new ALCS compact crystal motor for Eclair NPR

[Aapo Lettinen]

On 8/27/2024 at 11:02 AM, Aapo Lettinen said:

I can confirm now that the motors will have Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) for really accurate sync sound speeds and long term sync accuracy. Originally I was thinking of only adding this to the Advanced model as tcxo's add lots of assembling costs and make the system more complex (dual voltage power supplies etc) but I concluded that it is practical to use the same crystal board on both of the motors so they will both get this improvement.

So it will be the most advanced NPR crystal motor ever developed 🙂 

like mentioned before, please remember these are preorder-only items so if wanting one, let me know by DM here or FB/IG and I will add you to the preorder list.

And the basic model is 3-speed now BTW 😄  

yes you will very likely use the 33.333fps. Most common slow motion speed on narrative film&tv.

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

This is the first fully finished part of my NPR crystal sync motors. CNC machined aluminium and black anodizing. This part connects the motor to the camera securely and holds the full camera weight.

[Aapo Lettinen]

Designing the internal aluminium support structure of the NPR motor. Pretty complex shape, needed to think couple of days how I would do it!

Will 3d print a test sample to ensure that it works correctly and will send a sample to cnc machining if everything was OK.

A reminder, again, that there is pretty strict ordering deadlines and the prices will go up in October. Check the previous posts for details

[Aapo Lettinen]

I sent the aluminium support structure (pictured on the previous post) to CNC machining tests now. Hopefully I will get a working structure on the first try to be able to advance to first mechanical motor tests which I'm planning to do next month. If everything goes well I will pretty soon have a "wild" motor which I can mount to the camera and tripod and can work out the rest of the mechanics then more easily like the vibration isolation mount etc. And can finally start working on the crystal sync electronics too.

There is about 1.5 weeks left to order the NPR camera motor at the normal price. Remember that the prices will go up in October because I will need to start ordering components for the final motors soon and it will cost me lots of extra if needing to arrange multiple CNC machining orders instead of one, etc. so I really need to know which motor models needed, how many, when they are paid for to arrange everything optimally and to save resources. Saved resources will mean better features on the final motors because I can use the saved money on finessing some other part of the project. So please make sure to order in time!

-------------------------

here is a test print of the current draft of the operator side panel of the motor, it will be reshaped and finessed but you can see the basic rough shape here. Display and control buttons would be on the center, then the start-stop button on the front corner of the cover. Note how the backside of the motor is heavily shortened and reshaped to assist handheld operating (shorter motor = better balance on the shoulder, better eye position and more natural operating posture with less eye and neck strain).

Edited September 18, 2024 by Aapo Lettinen

[Aapo Lettinen]

Quote

 

The 3-speed "basic model" with 24fps/25fps/33.333fps/1fps/single frame:  Ordering deadline for normal 1300usd price : 1st October 2024. Final ordering deadline with higher purchase price of 1450usd :  1st December 2024.

The "advanced" 10-speed model with display, footage counters, at least 10 crystal speeds and 1fps and single frame: Ordering deadline for normal 1900usd price: 1st October 2024. Final ordering deadline with higher purchase price of 2100usd:  1st February 2025.

 

 

One week left to order at the normal price.

I will need to send the first final mechanical parts to cnc machining next week which is why the prices will go up 2nd October as it will cause me extra costs if needing to order multiple batches of parts. So like mentioned before, I really need to know the exact amount of motor orders soon! if being late then the higher price needs to be paid so that I can cover my extra costs.

Payment schedules can be negotiated and it is possible to pay these in 3 parts if needed. It is just that I need to get all the custom mechanical parts made in batches of 5 or more to get good price on them and I am only ordering the exact amount needed to save resources on other parts of the project (the mechanical parts are expensive enough that I can't stock extra ones, could lose thousands of dollars if doing so)

Edited September 23, 2024 by Aapo Lettinen

[Aapo Lettinen]

Two days left to order at the normal price 😮

Quote

The 3-speed "basic model" with 24fps/25fps/33.333fps/1fps/single frame:  Ordering deadline for normal 1300usd price : 1st October 2024. Final ordering deadline with higher purchase price of 1450usd :  1st December 2024.

The "advanced" 10-speed model with display, footage counters, at least 10 crystal speeds and 1fps and single frame: Ordering deadline for normal 1900usd price: 1st October 2024. Final ordering deadline with higher purchase price of 2100usd:  1st February 2025.

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

The final CNC machined support bodies of the NPR motor. Very very sturdy, I could stand on it no problem. This is the part holding the weight of the camera and the "skeleton" is machined out of single piece of aluminium which makes it very strong.

the camera side mounting plates were sent to final machining now. I will next order at least half of the needed support bodies.

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

The current side cover design advancing! will probably run the camera tests with 3d printed cover, the final ones will be cnc machined.

the camera side mounting plate and the central aluminium body of the motor are already final versions.

please remember the ordering deadlines btw if needing these motors, the ordering for the 3-speed version will close in 1st December!

