'Vibration Free' Camera Mount

by ycopter | July 10, 2012 | (28) Posted in Tips

If you have ever tried to mount any kind of camera to a plane or multi-rotor, you will know just how hard it is to get sharp, ‘jello free’ video.

Isolating the camera from the vibration caused by motors and propellers can be more difficult than designing, building and test flying the machine!  The challenge is to mount the camera firmly so that it doesn't  move around, but at the same time isolate it from vibration.  I have spent many hours designing and testing and have finally come up with a solution that works.

This design has been successfully implemented on my Tricopter and Quadcopter so far.  Here are the details of the mounts and materials used:

Both mounts use the following materials: 

  • 3mm plywood
  • 1.5mm fibreglass sheet
  • 6mm silicone fuel tubing
  • M3 thread 25mm long
  • 30 minute slow cure epoxy
  • Strong self-adhesive velcro
  • Foam rubber material

 

 

Tricopter

 

Tricopter camera mount shown assembled. The camera effectively hangs from the velcro.  The fuel tubing applies a small amount of pressure which keeps the velcro in contact and stabilises the joint.  The silicon tubing tension can be adjusted depending on the weight of the camera.

 

Camera mount removed from the Tricopter.  The plate is a laminate of 3mm plywood and 1.5mm fibreglass sheet epoxied together. This forms a dense and rigid plate that soaks up vibration well and provides a firm platform for the camera.

 

There is foam material sandwiched between the velcro.  It is 6mm thick and has the consistency of soft neoprene.  Neoprene would probably be a good substitute for the foam I used.  

 

Tricopter camera mount underside showing the excellent and very strong self-adhesive velcro sourced from Hobbyking.

 

The fuel tubing is secured in place with a short length of 3mm threaded rod.  I cut the head off an M3 bolt.

Quadcopter

The quadcopter mount is very similar, but it also carries the weight of the 5000mah 4S flight battery.  The total weight of the mount with camera and battery is 750g.  Larger velcro contact areas and two fuel tube bands are used to support the extra weight. The additional mass of the battery also makes the mount more stable and absorbs some of the vibration.

*Since writing this article I have moved the battery from the camera mount and the results are just as good without the mass of the battery on the mount).

 

The quadcopter also has a separate support plate attached to the main frame by 2.5mm bolts suspended on rubber grommets.  I don’t know if this extra stage of suppression is required, but it certainly can’t do any harm. 

 

Quadcopter underside. 

 

Quadcopter camera mount components.

 

Camera mount shown fully assembled.

I hope this article saves you from hours of frustrating testing, let me know how it works for you?

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

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COMMENTS

colorex on July 10, 2012
Nice article! I have some kind of neoprene maybe? foam that is really good for the rough kind of vibrations. The soft, wobbly vibrations go through that thing. I'm going to experiment with sponge-type foam and see how that holds up. I'm working on a mount for the KKboard, not the camera. Or maybe a keychain camera as well!
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ycopter on July 10, 2012
Hi Colorex, thanks for your positive feedback again. I don't think the kind of foam will really make a big difference. Interestingly I use the same technique to mount my KK board, velcro stuck to the entire back of the board, and a sanwich of velcro and foam rubber in between, simple and effective.
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colorex on July 10, 2012
Somehow, I don't like velcro, but I'd still prefer a removable attachment. Maybe rubberbands.
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casedog21 on July 16, 2012
I bet a thick mouse pad would work nice for this

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ycopter on July 17, 2012
Good idea, I think they are made of neoprene.
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Shaun_Mileson on July 24, 2012
Thanks for this I used this principle on my quad after seeing this and it worked really well! very basic and simple and does the job of removing the jello from the video.
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ycopter on July 24, 2012
I'm pleased it worked for you, thanks for the feedback.
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noah on July 21, 2012
Very good idea i will try it out thanks for posting!
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cwozny on July 24, 2012
Just out of curiosity, had you considered using your GoPro as your FPV camera? All you need to do is strip one of the composite video cables and solder the appropriate signals to your transmitter. I hesitate to do this since it means modifying the GoPro camera case, but it's a great quality camera and you shed the weight of the second camera!
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ycopter on July 24, 2012
Yes I have but prefer to use the separate camera, it gives a better exposed image and you don't loose the FPV feed when the GoPro battery dies!
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jamiedco on July 11, 2012
the foam you are using in pu foam . i have used the same stuff at work . it is magical
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ycopter on July 13, 2012
Thanks for identifying the foam, picked it up at a flying event, really cheap and self-adhesive, bought enough to keep me going for a few years!
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mmarzial on August 26, 2012
Great job. About the tricopter version, can you provide some details about the tricopter frame changes required to use your camera mount. Thanks.
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ycopter on August 27, 2012
Hello, the frame is based on the RC Explorer design but the front section is extended (105mm from radius). I extended this using wood to prove the design, but if I remade the Tricopter I would just extend the fibreglass frame (top and bottom).
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mmarzial on August 28, 2012
OK thank you, are you using wood arms ?!
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ycopter on August 28, 2012
Yes 12mm square section wood. It helps to absorb some of the prop and motor vibration and is cheap and easy to replace in the event of an unexpected landing! The RC Explorer design uses 10mm square section. I prefer the torsional stiffness of the larger section, especially when using more powerful motors.
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jamiedco on July 14, 2012
im going to add it to my quad and tricopter to remove some of the vibration . as well silicon grommets dont work so well on there own
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Eric Deagle on July 10, 2012
Very informative, thanks for posting!
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ukbozzy on July 11, 2012
Another great Tip, it will help me in my build... Thanks
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'Vibration Free' Camera Mount