3D printing of various photo-related gizzmos

alanrockwood · Nov 1, 2017

Hi.

There is a thread named "3D printed 6x18 camera". (Sorry for the big font.)

Here I would like to discuss other uses of 3D printing for photography. I'll get the ball rolling by noting that I just got finished printing some glass plate holders for use with a scanner. I needed something that would hold the plates at the right height and that could hold a plate of the right dimensions. (They are old stereo plates of an odd size.) My scanner didn't have an appropriate film holder, so I decided to make one with my 3D printer. This was my first attempt to do something useful with the printer, and after an initial false start I printed two pieces that worked out beautifully.

I imagine there are a lot of other photography-related potential projects for 3D printers. What projects have you done or considered doing? For example, has anyone done a film holder for for an enlarger or perhaps some other interesting or useful project? How about some kind of lens adapter for a large format camera?

munz6869 · Nov 2, 2017

I 3d-printed a negative carrier for my enlarger (for Minox film), and in doing so taught my ageing brain how to use 'Rhino' software... I've also designed but not printed some Linhof-style lens boards with odd cutout holes for non-Copal mount lenses. I'm starting a bit of a list of other interesting things to make... It's very exciting.

Marc!

AgX · Nov 2, 2017

As some of us have access to a local Fab-Lab and as there are online offers too, it would be nice to have a catalog with free 3D-printing files for "gizzmos" from our field.

M Carter · Nov 7, 2017

I gotta say, it's a fascinating subject.

I was doing a lot of steadicam shooting (video) out in the Texas sun, impossible to see the camera screen. I bought the headgear for a nightvision scope, and a 3" HDMI monitor with a viewing loupe. Used 3D software to make an adapter to get the monitor on the headgear. Still haven't finished that project (looks like VR goggles will get cheap enough to save some hassle), but when the part showed up in the mail, it was definitely an "OK, this is the future" sort of moment.

Pundits say we'll eventually have large printers in our homes and buy products online as small files, hit "print", and have - I dunno, a new toilet seat? The prediction is that 3D printers will someday be as common an appliance as a microwave, and we won't even need to know how to use 'em. People scoff at that, but look at what's changed in the last 2 decades. (When I was an Art Director at JCPenney, my group worked up the first JCP shopping web site - maybe a dozen products. I mentioned to the code guys that I wouldn't get hands-on with the web until we had WSIWYG design software - they said "that's insane!!! Never happen!!!" Yeah, right visionaries...)

Now, I just need a 3D printed doodad that will let me develop 2.5 x 4" sheets in a standard 120 tank... I chop up a lot of 4x5 for mask making...

Photo Engineer · Nov 7, 2017

At least two people are printing my coating blades for emulsion coating.

PE

Chuckwade87 · Dec 29, 2017

I wonder if there would be a way to design a 110 cartridge that is a little more Reload friendly?

removed account4 · Dec 29, 2017

lithophanes

ic-racer · Dec 29, 2017

I don't have any software for 3d creation that runs on my current computer. What is out there that runs on OSX? What is the conventional output format a 'printing service' would want? Do you get a 'proof' like a 2D printing service?

fdonadio · Dec 30, 2017

ic-racer said:
I don't have any software for 3d creation that runs on my current computer. What is out there that runs on OSX? What is the conventional output format a 'printing service' would want? Do you get a 'proof' like a 2D printing service?

I believe it’s possible to use Google’s SketchUp, but it’s not considered CAD software by any standards.

From what I know, the most commonly used file format is STL.

grahamp · Dec 30, 2017

OpenSCAD is a decent place to start. It is available on several OS platforms. Provided the printer or service you chose can handle STL, you should be good. Now, remembering back to those geometry classes in school and extrapolating to 3D is more of a challenge!

AgX · Dec 31, 2017

AgX said:
As some of us have access to a local Fab-Lab and as there are online offers too, it would be nice to have a catalog with free 3D-printing files for "gizzmos" from our field.

Is there such listing?

alanrockwood · Jan 2, 2018

For Christmas I got another 3d printer. My first one (from last year) was a Monoprice Select Mini, which I believe is the most popular 3D printer. Once I finally learned how to use it I liked it, and I still have it. The main limitation is that the print size is limited to 120mmX120mmX120mm. the most recent thin I printed on this printer is a lens board to fit a certain lens to my Calumet 4x5 view camera.

