment is simple and quick by
loosening the proper screws and sliding the camera bracket into the
desired position.
Adjustment of the camera position is a critical element in order
to allow for perfect center of gravity position under the
helicopter. As the camera mount rotates in the pan axis it is
critical that the center of gravity not change and cause the
helicopter to become out of trim.
Camera position adjustment is also very
important when shooting spherical panoramas.
e key to shooting great panoramas is being able to place the pan axis of the camera mount as close to the entrance
pupil of the lens as possible. is insures the least amount of photo stitching errors.
ADJUSTABLE PAN GEAR RATIO
e pan gear ratio on the VR360 Carbon is adjustable from as high as 4.6:1 down
to 2.8:1. For panorama photography a lower gear ratio is desired for faster pan rates.
However, for video, a higher gear ratio is desired for smoother panning
motion.
PhotoShip One knows it is important to be able to make critical
adjustments such as pan speeds and the best method of
accomplishing this is with an adjustable gear ratio. e
standard pan pinion gear is easily changed with a different
size gear in less than a minute.
e VR360 Carbon comes standard with a 140 tooth
aluminum main gear and a 50 tooth Delrin servo pinion gear.
30 and 40 tooth pinion gears are available as options.

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ADJUSTABLE ROLL AXIS SILICONE OIL DAMPER & PIVOT POINT
e double ball bearing supported roll axis on the VR360 Carbon
is damped by a silicone oil damper. e silicone oil in the
damper can be changed with different weights depending
on the camera and lens combination used. For heavier
camera and lens combos a heavier weight oil is
recommended. Lighter cameras and lenses can use
a lightweight oil in the damper.
e rod end of the oil damper can be
mounted to the roll torque arm in three
different positions. Choosing a
different position changes the
amount of available stroke length of the oil damper. Longer stroke lengths are preferred
when shooting in high wind conditions whereas low stroke may be preferred on calm
days. Changing damper rod end positions is a quick and easy 15 second adjustment.
ACCESSORY ARM
e accessory arm on the VR360 Carbon provides a
place to mount your electronic accessories such as
Receiver, Receiver Battery, Voltage Regulator, Video
Downlink, etc.
e accessory arm strategically placed on the
VR360 Carbon to also assist in countering the
mass of the camera/lens. Placed opposite of the
camera and lens, the accessory arm positions
the mass of required accessories in a position
that best helps to attain proper center of gravity
of the camera mount.

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ONE-WAY BEARING IN PAN GEAR
Since the VR360 Carbon is the camera mount AND the landing gear for the helicopter an
issue exists upon spooling up the rotor blades of the helicopter prior to take-off. e
torque generated during spoolup can cause overdrive the pan servo and cause the
helicopter to spin until sufficient tail rotor authority is gained. Over time this
will damage the pan servo.
Since spherical 360 panorama shooting requires the camera mount the
camera only pan in one direction the VR360 Carbon incorporates a one-
way bearing in the pan gear hub. e one-way bearing locks the
helicopter to the camera mount in the direction of rotor blade torque
but allows the servo to spin the mount freely in the opposite direction
for shooting the panorama. is feature allows for the use of inexpensive
low torque pan servos and eliminates the risk of damaging the pan servo.
For oblique and video shooting the one-way bearing can be disengaged and
our optional “Pan-Lock” installed which locks the helicopter to the VR360 for
spoolup , yet allows the camera mount to pan in either direction after take-off.
PAN-LOCK (OPTIONAL)
As an upgrade to the standard on-way bearing in the pan gear hub,
PhotoShip One offers the Pan-Lock.
Unlike the one-way bearing, the Pan-Lock allows the
camera mount to spin in either direction once in
flight, but locks the mount to the helicopter on
the ground.
A spring loaded star shaped cam seats
into position when the weight of
the helicopter is on the camera
mount. As soon as the helicopter
gets light on the skids and takes offthe spring loaded Pan-Lock releases and allows for normal panning in both left
and right directions.
Once the helicopter touches back down the Pan-Lock latches back into position and locks the mount to the
helicopter ready for the next spoolup.
e Pan-Lock is a direct bolt on upgrade fully compatible with our helicopter mounting adapter kits as well as our
Astro mount kit.

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ASSEMBLY

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14 Copyright © 2009 PhotoShip One LLC
ASSEMBLY
THIS CONCLUDES THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS OF THE VR360.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO:
[email protected]
YOU MAY DOWNLOAD A .PDF COPY OF THIS MANUAL AT:
WWW.PHOTOSHIPONE.COM/DOCUMENTATION/VR360-MANUAL.PDF

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