FROM: dickburk@ix.netcom.com (Richard Knoppow) SUBJECT: Re: Cable Release - Solenoid activated DATE: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 02:19:25 GMT ORGANIZATION: MindSpring Enterprises NEWSGROUPS: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.equipment.medium-format "Dan Hurley" wrote: >I am looking to control several medium format and 1 large format camera via >microprocessor control. Does anyone have a source for a electically >controlled cable release. I was thinking of designing my own, but then >thought there may be something already on the market so I wouldn't have to >re-invent the wheel. I don't need a wireless solution and I figure that may >become pricey for 3 or 4 cameras. Thanks for any advice. > >dan hurley > > One solution is to find a bunch of old flash synchronizing solenoids. They are available with some searching. They operate on about 4.5 volts DC. You will have to mount them to the shutters. Another possibility, and probably a better one, is to adapt relays. They can be mounted near the lens so that the armature actuates the trip lever, or you could mount them so that the armature actuates the end of a cable release. I've seen this done in the past but can't give you a specific citation. Some sort of extension is glued to the armature. There are an enormous variety of relays made, some research in manufacturer's catalogues will help. There are also electronic surplaces places who have very large stocks of relays at low prices. --- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, Ca. dickburk@ix.netcom.com FROM: reynolds@panix.com (Brian Reynolds) SUBJECT: Cable Release - Solenoid activated DATE: 21 Nov 2000 22:32:40 -0500 ORGANIZATION: Panix NEWSGROUPS: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.equipment.medium-format In article , skgrimes wrote: >To my knowlege there is no low priced item of this nature. I have been >unsuccessful in designing a powerful enough battery operated cable release. >I had some marginal success with a compressed air prototype but too much >trouble to produce. > You might want to look at the landing gear retracts for R/C airplanes. Some of them are pneumatically operated using small cans of compressed gas. The valves are controlled mechanically by R/C servos. They definitely have enough throw and holding power to trigger a shutter. In fact you would probably have to be careful that a landing gear actuator wouldn't damage a shutter release mechanism. Robarts Manufacturing is one of the manufacturers of pneumatic landing gear systems. They sell all the various bits and pieces (valves, tanks, pneumatic cylinders and fittings) separately. Of course you could just skip the pneumatics and use R/C servos controlled by a microcontroller (e.g., a BASIC Stamp, or a PIC). R/C servos are cheap and all the software to drive them from a microcontroller can be gotten on the Web (search for various microcontroller and robotics sites). Position the R/C servo so that the control arm will press the shutter release. Drive it in one direction to press the shutter and the other direction to release it. -- Brian Reynolds | "Dee Dee! Don't touch that button!" reynolds@panix.com | "Oooh!" http://www.panix.com/~reynolds | -- Dexter and Dee Dee NAR# 54438 | "Dexter's Laboratory" FROM: "skgrimes" SUBJECT: Re: Cable Release - Solenoid activated DATE: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 14:17:34 GMT ORGANIZATION: @Work Internet powered by @Home Network NEWSGROUPS: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.equipment.medium-format "Brian Reynolds" wrote in message news:8vfeoo$cq6$1@panix5.panix.com... > In article , > skgrimes wrote: > >To my knowlege there is no low priced item of this nature. I have been > >unsuccessful in designing a powerful enough battery operated cable release. > >I had some marginal success with a compressed air prototype but too much > >trouble to produce. > > > > You might want to look at the landing gear retracts for R/C > airplanes. Some of them are pneumatically operated using small cans > of compressed gas. The valves are controlled mechanically by R/C > servos. They definitely have enough throw and holding power to > trigger a shutter. In fact you would probably have to be careful that > a landing gear actuator wouldn't damage a shutter release mechanism. > > Robarts Manufacturing is one of the > manufacturers of pneumatic landing gear systems. They sell all the > various bits and pieces (valves, tanks, pneumatic cylinders and > fittings) separately. > > Of course you could just skip the pneumatics and use R/C servos > controlled by a microcontroller (e.g., a BASIC Stamp, or a PIC). R/C > servos are cheap and all the software to drive them from a > microcontroller can be gotten on the Web (search for various > microcontroller and robotics sites). Position the R/C servo so that > the control arm will press the shutter release. Drive it in one > direction to press the shutter and the other