SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Build Cradle Assembly
Locate the Front and Rear Camera Cradle Flanges from the main parts bag the other parts required to build the
cradle will be found in Bag #2. Attach the Tilt Servo Mounting Block to the right-hand side of Front Cradle Flange
using M3 x 6mm button head screws (all M3 button head screws used in ULTRA-VR are driven using a 2mm Hex
driver or Allen wrench) as shown in Fig 1.
Fig1
Locate the machining mark (see Fig 2) on the Camera Tilt Bearing Block.
Fig 2
Attach the Camera Tilt Bearing Block to the Front Cradle Flange using M3 x 6mm button head screws as shown
in Fig 3. When assembled, the machining mark should be toward the bottom of the assembly facing inward.
Fig 3
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Attach the Rear Cradle Flange to the rear faces of the Tilt Servo Mounting Block and Tilt Bearing Block. Locate
the Roll Bearing Assembly. Attach it to Cradle Assembly using two M3 x 6mm button head screws through the
top, center holes in the Front and Rear Cradle Flanges (Fig 4).
Fig 4
Locate the 2 black plastic Cradle Standoffs. Attach them to the Cradle Assembly using M3 x 6mm button head
screws in the positions shown in Fig 5. These standoffs are self-tapping (no internal threads) requiring a little
extra effort to fully seat the fasteners. You may need to hold the standoffs with a pair of pliers to tighten the
screws fully.
Fig 5
Install Servo's on Cradle Assembly
The Servo's are found in Small Bag #5. Remove each Servo from it's shipping card. Remove the black center
screw form each Servo using a #1 Phillips screwdriver (Fig 6). Set aside these 2 black screws (and washer) for
later steps. Remove the white plastic drive wheel from each Servo and discard.
Fig 6
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Attach one of the Servo's to the outside of the Tilt Servo Mounting Block with the Servo shaft pointing inward
using four M3 x 6mm button head screws . The Servo must be oriented such that the Servo's electrical cables
point upward relative to the cradle (Fig 7). This will serve as your Camera Tilt Servo.
Fig 7
(Note: The fasteners in Fig 7 are cap screws. Do not use cap screws for your build,
use the M3 x 6mm button head screws directed above.)
Install one of the black plastic Tilt Servo Drive Pulleys to the shaft of Tilt Servo using one of the black Servo
screws and washers set aside earlier. Please note that the internal splines of the Tilt Servo Drive Pulley must
engage fully with the external splines of the Tilt Servo shaft (Fig 8).
Fig 8
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Attach the second Servo on to the Front Cradle Flange using four M3 x 10mm cap screws (the M3 cap screws
used on the ULTRA-VR are driven using a 2.5mm Hex driver or Allen wrench) . To install Servo you must first
thread the Servo electrical cables through the opening. Then position servo so that the shaft is pointing outward
(forward) and the electrical cable is pointed toward the Roll Bearing Assembly (Fig 9). Do not force the Servo
into the opening, as this might damage the Servo. Also, care must be taken not to damage the Servo's electrical
cables. Occasionally there will be a tight fit for this Servo installation. This can be solved by removing some of
the powder coating on the inside of the rectangular opening where the Servo is mounted. There is some
variability in the Servo case outer dimensions. This will not affect the performance of the Servo in any way. This
will Servo will serve as your Camera Roll Servo.
Fig 9
Assemble Camera Tray
Locate the Camera Tray from the large bag one of the nylon Tilt Shafts and install it on the outward face of the
Camera Tray's left-hand vertical surface using an M3 x 12mm button head screw and a M3 Nylock Nut. The
screw is first pushed through the the center pivot from the inside outward. Install the nylon Tilt Shaft and then
install the nut. Do not fully tighten the nut yet. Locate the nylon Thrust Washer and push it on to the nylon Tilt
Shaft until it is in contact with the Camera Tray's left-hand vertical outer surface. Now tighten the Tilt Shaft's nut
fully. This will expand the nylon shaft slightly and help hold the Thrust Washer in place. It is possible that the
Thrust Washer can still fall of the shaft. Be sure that this washer stays in place during later steps of installation.
Fig 10
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Assemble the other Tilt Drive Pulley and nylon Tilt Shaft on to the outer vertical surface of the right-hand side of
the Camera Tray using the M3 x 25mm Titanium button head screw ans an M3 Nylock nut. Insert the titanium
screw through the center hole (of 5 hole pattern) on the Camera Tray from the inside outward. Place the Tilt
Drive Pulley on titanium screw with the spline side of the pulley facing inward. Place the nylon Tilt Shaft over the
screw and then attach the Nylock Nut. Tighten the Nylock nut until nearly tight, but loose enough to rotate the
pulley relative to the Camera Tray. Rotate the pulley until the holes in the pulley line up with those in the Camera
Tray. Locate the four 5-40 x 3/8” cap screws from Small Bag #2. Insert and tighten each of these screws through
the lines up hole in the Camera Tray and into the holes in the Tilt Drive Pulley. After these 4 cap screws are
tightened, fully tighten the M3 Nylock Nut on the titanium center screw. After tightening the Nylock Nut, nip off
the end of the titanium center screw using flush cut or diagonal cutters making sure that the screw is cut off as
close to the Nylock Nut as possible so that little or no part of the screw protrudes beyond the Nylock Nut (Fig 11).
