BGC gimbal settings (ie: cheap Chinese 2d gimbal
1I had some issues with my "light" Chinese gimbal. Gimbal worked just fine when I shut everything down last weekend. This weekend when I tried to use it, the gimbal was confused. It kept trying to turn the camera upside down. Everything else seemed fine, but it just kept trying to turn the camera upside down. If I let it go, it would stabilize and work correctly, but with the camera upside down, facing backwards.
So... after hours and hours of pouring through the 'net noise, I discovered I needed to download a Java based program called SimpleBGC_GUI. It's a rather elemental but complete point-n-click interface for changing various settings on the SimpleBGC gimbal control board.
Among the things you can accomplish with this free program is to increase the PWM setting to quiet a squealing gimbal. You can also control motor gain and speed, response curve, max travel limits, dead zones... every aspect of tuning gimbal response.
SimpleGBC_GUI is available from a variety of download sites. I got mine HERE.
EDIT: You will also need the device driver found HERE.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Not all Chinese gimbals are based on the BGC controller board. This software is designed for BGC controllers ONLY. Although MOST inexpensive 2D gimbals currently sold on eBay and Amazon are BGC based, please check your configuration BEFORE trying to use the program with your gimbal. At best, it won't talk to your gimbal. At worst, it could disable or even damage your gimbal controller.
Here's an example of the typical BGC controller board:
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That's the same board I have. Looks like we both messed with our gimbal controller but at different times (I posted about the SimpleGBC_GUI as well). Did you change your z axis by inverting it to -z? How is yours working out for you? I finally got it working, barely. As you know it was working great until I added the fpv wire. I got it to mostly work, but sometimes it would act up. That wire weighs down the camera.
After I hooked up the tilt wire, my battery door no longer opens fully. Are your pins on the same side as the battery door? I will rotate my gimbal controller so the usb faces towards the door.
Also, you can reposition the camera mount by pushing the button on the controller (it's right next to the header of pins that control the pitch and roll). Once you push it, the arm will go limp for a few secs. Position the arm the way you want it and it will remember the position. No need to enter the config menu.
@garyhgaryh I tried the reset button, but all it did was recal the sensors, then started flipping the camera again. I changed my Sensor Z axis to -Z and selected the "Invert" checkbox for Pitch in the motor configuraiton. After writing the settings, then going back in to increase the PWM to quiet the squealing, all seems correct. I powered it up, and the camera points to where it should, and motion correction seems to work properly. I haven't given it a test flight yet, but I'm about 90% confident it's all good now.
@garyhgaryh BTW, I learned that the button is a combination reset/program select button. You can program up to four different profiles and save them to the controller board. A short push of the button selects your saved profile (two short pushes for program 2 for example). So you can tune your gimbal performance. Perhaps one with low gains for still days and slow flight, and maybe increased gains and smaller dead zones for windy days or more agressive flight.
@garyhgaryh I've got mine mounted to the CX-20, not the Phantom. My power and RX connections are on the bottom of the body, so I don't have the same challenge with the battery door.
It's got two 12v power connections on the right side of the USB, and two servo channels on the left side (marked S1 and S2). Those are the channels I use for pitch and tilt (though I've disabled the tilt control because it's best to let the gimbal controller take care of it).
@ruouttaurmind awesome you got it working. I love my gimbal. 1 short push of the button will allow me to reset my tilt angle of my gimbal, but that can all be changed in the simpleGUI. Thanks for the info about the profiles! That will come in handy. Some people keep the PWM freq to noisy for better performance. Mine didn't make any significant noise so I didn't change it.
@garyhgaryh So, what I want to know is: Is the gimble working for you? I love mine! I think I got the cable routing figured out. It's almost perfect. I wish I had gotten the 3-axis gimble.
@garyhgaryh It's working functionally, but I am not thrilled with the weight. It it still my intention to replace it with the plastic Walkera 2d. Honestly, I just don't see enough of a difference between the video taken on the 2d, and the video taken on the 3d to warrant an additional $120 or so. At least not on this platform. I can't say I'd hate having a 270* or 360* gimbal on the Tali. Not exactly sure what the specs are on the 3d I have on there now, but I think it's about 135* yaw. Would love to be able to park it in the sky and focus on framing my shot rather than trying to fly into the shot. But that capability would set me back at least another $300 more than a 2d. Can't justify that for a hobby.
@ruouttaurmind When I first started this project I looked at videos comparing 2 vs 3 axis gimbal. I didn't see much of a difference and whatever gimbal I got would be better than no gimbal. Now that I got a taste of what a 2 axis gimbal is capable of, I noticed the shakes a 3rd axis motor can get rid of. I'm picky about stuff like that and now I think I'm going for a 3 axis gimbal if the price is right. I think you posted a link of a walkera 3 axis gimbal at $13X. It went up in price, but if it ever hits that price point again, I'll jump on it.
@garyhgaryh I've constantly got my nose out there looking at parts, so if I stumble across any deals on 3D I'll be sure to pass it along.
@ruouttaurmind thanks!!
@ruouttaurmind @garyhgaryh hey fellas, I need some direction if you are able to help me. My lightweight gimbal came in the mail yesterday and I am having issues getting it to function properly. I'll attach photos of the board. Here is where I am having issues:
-Where do I hook up for my tilt control? I know it is on the board somewhere, I just haven't found videos or pics of my exact board and am a little confused.
-When plugging in the board to power, it takes a long time to calibrate, like 2 minutes sometimes and sometimes it won't calibrate at all and the camera will just be hanging. I hit the reset button and sometimes that helps and sometimes it doesnt. Will downloading the software above help?
-Last issue (at least I hope) when it does calibrate it seems to function pretty great (I haven't flown yet, just with me putting the phantom in different angles), but after a maybe 15 seconds it freezes up and no longer stabilizes, any thoughts?
Again sorry for all the questions, thanks again!
@twall EDIT: Go to the link below and download the interface app from there./EDIT What you've got there is the STorM32 3 axis gimbal controller. That's a different board than Gary and I have. The BGC software should still work with it. I'd try hooking up and seeing what feedback it gives you. If the BGC app connects ok, try the calibration process and write the settings to your gimbal. Maybe it won't lose them after a power cycle. As far as the 15 second freeze... I'm going to have to guess it's a bad board, or perhaps a intermittant power connection. First step though, try the BGC app and see if you can read/write to it.
@twall Here's the manufacturer's wiki with a TON of info, including the startup and setup guide. Did I mention there was TONS of info there? http://www.olliw.eu/storm32bgc-wiki/Getting_Started
@ruouttaurmind Thank you! After looking at the board and messing with it quite a bit I think it is fried. If you look at the picture above underneath the 3 prongs with the "MOT2" label, the black box is completely ripped off, isn't it? Here is a picture of the version board that I have.
@twall That's the controller for the 3rd axis motor. Since you have a 2 axis gimbal, perhaps that IC was removed, or maybe never installed. I suspect that's not related to your problem. Have you gone through the setup routine specified in the STorM32 wiki? It's worth a shot.
@twall I don't think it's fried. A 3 axis gimbal board can be made to work as a 2 axis gimbal. If you configure it as a 2 axis gimbal you don't need the 3rd motor circuit so they don't add the support circuit for the 3rd motor - why would they?