Usage of 3D Printer making DIY stuff for old lenses

GoldMark · Joined: 21 Aug 2012 Posts: 185 Location: Germany

Hi all,

i bought a 3D Printer (Mendel90) kit. At moment i build it up.

I will print with this 3D Printer adapter (old projection lenses, enlarging lenses, single lens element,...) and other stuff (lens hoods, ring flash lights, ...)

With this threat i will share my experiences in this area with you and hope, that here are other people, which uses this new technology for adaption of manual lenses too. Very Happy

ZoneV · Expire: 2011-12-02

I have not used 3d printing foy my tinkering yet, but worked with some 3d printed parts. That was disappointing for me, cause I am used to a better surface finish from my lathe and mill.

Is the 0.4 mm nozzle the smallest detail and layer size of this Mendel90?
This seems too much for me. From current thinking I would say I need at least 0.1mm for rough parts. For a camera mount I would think 0.05mm would be needed to creat things that are not wobbeling. But probably due to flexibility of the material even 0.1mm would work.
Don´t know wheter cheap 3D printers would allow a good enough surface quality to make helicoids - even with manual polishing or such Smile

To create own helicoids with the thread pitch I want would be great. But cause I am a bit spoiled from brass-aluminium helicoids, I would likely be disappointed from 3d printed helicoids.

GoldMark · Joined: 21 Aug 2012 Posts: 185 Location: Germany

The finest printing is 0,1mm in x/y axis and 0,05mm in z axis. I have seen a 52x05 filter thread printed out, and it looks very good and works.

You are right, the surface would not have the quality like CNC finished parts. I have here a M42 to NX Adapter und it fits well. For me the surface quality is ok.

For me the motto is: Keep it simple.

GoldMark · Joined: 21 Aug 2012 Posts: 185 Location: Germany

Here is a picture o an helicoid for Sony NEX: https://d36c0vbvwjb9cx.cloudfront.net/uploads/image/file/47224/medium_DSC04949_display_large.jpg

And here you can download the whole project: https://www.youmagine.com/designs/open-sonnar

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: Hong Kong

I think it it will be fine for parts that don't need much strength/durability or making prototypes. For example, it may be good for making spacers or hoods. For helicoids, we need a much higher precision to make ensure there will not a noticeable tile or shift.

ForenSeil · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.

3D printers need to become better or cheaper to become more relevant.
In tendency prices drop every year and quality improves - I hope a mass producer like Canon, HP, Samsung etc. will release one soon, price would drop drastically.
Look at that for inspiration how much precision can be achieved: http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/de/blog/diese-eleganten-nano-skulpturen-passen-problemlos-in-jedes-nadeloehr/?utm_source=vicefb

Wink

At TA... anything build so far?

nhfoley · Joined: 04 Aug 2013 Posts: 3 Location: United States

I've been doing this for a few years. You can see some of the parts I've designed here (and download the files to print yourself if you want):

Focusing helicoid adapter for Contax Zeiss Sonnar 50mm 1.5 to Sony E-mount:
https://www.youmagine.com/designs/open-sonnar

D-mount to m4/3rds:
https://www.youmagine.com/designs/d-mount-to-micro-4-3rds-adapter

Focus & Aperture rings for Pre-Asph Summilux 50mm:
https://www.youmagine.com/designs/summilux-shield

I used the summilux shield for about a year, until I sold the lens. I have used the Sonnar 50mm & 3D printed adapter for several years as one of my primary lenses. The D-mount adapter is available on Shapeways https://www.shapeways.com/product/DSCYGUU7D/d-mount-to-micro-four-thirds-adapter?key=bc5ad1540bb88472be82465b62a034ba for people who don't have access to 3D printers and want to try it out. I am also going to be shortly posting an updated version of the Sonnar-to-E-mount helicoid on Shapeways. (The files on Youmagine don't work on Shapeways printers due to different tolerances).

ZoneV · Expire: 2011-12-02

nhfoley, thank you for your input here!
Are your adapters / helicoids stable enough to hold the lens? OR do you better support the lens with your hand - for safetys shake?

nhfoley · Joined: 04 Aug 2013 Posts: 3 Location: United States

They are quite sturdy, and I've never babied them... though the Zeiss 50mm & every D-mount lens I've tested are both relatively light lenses.

The tensile strengths of FDM & SLS printed plastics are both quite high as far as plastics go.

jacobtc · Joined: 09 Mar 2015 Posts: 6 Location: Danmare

Just printed backs and some front caps for all my newly bought MD mount lenses! It feels great not to have to buy these anymore.

j.lukow · Expire: 2021-11-25

Odd timing to discover this topic as today while I was in my local Canadian Tire store I saw a 3d printer on the shelf Shocked

The price was $1299.00 CAD and it was made by Dremel - don't know if that's mainstream enough or not.
Still too rich for me and on top of that I don't know what I would use it for. Confused

Jim

aeropic · Joined: 24 Jul 2015 Posts: 34

Hi all,

My first post to this forum. First of all I must thank you a lot, that made me discover the ability of mount new a6000 to bring back to life a set of old lenses sleeping in a drawer for years... (see my signature)
As a DIYer, I've designed an built a 3D printer, printing PLA. And yes I use it to play with my new Sony. I've already some designs posted on thingiverse:
- a hot shoe cover & bounce

- a macro ring adaptor to nex for the chinon 50

I do really prefer not inserting plastic stuff inside the Sony NEX, I'm a bit afraid of plastic wear that could generate particles going on the APS-C sensor. This is the reason why my adaptor is based upon a macro reverse ring (2.5 euros on ebay ...)
Just see it on thingiverse and on youtube

www.thingiverse.com/thing:931350 EDIT: for any reason, I cannot succeed using the url tags ... if you want to see my DIY 3D stuff, please cut and stick this address!

Accuracy of 3D printers (or at least mine) is so so... I had to make with it and introduced a way to calibrabe the adaptor then stick everything in place once the focus to infinity was OK (of course not for the macro adaptor but for a standard length)

Overall, 3D printing is fine and is a good solution to quickly prototype things!

regards
Alain

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

aeropic · Joined: 24 Jul 2015 Posts: 34