Motion system do-it-yourself for $ 13

Anyone who is interested in shooting timelapse , sooner or later come to the need for a slow movement of the frame right-left-up-down. And I would like to do this by the camera itself, and not in the editor. The camera should move so slow that one meter distance is covered in 3-5 minutes.
Especially for this invented things that are called the Motion Control System. Only most often they have one big minus: price. The cost of such systems starts from $ 1000 ( an excellent article on this topic ). Some craftsmen make arduino and skate base such things cheaper. Or come up with something else. I managed to meet the $ 13, go to the nearest hardware store.
So, to the point.


It was acquired:
Plastic box (2 m, for cable laying) 1 piece - our future "rails".
Wood panel (2.5 m) 1 pc.
Screws 10 pcs.
Metal fasteners 1 pc.
Gear Motor 1000 Gearbox 1000: 1 6V 14 RPM 1 pcs.


')




The most expensive on this list is the motor. About $ 10 with delivery. Everything else is not more than $ 3 in the kit.
I already have a camera, plus an extra battery of 3.7V - it fits perfectly to the motor.

Getting Started

Cut the box to the desired length. Because of the frequent carrying, one meter was enough for me, as it turned out by experience. Screw the box to the board with screws, which will add rigidity to the structure. After that, the box will stop “playing”, and the camera staggers. Next, cut off a piece of 20 centimeters from the box cover: a camera will be mounted on this platform. Then follows a simple fastening of the motor with fasteners to the box, selection of the necessary thread and tying it to the platform.
In general, everything. You can include.

The principle of operation and visual result can be seen in the video below. Thanks to the wheel from a broken toy, there are two speeds in this system: on one in 6 minutes the platform passes 1 meter, while the motor winds the thread to itself on the shaft; at another speed in 1 minute the platform passes the same meter, and the motor winds the thread onto the wheel.

Video on a floating pier


Video on the mountain with sunset view

Total

A simple inexpensive system for smooth camera movement was made, which is convenient for shooting time-lapses in field conditions.

PS:
Perhaps this option will be convenient only for non-large cameras like GoPro, and the system will not pull heavy mirror carcasses. I will check it next week.
Perhaps the wheelbase is more convenient and practical. But, having assembled a platform with furniture wheels before this, I got a not very beautiful result, which was not moving as smoothly as I would like.
Perhaps you have your ideas, which you are ready to share in the comments.

Welcome!