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Manual Focus Lenses Forum

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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3D Printed Adapter for Projection Lenses
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I have my new 3D resin printer for 2 months by now and it took some time to get used with it and with the 3D modeling apps, but I have just finished my first 3D printed parts for photo gear. A new toy for retirement ...



The first photo gear part that I managed to successfully print is an adapter for mounting projection lenses with a 42.5 mm. diameter to a helicoid with a m52/1 thread. I made some such adapters before but this time I decided to to make the ideal (for me, of course) adapter. It is not a simple adapter, it involves 4 different parts to be mounted together, but it allows me to quickly mount or change the lenses in the field with a simple rotation of a ring. It uses a mandrel system, similar to that from an electric drill, but scaled to fit a lens. It took a lot of test-prints to find, by trial and error, the correct dimensions, form and profile for it so that the pression applied to the lens barrel should be great without feeling it while rotating the ring. The resin used is an engineering resin special designed for working 3D printed parts, VXN-50, made by AmeraLabs. It's quite a strong but still flexible resin, you can see it tested here: https://www.tiktok.com/@ameralabs/video/7462388043748576534














I think it would be nice and useful if the admin would make a sub-forum of the DIY forum dedicated to 3D printed photo gear parts where we could exchange information and show our 3D printing photo-related projects.


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Nicely done - but I doubt a special subforum would be needed, fits perfectly well in what we already have here...
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Could I buy one??


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Hi Klaus
You are right. I thought there are more members here using their 3D printers to print DIY photographic gear parts, but apparently that's not the case.
I tried to PM you but messaging doesn't seam to work. If you can, send a PM to me.