Print your own camera?

Probably not good form to reply to my own post, but I did also notice that Maplins will be selling a 3D printer kit for £700 or so (and they will presumably get cheaper over time): http://www.maplin.co.uk/3d-printer-velleman-k8200-783902 .

The specs are here: http://www.velleman.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p576_k8200.html

Resolution:

Nominal mechanical resolution:
X and Y: 0.015 mm (smallest step the printing plate can move in the X and Y direction)
Z: 0.781 µm (smallest step the printing plate can move in the Z direction)
Nominal printing resolution:
Wall thickness (X,Y): 0.5 mm
Layer thickness (Z): 0.20 - 0.25 mm
Click to expand...

I reckon that would be precise enough to make, for example, a 120 spool adapted to take 35mm film for panos, or a VF mask for the camera, or a lens or body cap. But perhaps not (yet) precise enough to make a filter step-up ring, or a DIY Lee filter holder?
 
I don't think I would trust 3D printed plastic to stay together - although my assumptions of it might be out of date.

I prefer using CNC to cut real oak and mahogany - see 6x12 link below.


Steve.
 
I've a couple of 3-D printed gizmos (handlebar mounts for Garmin computers) and they're perfectly happy coping with hammering around on a MTB with the Garmin 800 or 705 on them...

Then again, they are made on a 3-d printer thats a little higher technology (and most probably using different materials as a "ink") than the maplin one...
 
As I said, I am probably out of date with 3D printing technology - but I was a bit worried about the American 3D printed gun I saw a few weeks ago.

I would expect there to be a large percentage of hand blowing off incidents related to its use.


Steve.
 
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well if the rednecks have made a reliable gun out of the same process then a camera should be strong enough. Just need a Leica pattern now and away you go :)
 
some of the early 3d printed stuff I saw - was rapid prototyping for a piece of kit the company I was working at was scary - it was great that it worked, but it was very brittle plastic and only really any good for use as a visualisation tool or as a plug for silicon moulding to make a slightly more solid version - but (for example) those Garmin mounts I linked to feel to all intents and purposes like they've been carved out of something like Delrin - certainly strong enough that I don't worry in the slightest about sticking a £400 acessory on 'em and hooning downhill at 50mph or so.

I actually saw some footage of a company that are using 3d printing technology with titanium dust and lasers (excuse the non-techie way of explaining what I saw) to actually manufacture custom 3D sections of cycle frames, tubular to solid sections that can be welded to drawn titanium frames...

http://chargebikes.com/products/freezer-ti-with-3d-dropouts/
 
TheBigYin said:
some of the early 3d printed stuff I saw - was rapid prototyping for a piece of kit the company I was working at was scary - it was great that it worked, but it was very brittle plastic and only really any good for use as a visualisation tool or as a plug for silicon moulding to make a slightly more solid version - but (for example) those Garmin mounts I linked to feel to all intents and purposes like they've been carved out of something like Delrin - certainly strong enough that I don't worry in the slightest about sticking a £400 acessory on 'em and hooning downhill at 50mph or so.

I actually saw some footage of a company that are using 3d printing technology with titanium dust and lasers (excuse the non-techie way of explaining what I saw) to actually manufacture custom 3D sections of cycle frames, tubular to solid sections that can be welded to drawn titanium frames...

http://chargebikes.com/products/freezer-ti-with-3d-dropouts/
Click to expand...

I remember being shown a video of the titanium dust one when I was at university, astounding stuff. I saw a few others, but the beer killed the brain cells!
 
So, my question still is, what would we want to make if we could, as film camera enthusiasts and lovers of ancient camera kit?

I think I've established today that screw threads are very difficult and require a particular profile, so unlikely to fit an existing female part. So no filter holders etc...
 
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