# Reconfigurable Rig This aerial photography rig was designed by @Ranon Prichard as an Autodesk Student Expert Intern project funded by [Autodesk](http://www.autodesk.com/). The goal is to create an affordable yet versatile rig that can be reconfigured in a number of ways for use in [pole](/tag/pole-mapping), [balloon and kite aerial](/wiki/balloon-mapping) photography in several configurations. The parts are standard hardware store parts and laser cut plywood pieces. Research notes on the rigs and their usage are tagged [reconfigurable-rig](/tag/Reconfigurable-Rig). Please [post your research.](/post) The parts, 3D printing and laser cutting files, and assembly instructions are available in the [Reconfigurable Rig Github repository](https://github.com/ranon96/Reconfigurable-Rig). ###About the Development [](//i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/017/766/original/RubberBandUsage.png) The rig features a rubber band powered pan mechanism which uses a pipe fitting filled with silly putty as resistance, inspired by a [design](https://billboyheritagesurvey.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/the-simon-harbord-silly-putty-sp-rig/) by Simon Harbord. More details in [this note.](https://publiclab.org/notes/ranon/06-13-2016/silly-putty-kap-rig). Electronics free alternatives to the Silly Putty panning mechanism are [explored here](https://publiclab.org/notes/ranon/07-07-2016/electronics-free-automated-pan-mechanisms). The rig was inspired by [Tinker Toy type connectors](/notes/ranon/06-22-2016/plastic-tubing-oblique-kap-rig), and the use of beverage tubing in [KAPtery rigs](/tag/kaptery). The use of [cable clamps and 2D parts](/notes/ranon/07-07-2016/reconfigurable-rig) to make Tinker Toy-like pieces enables the parts to be produced via laser cutting for more affordable kits. More configurations for pole photography are [explored here](/notes/ranon/08-10-2016/reconfigurable-rig-pole-configuration-and-github-repository). ###Development and Beta testing If you would like a Reconfigurable Rig, please contact mathew@publiclab.org. The rig is currently undergoing testing. Beta Testing questions are listed below. Loading... ...
| Author | Comment | Last activity | Moderation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mathew | "Of these options, the rubber band holds the firmest-- simplest and cheapest, though rather ugly looking. @cfastie's points about pins are good one..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| tonyc | "The other option was the zip tie only method from all my little pendulum rig notes. You snug up a zip tie as tight as you can, then slide if off th..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| tonyc | "another thought is using a rubber band wrapped around the dowel, then clamped with a small zip tie. The combination of pressure from the tie on the..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "Wooden dowels are widely available, but they also vary widely in quality. Oak and sometimes maple dowels are fairly reliable and birch, poplar, and..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| ranon | "Thanks for the input Chris! The reason I have been using wooden dowels is for their wide availability (can be consistently found at any craft, har..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "With some rig/camera combinations and with certain wind conditions any of these techniques could work. I might use any of them if I assembled the r..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| mathew | "Your suggestion is to continuously pan, and then increment the tilt? That is sensible. One reason why we were doing a separate pan and tilt mechan..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "A weakness of spring powered, egg timer powered, or rubber band powered KAP rigs is that they don't stop panning to take each photo. As long as the..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| ranon | "You're welcome, glad to hear that! " | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| eustatic | "thanks for letting me know about this, i'll have to add this to my repetoire " | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| mathew | "Here's Simon Harbord's video of his version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUnMAbXOgCo " | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
| mathew | "The original Rig design is by Simon Harbord, Simon_H on the KAP Forums http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/discuss/index.php?p=/profile/7/Simon%20H T..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago |