Which type of motors?

[Rustyboy]

Hi I'm trying to find which type of motors to use for controlling the following:-
i have joined a webcam and a USB light together in a housing and want to be able to rotate them to have a good all round vision.
This device is to help my lads at work who sometimes have to look into the cavity walls we are filling with insulation for obstructions. I've looked at some endoscopes but they are expensive and love making my own things anyway.
I think 2 motors would be good, 1 for up/down, the other for left/right. I'd like to power these with a 12V battery.
My 2 USB cables from the light and camera are plugging into my laptop and I'm using software to view/record the images.
I don't know much about electric motors so any help would be great.

 

[panelman]

Not sure if I have missed something here but I would mount the light & camera on a periscope. That way you can insert the periscope into the wall and just rotate the whole thing to see what you want

Added bonus…..all the bulky, expensive bits stay in your hand and outside the wall

 

[Rustyboy]

thanks for the idea have considered it and it will work most of the time but there is the odd occasion when we need to look into the most awkward of places! I was thinking of suspending the cables or putting it on a pole but need to look in at an angle.
I suppose I could just mount the light/camera on a pole and have them able to rototate on a fitting then i would be able to cover most areas.
thanks panelman I think you've just helped me get over the problem!
Cheers!

 

[panelman]

send the money to the normal address

 

[Rustyboy]

lol
another example of how 2 minds are better than 1.
the good old keep it simple shines again.

on another note, some endoscopes are nearly a grand(i.e. 1000pounds) i recon i can do this for roughly 100pounds. Maybe i should market it to the building/drainage trade!
cheers again
peace
rustyboy

 

[jraef]

A compromise position might be to allow your camera/light assembly to articulate on the end of the "pole" by mounting it on a ball and socket joint, then running 2 flexible cables in or along the extension, one for up/down axis and one for right/left.

If your tinkering jones got ahold of you later, you could motorize the cable flexion/extension with 2 simple little ball screw assembly run by micromotors.

"Venditori de oleum-vipera non vigere excordis populi"

 

[Rustyboy]

cheers jraef
that's what i was thinking of at first.
what kind of motors would do this, i don't know a lot about motors.
cheers
rustyboy

 

[Barry1961]

You could mount the camera on a hinge and tilt it with a control(throttle) cable. You can get them with varoius knobs and levers, including fine adj. You could also do a ball joint if you really need multiple axis.

Crouzet among others makes small gearmotors that are cheap. A old vending machine might have some motors you could use.

You might be able to start with a joint off a side view or rear view mirror off an old junk car.

Barry1961