About a month ago, my brother and I bought a 3D printer - a Bambu Lab P1S. We've been using it quite a lot since then, with me printing all sorts of gadgets and camera accessories like body or lens caps - stuff that someone else has designed. I had no experience of designing anything myself - until a few days ago when I had some time and watched a tutorial on how to design using Autodesk Fusion 360.
I like to work with cameras and have more or less specialised in the Nikon F2. I already have the main tools to do a full CLA on it, but I was missing a special tool for the self-timer screw. If I had to remove it (which in most cases is not necessary), I would use a spanner. But there was always a risk of scratching the screw because the tips of the spanner wrench did not fit the holes in the screw exactly. So I came up with the idea of designing a nut in the 3D software and printing it at home.
Cover screw of the self timer
From the beginning it was clear that a tool made of PLA would not be strong enough to turn a tightly seated screw. For the pins I would use safety needles because they come in different diameters and are made of a very strong metal. For the F2, the holes in the screw are 1mm in diameter and 5.5mm apart. I used a 0.8mm diameter safety pin to allow for some tolerance. The pins are perfectly round, which should minimise damage to the screw.
As I had no experience of designing in 3D, I designed the nut the first way I could think of. The nut has two parts: One part goes into the handpiece (6mm hex), the other part holds the pins. This part has to be adjusted between the pins and the pin diameter depending on the camera. I also designed a nut for the Minolta XD-7.
Autodesk Fusion 360: the design for the Nikon tool
After a few prototypes, I finally got the dimensions and printer settings right and produced a first version of a working tool.
First working version of a tool to remove the cover nut of the F2 self timer
The holes for the pins had to be widened with a drill. I cut the safety pins with a pair of pliers so the metal was pressed a bit. Therefore, I used a file and sandpaper to level the pins.
I used superglue to join the two parts together and fix the pins in place. I added a screw to the top of the nut so that the magnet on the handpiece would hold the plastic part in place.
As I said, this is the first step in this new area for me. I'm going to refine the design and maybe take a different approach to printing (maybe printing two halves?).
Looking forward to your feedback and input!
I like to work with cameras and have more or less specialised in the Nikon F2. I already have the main tools to do a full CLA on it, but I was missing a special tool for the self-timer screw. If I had to remove it (which in most cases is not necessary), I would use a spanner. But there was always a risk of scratching the screw because the tips of the spanner wrench did not fit the holes in the screw exactly. So I came up with the idea of designing a nut in the 3D software and printing it at home.
Cover screw of the self timer
From the beginning it was clear that a tool made of PLA would not be strong enough to turn a tightly seated screw. For the pins I would use safety needles because they come in different diameters and are made of a very strong metal. For the F2, the holes in the screw are 1mm in diameter and 5.5mm apart. I used a 0.8mm diameter safety pin to allow for some tolerance. The pins are perfectly round, which should minimise damage to the screw.
As I had no experience of designing in 3D, I designed the nut the first way I could think of. The nut has two parts: One part goes into the handpiece (6mm hex), the other part holds the pins. This part has to be adjusted between the pins and the pin diameter depending on the camera. I also designed a nut for the Minolta XD-7.
Autodesk Fusion 360: the design for the Nikon tool
After a few prototypes, I finally got the dimensions and printer settings right and produced a first version of a working tool.
First working version of a tool to remove the cover nut of the F2 self timer
The holes for the pins had to be widened with a drill. I cut the safety pins with a pair of pliers so the metal was pressed a bit. Therefore, I used a file and sandpaper to level the pins.
I used superglue to join the two parts together and fix the pins in place. I added a screw to the top of the nut so that the magnet on the handpiece would hold the plastic part in place.
As I said, this is the first step in this new area for me. I'm going to refine the design and maybe take a different approach to printing (maybe printing two halves?).
Looking forward to your feedback and input!