direction to release it. > > -- > Brian Reynolds | "Dee Dee! Don't touch that button!" > reynolds@panix.com | "Oooh!" > http://www.panix.com/~reynolds | -- Dexter and Dee Dee > NAR# 54438 | "Dexter's Laboratory" Thanks for the tip. I'm inviting that type of research as what's needed to get something practical made on this item. The URL you cited dead ends at some kind of personal site in the UK which seens to have nothing to do with the subject. My reason for the pneumatic efforts is because I was unable to find a solenoid with sufficient power withinn the constraints of small size to do the job. Of course, most customers would greatly prefer a simple self contained battery operated RC item. Keep in mind, any of this type of remote release must be able to operate an "automatic" or self cocking shutter. Any design involving a weak "trigger only" item after which the operator is expected to go over to the shutter and manually re-cock it will be not sellable. Even worse, it will involve a great deal of talking and explaining before the decision to not buy is made. I repeat my invitation to design and specify such a prototype. SKG S.K. GRIMES -- MACHINE WORK FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS 153 Hamlet Ave. (5th floor) Woonsocket RI, 02895 + Lenses mounted into shutters. + Shutters repaired, restored. + For more info-- http://www.skgrimes.com. (updated 7-27--00 Shipping Tips!)) Now: flat and pointed tip Spanner Wrenches http://www.skgrimes.com/span/index.htm FROM: derr@ufo.ee.vill.edu (Albert J. Derr) SUBJECT: Re: Cable Release - Solenoid activated DATE: 22 Nov 2000 14:43:17 -0500 ORGANIZATION: Villanova University NEWSGROUPS: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.equipment.medium-format In article <8vfeoo$cq6$1@panix5.panix.com>, Brian Reynolds wrote: >In article , >skgrimes wrote: >>To my knowlege there is no low priced item of this nature. I have been >>unsuccessful in designing a powerful enough battery operated cable release. >>I had some marginal success with a compressed air prototype but too much >>trouble to produce. >> If you shop around some of the photo swap meets and/or flea mkts, All of the earlier press and folding cameras used a cable release socket solenoid to trigger the camera in parallel with the flash bulb. These operate on 3-6 V DC. Made by Graflex, heiland,Kalart &c. (I think that most came from a single contract supplier with identifiable private-labeled housings.) They work extremely well and are more flexible in that you can run the feed wires anywhere and simply close the circuit to a flasklight battery source to trip the camera. Good hunting! FROM: "ArtFish" SUBJECT: Re: Cable Release - Solenoid activated DATE: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 17:44:16 GMT ORGANIZATION: Road Runner NEWSGROUPS: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.equipment.medium-format "Brian Reynolds" wrote in message news:8vme89$736$1@panix5.panix.com... > In article <2AQS5.70193$P82.7724383@news1.rdc1.ct.home.com>, > skgrimes wrote: > >Thanks for the tip. I'm inviting that type of research as what's > >needed to get something practical made on this item. The URL you > >cited dead ends at some kind of personal site in the UK which seens > >to have nothing to do with the subject. > > > > Sorry about that. The link should have been > . > > >My reason for the pneumatic efforts is because I was unable to find a > >solenoid with sufficient power withinn the constraints of small size > >to do the job. Of course, most customers would greatly prefer a > >simple self contained battery operated RC item. Keep in mind, any of > >this type of remote release must be able to operate an "automatic" or > >self cocking shutter. Any design involving a weak "trigger only" > >item after which the operator is expected to go over to the shutter > >and manually re-cock it will be not sellable. > > > > R/C servos should be strong enough to work a self cocking shutter. > I'm not sure what your size constraints are. I would think that the > pneumatic solution (once you add a pressure tank and various valves) > would take up more space than a R/C servo. The electronics to drive > the R/C servo (and more) could easily fit on a circuit board about the > size of a business card. The batteries and R/C servo would be the > largest parts of the device. > > For an example of a small inexpensive microcontroller that could be > used to drive R/C servos see Fred Martin's page > and look at the > miniboard information. There are similar commercial microcontroller > boards available. > > -- > Brian Reynolds | "Dee Dee! Don't touch that button!" > reynolds@panix.com | "Oooh!" > http://www.panix.com/~reynolds | -- Dexter and Dee Dee > NAR# 54438 | "Dexter's Laboratory" What you looking for and all kinds of flash and Camera trigger stuff go to http://www.kapturegroup.com/kap_htmls/electronic_cable.html http://www.kapturegroup.com/ you can also rent tells us what you think Arthur