3D Printed Double Accessory Shoe

Very cool, Steve!

I'm interested in the printing system. What printer did you use? What 3D software do you use to design the parts?

I seem to always be wanting to make some little widget or another, a 3D printer might be a good investment now. (Once upon a time, I had access to a machine shop and a couple of people who were good running the mill, the lathe, the welder, etc ... Days long past now, unfortunately.)

G
 
Could you share the dimensions you used for the male part of the connection? I'm intending to print a 28mm and 35mm viewfinder based on the optics taken from 'big finder' compacts such as the Minolta AF50 Big Finder and the Canon Owl.

If you went through some trial and error and settled on dimensions that work I'd be grateful if you could share!
 
02Pilot said:
I would love it if someone produced a combination of a shoe-mounted thumbrest with a shoe mount on top (I'm specifically looking for my X-E1, but I suspect the same fitment would work for other cameras). I want to be able to mount a viewfinder on top so I don't have to rely on the EVF, but still keep the thumbrest. I've been thinking about hacking one together the old fashioned way, but I don't seem to have gotten around to it.
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O2Pilot - That is a great idea. I completed my first "print" of one this morning.....turned out great! See picture below.
SW

More - The thumb grip part is a bit long....gonna reduce the length and print this afternoon. Will also eventually get to a combined Thumb grip and double accessory shoe model! Fun, but gotta get back to "real" work. Thanks, all!

SW
 

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JChrome said:
I've found that the female cold shoe will lose its "springiness" over time. I've 3D printed and used some cold shoes. If you leave the male part within it for some time, the plastic gets stretched and loosens. Other than that, no problem 🙂


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Chrome - I have already thought about adding a small securing screw that would secure the accessory in the shoe to remove any "play" that may develop over time. I will look at that when the concept evolves. However, I have revised the size to be very snug to hopefully eliminate or at least hold that off.

SW
 
douwe said:
Could you share the dimensions you used for the male part of the connection? I'm intending to print a 28mm and 35mm viewfinder based on the optics taken from 'big finder' compacts such as the Minolta AF50 Big Finder and the Canon Owl.

If you went through some trial and error and settled on dimensions that work I'd be grateful if you could share!
Click to expand...

douwe - I used the ISO Hot Shoe Standard.....I found a 3D model of it on the web and went from there. I did expand it a bit....but will try to post the dimensions when I can.

International Organization for Standardization in ISO 518:2006

Link:

https://grabcad.com/library/camera-hotshoe

SW
 
Godfrey said:
Very cool, Steve!

I'm interested in the printing system. What printer did you use? What 3D software do you use to design the parts?

I seem to always be wanting to make some little widget or another, a 3D printer might be a good investment now. (Once upon a time, I had access to a machine shop and a couple of people who were good running the mill, the lathe, the welder, etc ... Days long past now, unfortunately.)

G
Click to expand...

Godfrey - I use a Qidi Tech 1 Printer.....It is a dual extruder model for about $700 US. It has a lot of nice features for a printer albeit I am a newbie. What I liked about this one is that it is the only one that Amazon has chosen to "stock" and back with their Prime return policies, etc. See link below:

Link:

https://www.amazon.com/TECHNOLOGY-3DP-QDA16-01-Extruder-Structure-Filaments/dp/B01D8M32LU

From my limited experience.....I am getting great prints right out of the box. As a designer, its has been pretty easy....but, as with all technology, "Computers and computer gadgets are like a bad brother-in-law....you can get some work out of them, but at some point, they are going to cause trouble and let you down!" - (Quote mine!) For now, all is well.

SW
 
JChrome said:
Depends on the software you use. 123d Design is easy and free. I highly recommend it.


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Chrome - From my research before the purchase, I heard that Simplify3D was great software. I looked at the software that came with the printer and it seemed quite outdated from a user interface standpoint - think Windows 95. I downloaded the Simplify3D software and have been using it exclusively. Simple interface.....nice little animations....similar to other 3D software that I use (Rhino) and simple additions like "scaffolding, etc.)

Link:

https://www.simplify3d.com/
 
douwe said:
Could you share the dimensions you used for the male part of the connection? I'm intending to print a 28mm and 35mm viewfinder based on the optics taken from 'big finder' compacts such as the Minolta AF50 Big Finder and the Canon Owl.

If you went through some trial and error and settled on dimensions that work I'd be grateful if you could share!
Click to expand...

douwe - The viewfinder idea is great. I have some sketches for a series of simple non-optical finders that would frame the scene and again, be low cost / durable. (You know, at some point, I gonna have to design a whole 3D printed rangefinder clone in vintage style......just because!)

SW
 
AlwaysOnAuto said:
Nice.
It'll be interesting to hear how the cold flow characteristics of the ABS work out with these. I'll be watching with great interest.
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AOA - What is cold flow? Again, I'm a newbie. I do understand the basics of how to design and place the design to get a better print, and I know that different materials are better at "gaps", etc. But for these small parts, the material is flowing well and I am keeping the support "scaffolding" to a minimum.

SW
 
Steevo said:
O2Pilot - That is a great idea. I completed my first "print" of one this morning.....turned out great! See picture below.
SW

More - The thumb grip part is a bit long....gonna reduce the length and print this afternoon. Will also eventually get to a combined Thumb grip and double accessory shoe model! Fun, but gotta get back to "real" work. Thanks, all!

SW
Click to expand...

Nicely done. FYI, the OAL on mine is 43mm, which is just about perfect for the X-E1. If you need a beta-tester, let me know! 😉
 
Cold flow is the tendency of materials to conform to a shape if they're under pressure. If you leave your printed piece in your camera cold shoe overnite say, does it feel looser in the morning?
It may not happen overnite, but over an extended period of time I think it will.
I'll be interested to hear what the case is in your instance.
 
Cold flow would only happen as long as the fit is very tight.
Correct?
Even if started, it would stop at some tightness (stress) level. (Don't ask me to quantify that.)

But, to your point, it will be interesting to watch that.
 
Well, I'm definitely ignorant about 3D printing. But....I really like the double cold shoe Steevo showed us in the OP. I think it would be *much* better in black.

I have 2 of the lens hoods offered by shapeways. They're both really nice, functional gear. I can see a rather wide opportunity to produce lens hoods that are uncommon, or with improved/added function. I'd welcome an alternative FOOKH/FLQOO

Let us know here, or wherever appropriate, if black ABS double cold-shoes are made available.
 
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rfaspen said:
Well, I'm definitely ignorant about 3D printing. But....I really like the double cold shoe Steevo showed us in the OP. I think it would be *much* better in black.

I have 2 of the lens hoods offered by shapeways. They're both really nice, functional gear. I can see a rather wide opportunity to produce lens hoods that are uncommon, or with improved/added function. I'd welcome an alternative FOOKH/FLQOO

Let us know here, or wherever appropriate, if black ABS double cold-shoes are made available.
Click to expand...

rfaspen - Will do!

SW
 
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