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DIY Gyroscopic Stabilizer

Shooting a picture while in a moving car subjects the camera to vibrations transmitted through the person's body. To radically reduce, if not remove altogether, the effects of vibration on the camera, attach it to a gyroscopic stabilizer. A base can be made to mount the stabilizer to the camera so that the two are joined together. Hardware supplies will be needed as will tools found in most homes. The gyroscopic stabilizer can be acquired from a hobby store or an electronics shop.

Things You'll Need

Camera
Ruler
Pencil
Newspaper
Aluminum sheet, 14-by-14-by-1 inch
Straightedge
Utility knife
Electric drill, 1/4-inch drill bit
Metal bolt, 3 inches, 1/4-inch diameter
Pliers
Bonding glue
Gyroscope
Battery pack
Batteries
Metal washer, 1/4-inch diameter

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length of the camera. Add two inches to the measurement. Place newspaper on a work surface. Place the aluminum sheet on the newspaper. Draw a rectangle on the aluminum sheet that equals the length of the camera measurement and is five inches wide, using a straightedge and grease pencil.
- 2
  Score through the outline on the sheet with the blade of a utility knife. Keep scoring through the sheet until the blade cuts cleanly through. Pull the rectangle out of the metal sheet and set it aside. Cut another rectangle to the same dimensions.
- 3
  Place one of the rectangles horizontally on the newspaper. Measure two inches in from the right side. Drill a hole through the rectangle at the two-inch mark with the electric drill. Place the other rectangle horizontally on the newspaper. Measure two inches in from the left side and drill a hole at this point with the electric drill.
- 4
  Place the drilled end of one of rectangle over the drilled end of the other so that the two holes line up. Insert a bolt through the holes from the side facing you.
- 5
  Place the camera on the work surface with the lens facing up. Screw the end of the bolt into the mounting hole at the bottom of the camera. Make a dot on the rectangle where it meets the right corner and the left corner of the camera. Unscrew the bolt from the camera. Set the camera aside.
- 6
  Hold the two attached rectangles horizontally. Grip the right-hand rectangle where the dot was made with pliers. Bend up the end of the rectangle with the pliers until it is vertical. Repeat this procedure with the left side of the other rectangle.
- 7
  Place the rectangles horizontally on the work surface. Apply bonding glue to the right-hand end, where the rectangle was bent. Place a side of the gyroscope against the glued side of the rectangle. Hold the gyroscope against the rectangle for two minutes.
- 8
  Apply bonding glue to the left-hand end, where the rectangle was bent. Place a side of the battery pack against the glued-side of the rectangle. Hold the battery pack against the rectangle for two minutes. Let the glue set overnight.
- 9
  Place batteries into the battery pack. Insert the stripped end of the positive (̶0;+̶1;) wire into the battery pack̵7;s positive (̶0;+̶1;) contact clip. Place the camera on the work surface with the lens facing up. Place a washer over the bolt. Screw the bolt into the mounting hole on the bottom of the camera.
- 10
  Hold the camera with the lens facing away from you in the normal position. Insert the stripped end of the negative (̶0;-̶1;) wire into the battery pack̵7;s negative (̶0;-̶1;) contact clip to activate the gyroscopic stabilization. Move the camera from side to side to feel the effects of the gyro now that it has been activated.

Aviation