IPhone Camera Spinner

by randofo

49K4565

Intro: IPhone Camera Spinner

The iPhone camera spinner is a setup for using a drill to spin an iPhone really fast for the purpose of shooting video. To be honest, I got the idea to make this device from a Vimeo video I stumbled upon not too long ago. In the video they had zip tied a point and shoot camera to a metal disc. This was a nice solution, but I wanted to use an iPhone, off the shelf parts, and also be able to reposition the camera more easily. With that in mind, this solution was arrived at.

This setup creates some interesting videos and is fun to play around with, but it wobbles too much since it is not balanced. After experimenting a little, I decided to create a fancier well-balanced device. It is currently slowly progressing, but you can see it sooner if you help support my campaign on Kickstarter.

NOTE: Spinning a phone around with a drill at high speeds is inherently dangerous to you and those around you! I assume no responsibility for what you personally decide to do with any of this information. You do so at your own risk.

Special thanks to Becky Stern for help shooting the video!

STEP 1: Materials

For this project you will need:

(x1) iPhone 6 (or similar)
(x1) 'Hook and loop' (i.e. Velcro) iPhone case
(x1) 4" wide 'hook and loop' strips
(x1) 8" 'hook and loop' sanding pad
(x1) 5/8-11 x 2" partially threaded stainless steel rod
(x1) 5/8" to 1/2" shaft adapter coupling
(x1) 1/2" x 3" steel shaft
(x1) Drill with a 1/2" chuck**

** For this project I prefer to use a Hitachi corded drill with a pistol grip to help keep is stabilized. For portability, I have found that a Ryobi cordless drill works well on its slower gear setting.


(Note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This does not change the cost of the item for you. I reinvest whatever proceeds I receive into making new projects. If you would like any suggestions for alternative suppliers, please let me know.)

STEP 2: Create the Adapter

Unfortunately, the 5/8" partially threaded rod wouldn't fit directly into the chuck of my drill.

Instead, I got a 5/8" to 1/2" shaft adapter.

To make this work, essentially slide both the 1/2" steel rod and the 5/8" partially threaded rod into the appropriate end of the adapter. Lock both of them in place by tightening adapter's set screws.

STEP 3: Twist

Thread the 5/8" rod into the back of the 8" sanding disc.

STEP 4: Cut a Hole

Cut two 11" sheets of Velcro from the 4" wide roll.

Cut a small hole in on of the pieces of velcro where your phone's camera would be should you center the camera on the sheet of Velcro.

STEP 5: Attach the Phone

Line up the camera port on the Velcro phone case with the hole that you just cut in the sheet of Velcro.

Insert the phone into the phone case, and open the camera app.

STEP 6: Attach the Phone

Attach the phone to the sanding disc such that the phone's camera is as close to the center of the disc as possible. Stick as much of the velcro as possible to the the surface of the disc.

Place the other sheet of Velcro perpendicularly over the phone. Be careful not to cover the phone's camera. However, try to make as much contact as possible between the strip of velcro and the surface of the sanding disc. The more contact the Velcro makes, the better the phone will be held to the disc, and the less danger there is of it going flying.

STEP 7: Attach to the Drill

Insert the 1/2" steel rod into the drill's chuck and lock it down.

STEP 8: Hit Record

If you have done it right, you should see the record button of your camera sticking out over the edge of the 8" sanding disc.

Press the record button when you're ready.

STEP 9: Spin

Make sure that no one is standing next to the spinning phone (i.e. to the side). Standing a few feet in front of, or a few feet behind it is safer since the phone will launch out sideways if it comes loose.

Also, make sure that the drill is set to spin clockwise. If it spins counterclockwise, it might unthread itself when it stops.

Slowly get the phone up to speed, film something interesting, and then slowly ramp the speed down when you're done.

STEP 10: Experiment

The only thing left to do is experiment.

Did you find this useful, fun, or entertaining?
Follow @madeineuphoria to see my latest projects.

46 Comments

randofo 4 years ago

Says the maker of the glowing floating faucet... :)

Alvin L 5 years ago

If you want less vibration use Counterweights to balance it out ..

MikeM170 5 years ago

Now, make a Kelidascope for your camera/phone :) but rotate slowly! :)

mattcintosh 5 years ago

Take a video of a newspaper sitting on a table and slow the rotation speed

LeeA47 5 years ago

Nananananana batman

adams429 5 years ago

by far the best comment to this!!!! ha!! made me spit my tea everywhere!

DiyCoolStuff 5 years ago

To avoid that turning into a iphone launcher, you could make a hole for the phone with a router and that easy you will always have it centered. The you also will need a hole trough the whole plate to push the button on the phone.

terrefirmax2 5 years ago

You could ask all the 'trolls' for links to THEIR projects so you can learn... Guess they can't read the be nice policy. (It is interesting to see the power of seeing something spinning that actually has the effect of making one dizzy or nauseated. But then it goes away when eyes closed. Mind over matter?)

randofo 5 years ago

I often wonder about that. I think it boils down to the fact that they are just insecure about their own projects not being nearly as good as the thing that I have posted that they perceive as useless. It is basically just an overestimation of their own abilities, and underestimation of mine. I just wish they kept their pathos to themselves. It's unbecoming.

Anyhow, I also built a machine to make these kaleidoscopic videos that if you watch for a long time will really through off you off. Stare it for a while, and then stare at a fixed object. The object will seem to keep spinning for a while:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZZrwkElWzU/

imcp1024 5 years ago

you could make a weighted base and have your drill shank run through a skateboard bearing to help offset the imbalance factor.

GregT91 5 years ago

yes adjusting frame rates and shutter speeds (not so flexible on iphone) then pointing it at other rotating objects could give pretty cool efects. Look up aliasing and the Nyquest Theorem for more ideas. Also, either moving the drill or offsetting the lens from the center of rotation then selecting very long exposures at night, could yield very interesting results.

Tachyon 5 years ago

Neat idea, I look forward to a flood of barf inducing videos on YouTube. ;')

One thing I don't understand is steps 2 & 3. You can buy velcro sanding pads with a built in drill attachment mandrel just about everywhere and they're cheap.
The adapter seems unnecessary, and it adds weight and complexity to the end product, as well as adding a potential point of misalignment and vibration.

randofo 5 years ago

When I was making this project I couldn't find one like that wide enough to provide enough surface area for the velcro. That is why ended up going with the adapter.

iceng 5 years ago

If you attach two phones or do some small counter mass adjustment the spin will smooth out, give a better rotating image and be less dangerous !

It would be nice to find someone like Becky Stern to video graph a project right here in Reno :-)

MichaelsTestKitchen 5 years ago

Cool instructable! I'm wondering though if you could maybe use this to create a slow tilt/rotation to transition into a dutch angle or something - that might have even more uses in video projects than a 360 spin. Would the drill work for that, you think?

randofo 5 years ago

It wouldn't be ideal. You would need a much slower gear ratio. Most drill spin way too fast, even with speed control.

Bard 5 years ago

I could see this as a cheap way to film a plane crash

One could also try using a strobe light

I think it would also be interesting if you filmed a fan using this method.

jessyratfink 5 years ago

woooooooooooooooooo that is intense!!

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