Blue 2 and Threaded Fasteners

Several steps forward in this design:

• Threaded inserts
• Mounting system
• Bolt-on cowl

Threaded Inserts

These heat-pressed brass inserts will replace built-up plastic standoffs. Although the screw-in-plastic method is quite strong, it breaks down quickly as you assemble/disassemble it. Using a special attachment for a soldering iron the insert can be heated up and pressed into place.

Mount

The mount should have a 1/4″ threaded insert, sized to be compatible with standard tripods. But it doesn’t. I bought an assortment of threaded inserts, and 6mm was the largest it came with, and pretty close to 1/4″

There are two other threaded inserts in the side of the cowl. They allow for the sides of the mount to be attached. The expected range of motion for tilting the camera is also built up, with the assumption that it would help in some way.

It also was created with a mounting arm.

But, as it turns out, it was not stiff enough and too brittle. In the pictures above the Pi and camera were not installed, but after a few deployments the mount needed a replacement. I had a couple of small tripods sitting around, but the camera mount has a 6mm threaded insert. So, time to make a tripod.

Note the color change. The reel of blue PET couldn’t last forever, and it was time to move on. Bright orange is where we land next. The tripods look a bit like little traffic cones.

It is a pretty simple design and just slides together. The texture from the 3D printing helps create friction, and if sized right can be assembled and disassembled. The tabs on the legs are a bit fragile, though. The holes up the leg are meant to reduce the amount of plastic and increase strength. Although 3D printing software can fill in solids to a specified percentage with pre-programmed patterns, by placing the circles I have more control over how the plastic is used than if I had just drawn a solid leg. As it turns out, the holes are also good for zip-ties which can strap the tripod down to something or strap down a cord to a leg on the tripod. And, it turns out to be a perfect solution for some IR spotlights I had just received.

The last thing added to this design is the cowl around the lens that covers the camera board. I didn’t think exposing the board to any weather would be good, and exposing the lens is not ideal, but workable. So, I measured out the components and drew it up. The first attempt was a rectangle and the openings for the illuminators and lens were almost perfect. The last step was to fit it to the cowl and tweak the openings.