Camera

The video system is based on a monochrome "lipstick" camera. The choice of a monochrome camera was an aesthetic one contrived by the artist. During development a small monochrome monitor was used for testing purposes.

Three modifications to the camera were necessary.

The power and video lead wires were very long and had to be cut down and re-connectorized. A 1/8" phone plug supplies 12 volts to power the camera, and a standard RCA connector carries the video.
The swivel mount had a molded plastic foot, which was removed.
Because the camera was designed to stand upright on its foot, the video image was upside down for purposes of this project. This problem was solved by removing the circuit assembly from inside the camera tube and inverting it.

During development, before all the final geometries were established, cable ties were used to hold the camera in place to evaluate motion control and video quality.

After the proper length of the camera shaft was determined, the entire assembly was taken apart, and the shaft cut to length on the abrasive cutoff saw. The cutoff saw heats the steel to red heat during the cut, hence the burnt appearance of the end. A flat was then milled on the shaft to accept the set screw in the adapter sleeve. By the time of this photograph, the mechanism for rotating the camera was complete.

To attach the camera to the end of the shaft, an adapter sleeve was cut from a piece of aluminum, drilled lenghtwise on the lathe, then drilled and threaded for set screws.

The camera can comfortably rotate at over 200 RPM.