Documentation and manuals for an open DIY motorized camera slider ecosystem: UIC (SliderCtrl) + MC (SliderMC) + BDC (SliderMC_BDC) + optional DMC (DF_DMC_2_MC) + shared UART contract.
Whether you operate on set, install a panel, build the rail, or extend the firmware — this repo is the single source for architecture, protocol, user manuals, and build guides. Mechanics and enclosure are yours; the docs cover control feel, motion firmware, and wiring so your build can behave like a commercial motorized slider on the things that matter for shooting — or as a construction kit for custom motorized rigs.
| Repo | Role |
|---|---|
| SliderCtrl | UI controller — MicroPython panel firmware (JKSlider, B4Slider, libraries) |
| SliderMC | Motion controller — C++ / FreeRTOS STEP/DIR (1–4 motors; typical linear + pan, time-synced) |
| SliderMC_BDC | Motion controller — C++ / FreeRTOS brushed DC motors with AB encoders (up to 2 motors, 4 RC servos) |
| DF_DMC_2_MC | Dragonframe DMC v2 USB bridge (RP2040-Zero) to SliderMC UART |
One consolidated view of the whole stack — details live in each repo README and in architecture/marketing.md.
- Motorized camera slider control — laptop-free set operation; analogue speed and accel; STOP / EMO / limits
- JKSlider full panel + B4Slider AXIS-select remote — and room for more UIC faces on the same protocol
- Construction kit — JKSlider / B4Slider panel apps,
MC_Client/UIC_Base, SliderMC motion; build sliders, mini-dollies, rotating heads, turntables, slider + pan, or other STEP/DIR rigs - Optional extra motors — typical linear travel + pan (or tilt/turn), time-synced dual moves (not CNC); SliderMC
CS motors 1..4(default 1);MC_ClientpackedmoveTo/home. Shipping JKSlider stays 1-motor; B4Slider selects packed axes 1–5. dual-movement.md · UIC API - Production moves — marks A/B/C, pair loops, DELAY, timelapse dividers, pause/resume, live retarget, camera trigger
- Dedicated motion MCU — PIO step timing isolated from MicroPython UIC; crossed UART contract at 115200 baud
- Open firmware, open docs — MIT licensed; Thonny / REPL and USB CLI; edit pins, fork panels, script moves
- DIY mechanics — rail, motor, driver, and housing up to the builder; upcycle linear units and off-the-shelf STEP/DIR drivers
How this compares to commercial motorized sliders: architecture/compare.md.
| I am… | Start here |
|---|---|
| Operator | jkslider/user-manual.md or b4slider/user-manual.md |
| Installer | jkslider/technical/ + build/checklists/ |
| Builder (mechanics) | build/hardware-manual.md |
| UIC developer | uic/api/overview.md |
| MC developer | mc/README.md |
| BDC motor firmware | mc-bdc/README.md |
| DMC / Dragonframe | dmc/README.md |
| Protocol author | contract/protocol.md |
| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| architecture/ | System split, command chains, compare, marketing |
| contract/ | UART protocol, link/handshake, MC command cheat sheet |
| uic/ | API, libraries, JKSlider / B4Slider / template projects |
| mc/ | Build, config, pins, motion firmware (STEP/DIR) |
| mc-bdc/ | Brushed-DC firmware: pins, drivers, tuning |
| dmc/ | Dragonframe DMC bridge (DF_DMC_2_MC) |
| components/ | Tested hardware module catalog |
| build/ | Hardware manual + installer checklists |
| reference/ | Glossary |
| assets/ | Images, SVG, pinout text, OLED mockups |
| tools/ | Render/sim scripts (maintainers) |
See CONTRIBUTING.md. Regenerate cheat sheets and pinouts with scripts in tools/.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jochen Krapf <jk@nerd2nerd.org>
Licensed under the MIT License.
Company names and product names mentioned in this project are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Use here is for identification only.