Two new HD webcams have arrived for use at St Denys' for recording and streaming services. These have a lens on the front, which can be used for a little zoom and focus. They should be as good, if not better than the Logitech webcam I've been using up to now, and they will provide multiple camera angles to choose from to make the recording better.
The cameras come in a bare metal box with a tiny metal bracket which can be used to screw them down in place. I need to be able to mount these on my telescopic camera pole, and onto a standard tripod. I'll need to design and 3D print a tripod mount first.
A standard camera tripod should come with a UNC 1.4"-20 thread screw. I discovered that my 3D modelling software, Fusion360, should reproduce that thread size. My 3D printer's tolerances are a little off, so when I print something precice, I always have to allow for a bit of give in the design. The square I actually printed off at the 1/4" setting came out way too small, so I had to run a series of test squares at different sizes until I found one that worked.
It turned out that the 7mm thread was best. The PLA plastic has a lot of give in it, and the tripod screw went in and tightened easily, holding the test piece firmly. Using that as the starting point, I was able to make a design to hold the camera.
I printed this in PLA and the camera push-fits inside exactly, without any clips or screws.
Here is the camera inside the mount all standing on top of the Tripod that Sandi kindly donated. All ready for use next Sunday.
My next task is to design a mount that will fit onto the telescopic pole. I'll document that later.