 

[Aapo Lettinen]

A little over a week left to order the 3-speed NPR motor version!!

ordering for this version will close 1st December, it is absolute deadline as I need to order all the rest of the electrical parts for them then. It is a single-batch one-off version of this motor and won't be available later so pretty much the last chance getting one, there is no way getting these afterwards from anywhere :)

[Aapo Lettinen]

Only couple of days left to order the 3-speed motor!!

 

I started to run some basic tests with NPR camera body now. nothing final here yet and the motor drive etc will change but you can see how the cnc machined aluminium "skeleton" holds the weight of the camera body nicely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-PJl0IQu3I

[Aapo Lettinen]

On 10/23/2024 at 1:58 PM, Aapo Lettinen said:

The current side cover design advancing! will probably run the camera tests with 3d printed cover, the final ones will be cnc machined.

the camera side mounting plate and the central aluminium body of the motor are already final versions.

please remember the ordering deadlines btw if needing these motors, the ordering for the 3-speed version will close in 1st December!

 

ORDERING CLOSED NOW FOR THE 3-SPEED NPR MOTOR.

it is still possible to order the Advanced version until February2025 so if still needing a motor for your NPR, please check out the Advanced model 🙂 

[Aapo Lettinen]

CHANGES TO THE NPR MOTOR ORDERING.

I have to limit the amount of partially paid preordered motors for needing to always use my own money on those. There is 7 of those preordered partial payment plan ones of which one is unsure if wanting to order or not. No new partial payment plans can be taken after those, so there is either no partial payments available for NPR motors anymore or there might be one available if the unsure one is cancelled.

 

I am working on the current order of 8 motors now to get the remaining parts for them all at once to get them at reasonable price.

 

Ordering for the Advanced model was supposed to end in February anyway. But because officially ending new partial payment plans now it is possible to extend the ordering time of the Advanced NPR motor to April 1st. Price 2100usd paypal or 2000 euros wire transfer and needs to be paid when placing the order as parts for those late orders need to be purchased separately and they are about double priced compared to purchasing them in bulk.

 

Material about the user interface of the Advanced model and newer outer casing prints will be available in March. I am working on the display functions and electronics at the moment.

[Aapo Lettinen]

3 hours ago, Aapo Lettinen said:

CHANGES TO THE NPR MOTOR ORDERING.

I have to limit the amount of partially paid preordered motors for needing to always use my own money on those. There is 7 of those preordered partial payment plan ones of which one is unsure if wanting to order or not. No new partial payment plans can be taken after those, so there is either no partial payments available for NPR motors anymore or there might be one available if the unsure one is cancelled.

 

I am working on the current order of 8 motors now to get the remaining parts for them all at once to get them at reasonable price.

 

Ordering for the Advanced model was supposed to end in February anyway. But because officially ending new partial payment plans now it is possible to extend the ordering time of the Advanced NPR motor to April 1st. Price 2100usd paypal or 2000 euros wire transfer and needs to be paid when placing the order as parts for those late orders need to be purchased separately and they are about double priced compared to purchasing them in bulk.

 

Material about the user interface of the Advanced model and newer outer casing prints will be available in March. I am working on the display functions and electronics at the moment.

There is ONE partial payment plan available, checked that now. After it is sold the rest of the motors need to be paid in full when placing the order.

So if wanting this NPR motor with a payment plan there is only one of those available still. Let me know ASAP by DM here or on IG

[Aapo Lettinen]

Working on the Aaton Footage Counter software. Parts of it will be used for the ACL2025 motor project and my NPR Advanced model so will advance all of the projects at the same time 🙂

[Aapo Lettinen]

I will order the rest of the CNC machined parts for the motor batch in the end of April and the rest of the expensive motor drive parts in May. All orders for the NPR Advanced motors have to be in before 25th April 2025 and at least partially paid for.

It is still possible to get a partial payment plan for the motors if needed, either two or three part plan.

The first batch will be around 10 motors total, with couple of 3-speed ones and the rest are of the Advanced model. It is very probable that I won't have any extra ones available later unless there is some motor which does not pass full quality control (has surface scratches etc) , and even in that case the absolute maximum of extra ones would be one or two pieces total.

It is very likely that second batch will never be made because it can take up to 2 years to collect enough orders to make another batch (it needs to be over 5 motors to break even) and I will likely be working on something else at that far away in the future.

[Aapo Lettinen]

There is five (5) days left to order the NPR Advanced motors. Price as per the previous posts. Deadline 25th April, the first payment part needs to be paid when placing the order.

---------

There is TWO 3-speed motors available for the price of 1300usd + shipping, deadline the same 25th April but they need to be fully paid for when placing the order. The ordering already closed for the 3-speed model some months ago but I need to round up the batch size of them for manufacturing reasons so can offer a maximum of two motors with the original price of 1300usd if they are paid for immediately. No payment plans available but you can pay the shipping costs in July when the motors are shipping.

