It not a business (I still work as a designer and art director), but it has stopped to be a hobby.
Thanks for reading until this paragraph
Of course, one of my key devices is macro rails and macro photography hardware. As different models of diffusers, stages, holders etc. Probably we read my old posts with first macro experiments. I open a new topic to collect all my engineering ideas in one place.
I hope you find my projects useful. My English not so good, sorry.
Macro rails
I am developing several models of macro rails for different applications. When I started the project, I set a task to design a solution "all in one" - universal rails with built-in controller, rechargeable battery, screen, and wireless control. Module construction is good for studio but not good for outdoor photography. Firmware has automatic, semiautomatic, and manual modes (now I add a video mode to some models). I deliberately gave up control from a smartphone in favor of a remote control with real buttons. It is not easy to push a button on the smartphone screen while looking through the viewfinder. Tactile feedback of real buttons allows you to operate the remote without looking at it. All functions are done only through the remote control, this allows to remove vibrations from touching the rails.
Rails have a built-in (but replaceable) battery 3x18650 and built-in charger. You don't need to take out the batteries to charge them.
I use CNC-rails on the T-shape aluminum profile. This allows to connect additional hardware to rails (holders, diffusers) using T-nuts. The tripod plate can be moved along rails to get a good balance. Rails have tripod mounts for horizontal and vertical positions.
Rail carriage has plastic (POM) anti-backlash nut and different types of trapezoidal screw allow get steps from 0.01 to 0.001mm
The firmware allows you to adjust the step length in the range 0.001 (0.01 for some models) to 10mm. The exposure can range from 1/1000 to 10 seconds. The rails have 5 speeds of movement and the ability to adjust the pause before the shutter is released.
You can manually move rails to a fixed-length step and take photo by one button press. Or you can set start and finish points and rails will do stack with defined step length.
Some models have video mode for converting macro rails to video slider.
The controller has an audio 3-pin connector to communicate with the camera, control is compatible with most camera models.
All parts made on high precision CNC machines. Every rails assembled by hand, I do not have serial production, and each rail is unique
Now I develop new versions of macro devices for 360-degree video (stack and rotate) and a system for “stack and stitch” macro photography. The first 360-degree stacking device is used in a dental clinic for Hi-Res video of implants, etc.
To be continued!
P.S. I understand that the video review will be more informational, but my spoken English not so good for this. Maybe a good idea to make a review with good music and subtitles.
Some photos from the field test:
Field studio
Stacking results