Fig 11
Assemble the Camera Tray to the Cradle Assembly
Locate the Tilt Drive Belt from Small Bag #2 and engage over both Tilt Drive Pulleys (Fig 12).
Fig 12
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Grasp the Cradle with four fingers and apply force on to the pulley end of the Camera Tray to tension the Tilt
Drive Belt (Fig 13). Apply sufficient force to line up the nylon shaft on the pulley end of the Camera Tray with the
hole in the bearing on the Tilt Servo Mounting Block. Once aligned, insert the nylon shaft int the bearing until it is
fully seated.
Fig 13
Make sure the nylon Tilt Thrust Washer is still in place on the left-hand nylon Tilt Shaft. To insert the left-hand
side of the Camera Tray in to it's bearing, carefully spread the cradle with two hand wide enough to allow the lefthand nylon shaft (and Nylock Nut) to fit past the edge of the Tilt Bearing Block. When the shaft is lined up with
the hole in the bearing, release the force on the Cradle allowing the left-hand shaft to enter the bearing hole.
Squeeze together to allow the shaft to become fully seated. Do not try to bend the Camera tray in the attempt to
fit the shaft on to the bearing. Rotate the Camera Tray back and forth to ensure smooth operation. The Camera
Tray properly installed on to the Cradle Assembly is shown in Fig 14.
Fig 14
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Assemble Isolation System
Remove the Roll Bearing Assembly from the Cradle Assembly and set the two M3 x 6mm button head screws
aside for a later step (it was included in the Cradle Assembly Build to ensure proper alignment of components).
Install the Roll Bearing Assembly on to one of the Isolation System X Brackets using two M3 x 16mm button
head screws and Nylock Nuts. The Bearing Assembly must be attached to the same side of the X Bracket that
the holes are chamfered. Please note the chamfers in Fig 15. This will serve as the bottom bracket of the
Isolation System.
Fig 15
Insert a Rubber Isolator in to the outer hole on each arm of the bottom X Bracket to start out. Depending on how
heavy the camera load will be using you may want to use a different set of holes in the X Bracket. The closer the
Rubber Isolators to the center of the X Bracket the more nimble the camera mount will become. These must be
installed on the side opposite the Roll Bearing Assembly (Fig 16). If any tool or implement is used to assist
installation of the Rubber Isolators, ensure that the tip is rounded. It is essential that the Rubber Isolators are not
punctured or torn in any way.
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Fig 16
Attach the upper X Bracket to the Rubber Isolators already installed on the lower X Bracket. The upper X Bracket
should face with the chamfered hole side toward the lower X Bracket. In the finished assembly both X Brackets
will have their chamfered hole side facing down. The upper X Bracket must also be oriented so that the Mounting
Bosses are on opposite sides of the X Bracket assembly (Fig 17). This is essential to allow the Roll Servo
Linkage to be properly attached to the lower X Bracket in a later step of the build.
Fig 17
Locate the two Isolation System Mounting Brackets. Insert a Rubber Grommet (from Small Bag #4) in to the two
large holes (approx. 11/16” ID) on each of the two brackets. Attach the two Isolation System Mounting Brackets
to the outermost holes on the arms of the upper X Bracket using our M3 x 10mm cap screws, four M3 flat
washers, and four M3 Nylock Nuts. The Isolation System Mounting Brackets must be oriented with the grommet
ends up (Fig 18). The flat washers should be on the cap screw head side of the fastener connection. Thread the
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Wire Ties through each of the Rubber Isolator and attached loosely with plenty of slack, yet inserted far enough
to ensure the locking tabs of the wire ties are engaged (Fig 18).
Fig 18
Roll Servo Linkage Assembly
Locate the individual black plastic Rod End, the black plastic Rod End Assembly (two rod ends screwed together
on a threaded rod, and the blue anodized aluminum Servo Horn from Small Bag #2.
The individual black plastic Rod End must be properly prepared before assembly of the linkage. The individual
Rod End has not internal threads. Treads are prepared in the Rod End by screwing an M3 x 10mm cap screw
approximately ¾ of the way in to the shank of the Rod End (Fig 19). Be careful to keep the screw straight while
performing this step. This will establish threads in the Rod End making attachment of the Roll Servo Linkage
easier in a later step. Remove and set the cap screw aside for a later step.
