Lume Cube mounting

Maddog · Mar 25, 2017

Does anybody have a Lume Cube mounted on Solo?

If so can you post some pics showing how you mounted it?

Thanks

andrew.baker.142 · Mar 25, 2017

I've got two mounted. With this setup I can mount them in the belly and use a camera on the front mount or mount the lights on the front if just using the Lume Cubes for illumination.

Maddog · Mar 25, 2017

That's quite a setup. Looks like no room for the gimbal eh?

andrew.baker.142 · Mar 25, 2017

Sure there is. If you look at the first photo, you can see the cubes mounted on the belly. The gimbal should fit fine on the front if needed.

sputnik378 · Mar 25, 2017

added range with that antenna setup?

Mauiwind · Mar 26, 2017

andrew.baker.142 said:
I've got two mounted. With this setup I can mount them in the belly and use a camera on the front mount or mount the lights on the front if just using the Lume Cubes for illumination.

looks terrific. I'm curious about what the max distance from the subject might be to light it enough to get the GoPro to record the subject. (at night)

andrew.baker.142 · Mar 26, 2017

With directional antennas on the controller I should see a range improvement. Haven't tested it for distance yet.

nicotrue · Mar 27, 2017

andrew.baker.142 said:
With directional antennas on the controller I should see a range improvement. Haven't tested it for distance yet.

Did some searching trying to find that side by side gopro mount, but came up empty...could you point me to a link where I could buy the parts you used...very nice setup!

FamilyFlyGuy · Mar 27, 2017

nicotrue said:
Did some searching trying to find that side by side gopro mount, but came up empty...could you point me to a link where I could buy the parts you used...very nice setup!

I found this one at Cabela's
Lume Cube GoPro® Mounting Bar : Cabela's
also with 2 Cubes
Amazon.com : Lume Cube Dual Kit for GoPro (Gunmetal Grey) : Camera & Photo
Lume Cube Dual Kit for GoPro (Gunmetal Grey) LC-GPAC22 B&H Photo

nicotrue · Mar 27, 2017

FamilyFlyGuy said:
I found this one at Cabelas
Lume Cube GoPro® Mounting Bar : Cabela's

Nice Find...thanks!

andrew.baker.142 · Mar 28, 2017

I probably found it on eBay. I almost 3D printed one, but this one was cheap as I recall.

AndyE · Apr 1, 2017

Lume Cube GoPro Mount

Snitz427 · Apr 5, 2017

Maddog said:
Does anybody have a Lume Cube mounted on Solo?

If so can you post some pics showing how you mounted it?

Thanks

I apologize for what may be a stupid question - but where did you find the part that actually mounts to the belly of the drone (wth bushings)? I have the same gopro attachment and am looking at picking up two lume cubes. Everything I have found for an additional accessory mount seems to be only fixed camera attachments. Is that what you used here? Your additional belly plate looks like a better solution than what Ive found so far.

Thanks!

andrew.baker.142 · Apr 5, 2017

I printed the belly mount from a model on Thingiverse,: 3DR Solo accessory bay adapter for second camera
Also used the original fixed GoPro mount connected to the belly plate. Also use it to carry a second camera. Works great!

IrishmanPDX · Jul 25, 2018

Yeah....... I'm goanna have to try these out....

Actually I'm thinking a small bit of weight could be saved by getting rid of the need for the static camera mount and the lume cube adapter. Why not 3D print an entire holder that attaches directly to the drone. So 1 piece instead of 3 pieces.

Maddog · Jul 25, 2018

I finally had a friend 3D print a mount that attaches to the Brite Lite controller. The Lume Cube hangs below that.

I was disappointed in the light output of just one cube. At night I couldn’t see anything on the ground unless Solo was within 30’. So if I was flying over trees I couldn’t see someone on the ground.

I also discovered it would really help if the cube could be mounted to follow the camera up & down.

Does anybody know if 2 cubes would increase that distance?

IrishmanPDX · Jul 27, 2018

I haven't actually mounted these "yet", I need to try and pick up some M2 size washers first, I don't want to directly screw the plate to the body without them (lume cubes are expensive darn it). I agree, a pan and tilt option would be good, but man, how much more weight does one want to add to the drone... Could we in actually fact attach a 2nd gimbal I wonder?

TurboGhost · Aug 4, 2018

IrishmanPDX said:
I haven't actually mounted these "yet", I need to try and pick up some M2 size washers first, I don't want to directly screw the plate to the body without them (lume cubes are expensive darn it). I agree, a pan and tilt option would be good, but man, how much more weight does one want to add to the drone... Could we in actually fact attach a 2nd gimbal I wonder?

I wouldnt go as far as a second gimbal, all you really need is a servo piggybacking the pitch channel on the gimbal to mimic the pitch of it. Heres a link to a video showing how it works:

RichWest · Aug 4, 2018

Maddog said:
I was disappointed in the light output of just one cube. At night I couldn’t see anything on the ground unless Solo was within 30’. So if I was flying over trees I couldn’t see someone on the ground.

A couple of thoughts to help improve the light's performance and/or reduce the stray light getting to the camera's sensor.

Try a makeshift hood for the light, as an example a paper towel tube of 1 to 2" extension should reduce the stray light on the ground or in the near field. The Lumecube's narrow beam is good, but you still have quite a bit of stray light. If you can box out the stray light you should see improvements in how the camera performs. Basically you are trying to create a spot light rather than a flood light.

Obviously two light are better than one...

Maddog · Aug 4, 2018

RichWest said:
A couple of thoughts to help improve the light's performance and/or reduce the stray light getting to the camera's sensor.

Try a makeshift hood for the light, as an example a paper towel tube of 1 to 2" extension should reduce the stray light on the ground or in the near field. The Lumecube's narrow beam is good, but you still have quite a bit of stray light. If you can box out the stray light you should see improvements in how the camera performs. Basically you are trying to create a spot light rather than a flood light.

Obviously two light are better than one...

Thanks Rich. I hadn't thought of that.