FC-T12 2-axis gimbal assembly and bench test.
Unit overview
FC-T12 2-axis gimbal from HobbyKing is a cheap ($15US) and light (72g without servos – 124g all up in this configuration) 2-axis gimbal suitable for small cameras.
In this build configuration, the servo controlling pitch is a Hextronik HXT900 9gr / 1.6kg / 0.12sec micro. The servo controlling roll is a Hextronik 5010 39.2g / 6.9kg / 0.16sec standard servo. The controller is a OpenPilot Revolution, purchased via the OpenPilot store and configured as per the OpenPilot Wiki article on Camera Stabilization Configuration.
Benchtest
Assembly
Attach the micro servo to the first plate.
![Step 1](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_182103-1024x768.jpg)
The screws in position:
![Step 2](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_182113-1024x768.jpg)
Prepare the counterpart plate with turntable.
![Step 3](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_182135-1024x768.jpg)
Connect right angle fillets to the arms.
![Step 4](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_182221-1024x768.jpg)
Then the arms to the bridging plate.
![Step 5](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_183011-1024x768.jpg)
Then attach the camera baseplate.
![Step 6](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_191114-768x1024.jpg)
At which point you can commence the main attachment of the gimbal.
![Step 7](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_193553-1024x768.jpg)
The prepared connector plate.
![Step 8](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_193621-1024x768.jpg)
One half of the connector plate in place.
![Step 9](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_193642-1024x768.jpg)
The other half in place.
![Step 10](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_193759-1024x768.jpg)
Support braces in place.
![Step 11](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140125_194532-1024x768.jpg)
Standard servo in place.
![Step 12](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140301_154636-1024x768.jpg)
The thread is only just long enough for the nuts to engage.
![Step 13](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140301_154805-1024x768.jpg)
Couple the two halves.
![Step 14](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140301_155016-1024x768.jpg)
The assembled unit.
![Final product](http://roger.venning.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140301_154939-768x1024.jpg)