Fig 19
Place the Individual Rod End on a flat surface. The ball must be aligned so that it is centered (the bore of the ball
is perpendicular with threaded axis of the Rod End). Once aligned, it must be glued in place using Loctite®
Super Glue Liquid (or other similar liquid cyanoacrylate adhesive product). Do not use a gel adhesive as it will
not properly penetrate. The adhesive must be applied around the outside of the steel ball, allowing the liquid
adhesive to soak in to the clearance gap between the steel ball and the socket of the black plastic Rod End (Fig
20). The Adhesive will need to set for several minutes and then turned over and repeated on the opposite side.
Afterward, the Rod End must be set aside for several hours to fully cure. It is essential for this adhesive joint to
harden properly. The glued joint can break loose if not fully cured. If this happens, it will affect the performance
of the Roll Servo System. If allowed the cure fully, it will make a very strong connection that will last the life of the
product.
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Fig 20
Attach the blue Servo Horn to the Rod End Assembly using an M3 x 12mm button head screw and an M3 Nylock
nut with the parts and fasteners oriented as shown in Fig 21.
Fig 21
Loctite® is a registered trademark of Henkel Corp., USA
Attach the glued Individual Rod End to the other end of the Rod End Assembly using an M3 x 16mm button head
screw and an M3 Nylock Nut. Be sure the the adhesive has fully cured in the Rod End before proceeding to this
step. Refer to Fig 22 for the proper orientation of parts and fasteners for this connection. This completes the
assembly of the Roll Servo Linkage.
Fig 22
Attach the individual Rod End of the Roll Servo Linkage to the bottom of the lower X Bracket Mounting Boss
using an M3 x 10mm cap screw and M3 flat washer, being careful not to break loose the center ball of the
individual Rod End. While attaching the Rod End to the bottom X Bracket, hold the shank of the Rod End with a
needle nose pliers to avoid putting any excess force on the glued joint of the Rod End (Fig 23).
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Fig 23
When tightened the glued Rod End portion of the Roll Servo Linkage must be aligned such that the center axis of
the screw that goes through the glued ball of the Rod End parallel to the forward axis of the Camera Cradle/Tray
assembly as shown in Fig 24.
Fig 24
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Assembly on to Carbon Fiber Tubes
Locate the following parts from the large bag and install rubber grommets on them in the following quantities
each in to the large holes (approx. 11/16” ID):
Part
Landing Gear Legs
Copter Mount Brackets
Battery Mounting Brackets
# of Parts required
2
2
2
# of Grommets installed on each
4
2
3
Locate the two 8” Carbon Fiber (CF) Tubes. The upper (8” tube) assembly of parts is done first. Installation of the
parts on to the Rubber Grommets will require some lubrication. Soapy water or wire pulling lubricant will work.
Push the 8” CF Tubes part way through the grommets on one end (front or rear) of the Mounting Brackets of the
Isolation System Assembly. Then instal a Copter Mount Bracket, 2 Battery Mounting Brackets, then the other
Copter Mount Bracket. Using generous amount of lubricant, continue pushing the 8” CF Tubes until they protrude
through the Rubber Grommets on the brackets of the other end of the Isolation System Assembly. When
complete, The CF Tubes should protrude approximately ¾ – 1' beyond the Rubber Grommets of the Isolation
System Assembly. The proper orientation of the parts on the upper (8”) CF Tube assembly is shown in Fig 25.
Fig 25
Install the Landing Gear Legs on to the 12” CF Tubes, one leg at a time, until the legs are separated by a little
less than 8' and approximately centered. Instal the 8” CF Tube assembly on to the upper holes of the Landing
Gear Legs, one leg at a time while simultaneously sliding the bottom of each leg the same amount. When
complete, the Landing Gear Legs should perpendicular to the CF Tubes and separated by approximately 6.5”.
Install plastic End Caps on to all 8 ends of the CF Tubes.
Install the Camera Cradle/Tray Assembly
Attach the Cradle to the Roll Bearing Assembly as perform in a previous step using the 2 M3 x 6mm button head
screws set aside earlier. Before attaching the blue Servo Horn to the Roll Servo shaft, ensure that the Servo has
not moved from it's mid-travel position. Rotate the Camera Tray until it is in a level roll position. Fit the internal
splines of the blue Servo Horn on to the external splines of the Roll Servo shaft and secure with the black Servo
screw and washer set aside earlier (Fig 26).
SkyRover ULTRA - VR
Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System
Assembly Instructions
Fig 26
Your ULTRA-VR Vibration-Dampened Camera Gimbal/Landing Gear System is now complete. It is ready to
be attached to your helicopter using the parts from Small Bag #1.
Thank you for your purchase of this kit. If you have any questions about the build or comments for SkyRover,
please feel free to contact us. Our contact information can be found on our website: www.SkyRover.US