JohnBarlow Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 I've been hearing about people using a 3D printer to print out a mount. This sounds incredible, especially for lenses that use hard to find adapters even if they exist. Does anyone know where they get the cad files for this purpose? Sounds like a great solution for small runs for rare lenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgharding Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Sounds like a great idea! I suppose you'd start by getting the spec sheet of the lens in question and then modelling a mount from that and your camera. It's need to quite sturdy plastic I should imagine! Actually I have a friend working for a 3D printing company so I'll ask and get back to you... JohnBarlow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgharding Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 In the meantime here's some interesting info on 3D printing with metal: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24528306 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxotics Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 I'm fairly certain Guy + Cameras + 3D printers = Divorce ;) That doesn't stop me from fantasizing! jgharding 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richg101 Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 I've been away from RP for a few years now and things move on quickly, but from my experiences the issue with 3d printing is that the parts don't come out of the machine as finished, ready to use items, They wouldnt be able to print to tight enough tolerances so you'll find yourself spending many many hours fettling and filing the mount into a finished part. Though the printing process is cheap due to the influx of owner operators, the real skill is in the finishing of the parts. Also I doubt the available printing media will be ideal for repeated mechanical coupling purposes. we're still a long way off beating proper cnc machining of brass, let alone stainless parts. take calipers and a micrometer to the mount, draw it in solidworks and give the drawings to a machinist who will be able to write a cnc program on a 5 axis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgharding Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 This was pretty much the response. Brass and so on are best because they're hard-wearing, and they can't be printed at the moment. It's simply not the right kind of material. It was a nice idea though, and if we have adamantium printing in the future then, maybe! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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