DIY belt-driven IGUS camera slider like pocketdolly

DIY belt-driven backpack-sized IGUS slider

This project started as an DryLin W1040-A Linear Motion System purchased from Amazon.com. This is the smallest slider IGUS currently makes. The goal was to create a backpack-sized lightweight slider similar to the Kessler Pocketdolly, but much smaller and lighter.

I cut the slider down to 30" and drilled and tapped 1/4-20" holes for legs and the Arca Swiss style quick release plate. I used an extra long quick release plate and drilled 2 holes to keep the slider from twisting when mounted on the tripod. The legs are made from dual flash brackets and some round knobs I found on eBay. The knobs were plastic and had to be dipped in rubber Plasti Dip to keep the slider from sliding around on a smooth surface.

A 1/4" hole was drilled in the carriage for the Arca Swiss style ball head. 10-24 holes were drilled and tapped on each side of the carriage to hold small screws around which I was going to wrap the drive belt.

The drivetrain is built around a Sherline 2.5" handwheel - this is the only handwheel I could find to fit a 1/4" shaft. The 1/4" shafts, 1/4" .08" pitch timing belt and timing pulleys came from McMaster Carr. A .79" OD pulley was selected to have the belt fit comfortably between the IGUS gliders. The top of the shaft is held by a bearing block I found on eBay. The bearing is elevated by 1/4" spacers and attached by #10-24 screws.

Detailed Parts List:

Slider:
1 x DryLin W1040-A Linear Motion System

Belt Drive:
1 x Sherline 2.5" handwheel
2 x .079" OD pulley, .08 pitch
1 x .080" pitch 77" outer circle timing belt
2 x 1/4" stainless steel drive shaft
1 x 1/4" bore shaft collar
2 x PEEK flanged sleeve bearings for 1/4" shaft
2 x 3/8" ID bearing block
8 x 1/4" aluminum spacers (Home Depot)
8 x #10-24 1" machine screws (Home Depot)
2 x #10-24 1/2" machine screws (Home Depot)

Feet:
2 x Dual Flash Bracket
4 x 1/4-20 ball knobs

Tripod / Camera attachment:
1 x Arca Swiss compatible quick release plate
1 x Arca Swiss compatible ball head