[Aapo Lettinen]

ORDERING CLOSED BUT I MOVED THE CNC PARTS QUOTE TO MONDAY SO IF YOU FEEL MISSING OUT JUST SEND ME DM OR IG MESSAGE (aaplet14) DURING THE WEEKEND AND WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. There is some other people who are paying their orders in Sunday too so you can still apply if being quick. After Monday 28th it would be very difficult to add new orders anymore (would need to raise the price a lot, like 600usd extra) so have to close ordering after Sunday 27th.

Sold one of the 3-speeds so there is one still available. Advanced models available as well.

Edited April 26 by Aapo Lettinen

[Aapo Lettinen]

Ordering closed now for Eclair NPR camera motors.

I was able to sell 8 pieces of the Advanced 15-speed model and 4 pieces of the basic 3-speed model. Very good batch size overall and ordered the rest of the more expensive and time consuming cnc machined parts now to ensure I have parts for the whole batch when starting to assemble the final ones in June.

Some smaller parts will be made during May and the rest of the electric motors ordered in late May / early June when I am absolutely sure the selected motor drive type is the final one (can't make mistakes with the type selection as it costs over 3000 euros to change it, thus not ordering the rest of them just yet 😛 ).

The outer covers for the motor will be finished last, probably in late June/early July, because I want to use as much time as possible to refine the external shape of the covers. But the prototypes will use temporary 3d printed covers so when I start to make film tests I can test the cover designs at the same time 🙂

It looks like I will use 4-pin xlr as power connector and there will be a 6-pin accessory connector to connect external switches and other accessories to the motor. The motors will have one 1/4" and one 3/8" thread on the bottom for tripod mounting.

I will make one additional Advanced motor for my own use and if there will be parts left I will try to make one or two of the Advanced motor type for later sale. Probably those will be the last ones sold as from the batch size it looks like I have pretty good market saturation and there would be no later sales after those two possible extra ones are sold. Making a second batch would require having a order of 5 or 6 extra Advanced motors at once fully paid for beforehand which probably would never happen as later sales have always been one or two extra ones tops and I already have that amount covered.

If I have the one or two extra motors available later on, they will be slightly more expensive than the preordered ones. I am assuming something around 2300usd to 2400usd or so

[Aapo Lettinen]

I guess I can probably share some work-in-progress stuff of this single board which will be part of the NPR motors I am designing. Very very early draft and I will change most of it, these very early ones I make to evaluate if I can fit the necessary parts in the board area I have possibility to use. Or if some parts don't fit, do I need to change the schematics to leave some parts out (for example reduce ESD shielding to lower level to reduce parts count) or if I can replace some component with different type smaller one. Then I will enhance the schematics and improve the board design.

 

When the schematics is locked and I have selected the components and their package sizes (some components have hundreds of different packages they can be bought in so there is quite some work to select the most fitting for the purpose both in size and connections and in electrical and physical properties too, this has to be done on each component the board has) it is possible to find the best exact placement of each individual component and I can then draw the copper tracks connecting them together. the yellow lines between component legs represent the connections described by the schematic and I will need to draw a physical connection, a copper track, between the indicated legs. If some other copper track is on the way, I can "jump" over or under it between copper layers to route the track for example on the back side of the board to get forward. this board will have 4 copper layers so there is some serious thinking needed how to hop between layers when routing the connections, especially when there is some signals which may interfere with each other if routed too close each other. Overall pretty long process, typically I will purchase some amount of each selected component during the design process to ensure that they fit and they have correct properties and to ensure that they are available when I actually am starting to assemble the final boards.

 

The purpose of this particular board is to have ESD protection and input-output connections of the NPR motor, and it has some EMI (electromagnetic interference) filtering too. Electrolytic capacitors have limited lifetime which is why I am trying to concentrate them all on this board which is easiest to access if some of them need replacing after many years of use. The board has optocouplers which separate the very sensitive crystal control board electronics from the "outside world" 6-pin accessory connector. If there would be static discharge happening on the 6-pin connector the components on this board protect from it recoverably to a point... too large discharge will damage the optocouplers on this board which can be easily replaced if needed as this board is easy to access and those components are very easy to get from any retailer. Probably could be user repaired if not having possibility to send it to me for repairs.

 

Without these protective measures a discharge could instead damage the sensitive crystal control electronics which have programmable parts running custom firmware, those can't just be replaced by other persons than me because any replacement would need to be programmed before installing (you don't have the software available and blank components would not work at all) and one might need to swap whole circuit boards to new ones even.

 

So it is very important board overall. It is the only one I can show of these circuit boards I am making for the NPR motors and it is the only one which might in any rare scenario needed to be accessed by other persons than me so that it will be documented in the manual.

 

Will update more pictures when getting the design forward. Hopefully will have the final board ready in late May or early June.