My new printer is an Anet A8, which comes as a box of parts that needed to be assembled.The print size is about 200mm in all directions, or maybe a bit more. I assembled the unit, making relatively few mistakes along the way, and no mistakes that couldn't be rectified, and I printed the test file successfully. I have high hopes for this printer to be able to make some larger parts. One project I have in mind is to make an adapter mount for a rather large lens to on on my 4x5. I might also be able to make some custom film holders for a scanner.

removedacct1 · Jan 2, 2018

ic-racer said:
I don't have any software for 3d creation that runs on my current computer. What is out there that runs on OSX? What is the conventional output format a 'printing service' would want? Do you get a 'proof' like a 2D printing service?

I use Tinkercad, which runs in a web browser. I use it to make my own lens boards for each lens I use. I’ve also printed pinhole cameras at home.

paul ron · Jan 2, 2018

Would you be interested in making parts for others for compensation?

Im in need for a filter holder for my enlarger. I have the Cadd info and as far as I can tell its printer ready.

PM if you may consider?

Amfooty · Jan 2, 2018

ic-racer said:
I don't have any software for 3d creation that runs on my current computer. What is out there that runs on OSX? What is the conventional output format a 'printing service' would want? Do you get a 'proof' like a 2D printing service?

Fusion 360 works on mac--that's what I use for designing. There's also www.onshape.com for browser adding. What you do is design an object, save it as a .stl file, and then send that file to a slicer like Cura https://ultimaker.com/en/products/ultimaker-cura-software which slices the object and creates the machine g-code. Then you put that file on an SD card and print!

Amfooty · Jan 2, 2018

paul ron said:
Would you be interested in making parts for others for compensation?

Im in need for a filter holder for my enlarger. I have the Cadd info and as far as I can tell its printer ready.

PM if you may consider?

I have a 3d printer if you need something printed! How big of an object is it?

paul ron · Jan 2, 2018

Amfooty said:
I have a 3d printer if you need something printed! How big of an object is it?

PM on the way with files... where are you?

Wayne · Jan 3, 2018

Incidentally, the last surviving participant in the invention of the word "gizmo" has passed. Entomologist George Byers, professor emeritus at University of Kansas, was 94 when he passed on Monday. The original gizmo was a device that was attached to certain French WWI-era guns in WWII to set the trajectory of the shell. So he was instrumental in etymology as well as entomology.

Eric Rose · Jan 3, 2018

What is the cost associated with the expendable materials in 3D printing? As an example how much does it cost to "print" a Linhof lensboard with a Copal 0 hole in it.

removedacct1 · Jan 3, 2018

Eric Rose said:
What is the cost associated with the expendable materials in 3D printing? As an example how much does it cost to "print" a Linhof lensboard with a Copal 0 hole in it.

Probably about fifty cents.

Theo Sulphate · Jan 3, 2018

Things to 3D-print to help us with old equipment? Here's a list from a similar thread:

Nikon should issue a recall on F100 backs!

paul ron · Jan 4, 2018

and a guy that has some nice gizmos and offers tge cadd files.....
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:385962

https://www.youmagine.com/designs/tags/photography

samcomet · Jan 4, 2018

I have a paper safe that needed an additional plastic lock to prevent accidental opening. It is a 4 door safe and the locks keep 2 doors from opening. I only had the one lock. I scanned the lock into Photoshop and extruded a 3D representation then converted the file into an STL file and emailed it to Thingverse and got back 2 printed copies in the post about 10 days later. This was several years ago but they still work fine. Gotta love that for only a few dollars!
cheers,
Sam

Bipin · Jan 4, 2018

fdonadio said:
I believe it’s possible to use Google’s SketchUp, but it’s not considered CAD software by any standards.

From what I know, the most commonly used file format is STL.

I do 3D models with "proper" software such as 3dsmax as a means of paying for university, film, etc. However, I also use Sketchup in my workflow. Sketchup is a tool that's not to be underestimated. It's intuitive and quick to use, and for what I do, only really falls apart with the intersections of complicated, smoothly curving surfaces. All things considered though, I love Sketchup. Certainly capable for this sort of stuff.

I've 3D printed a ground glass back for a Technika 70, as well as an entirely new front plate/cosmetic piece to protect the rangefinder mechanism, plus recessed lensboards of my own design. The trick with 3D printed camera parts, as I've come to find, is understanding the tolerances of your choice material. For something where tolerances are critical on a few surfaces only. It's often okay if the tolerances are not "quite there" with the print right after it's taken out of the machine. Just keep that in mind, and design your parts to be filed down and "hand finished". My favourite material to use is sintered Nylon (SLS process). Great price, great dimensional stability, rigidty, etc. Lot's of attractive properties. I believe Shapeways calls it "Strong and Flexible Material".

AgX · Jan 7, 2018

The trouble I have with this thread is that with the many technologies used in 3D-printing the participants here typically do not state which one they apply. The post above is a exception to this.

3D printing of various photo-related gizzmos

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