Camera tripod shoe WIP

[DTR]

Morning all,

Here's a quick WIP from me. My camera tripod only came with one quick-release shoe, which SWMBO keeps pinching! :evil: So I thought I'd knock up a second one.

Of course, halfway through this project I discovered you can buy new shoes quite cheaply But I'm committed now!

I don't have a milling machine, so here I'm milling the first edge flat with a flycutter. The aluminium I'm using is a random offcut that I inherited with the lathe:

Once the datum edges were milled, I marked out the rest with a scribing block on the surface plate. Then I hacksawed the block to the rough size and finished the remaining edges on the lathe:

Next I mounted it in the four jaw chuck to drill the centre hole:

Then counterbored the hole to take the screw:

Now to shape the dovetails. I doing this on my Cowells hand shaper:

One dovetail done:

And the finished block:

Today's job is to make the screw!

 

[woodpig]

Nice job so far!

 

[DTR]

Thanks!

 

[DTR]

A photo of the new next to the original:

And now the screw.... Turning some stock down to 1/4", then threading with a die:

Funny how millions of cameras across the globe still use an"obsolete" imperial thread.

Parting off:

Next to cut the slot....

 

[Harbo]

Looking good - I like working with metals

Rod

 

[woodpig]

Have you any thoughts on the finish for it? Before I bought a compressor and sand blaster I used to give alloy parts a Matt finish by rubbing the item over a sheet of glass with grinding paste on it.

 

[DTR]

Thanks Rod!

I cut the screw slot on the shaper, but first I needed something to hold the screw with. I took one of the ally offcuts, and drilled and tapped it to take the screw:

Then I clamped it down to the shaper table, and shaped the slot

And here's the finished wotsit attached to SWMBO's camera

 

[AndyT]

That's a nice demo of how much more fun it is to make something rather than buy it!

 

[DTR]

Have you any thoughts on the finish for it? Before I bought a compressor and sand blaster I used to give alloy parts a Matt finish by rubbing the item over a sheet of glass with grinding paste on it.

Sorry I didn't see your post earlier :?

No I haven't really thought about the finish. A sandblasted finish (or similar) does look good, maybe I should think about it...

 

[woodpig]

I sand blast a lot of my stuff as it hides tooling marks etc. This is a Lathe tool holder straight out of the cabinet.

 

[n0legs]

:arrow: Dave, good job mate =D>
:arrow: Woodpig, nice 8)

 

[Mike.S]

No I haven't really thought about the finish. A sandblasted finish (or similar) does look good, maybe I should think about it...

If you like a challenge, perhaps DIY anodizing would fit the bill. Guide here.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Nice job.

The reason for 1/4" & 3/8" thread is that it makes a strong thread and easily in most materials, particularly brass and steel, and its fairly resistant to damage. 3/8" is also the European microphone thread standard, for the same reason, and even the Americans have largely adopted it now.

The 'other' mic thread standard is actually two: the male thread, IIRC, is 5/8" 26tpi (I think that's UNF) but the female thread is a wholly non-standard 5/8" 27tpi (Google the price of taps in that size!). The idea is that they should jam together. Utterly horrid, and easily stripped out of cheap fittings.

I'm guessing you're glueing leatherette cork, or similar on top of the plate. I've got several special camera mounts, and they do chew up modern camera baseplates a bit, as SLRs seem to have become bigger and heavier again. I never thought I'd ever compare a Zenit B favourably to a Canon...

 

[DTR]

I sand blast a lot of my stuff as it hides tooling marks etc. This is a Lathe tool holder straight out of the cabinet.

Looks good, very professional =D>

Nice job.

The reason for 1/4" & 3/8" thread is that it makes a strong thread and easily in most materials, particularly brass and steel, and its fairly resistant to damage. 3/8" is also the European microphone thread standard, for the same reason, and even the Americans have largely adopted it now.

The 'other' mic thread standard is actually two: the male thread, IIRC, is 5/8" 26tpi (I think that's UNF) but the female thread is a wholly non-standard 5/8" 27tpi (Google the price of taps in that size!). The idea is that they should jam together. Utterly horrid, and easily stripped out of cheap fittings.

I'm guessing you're glueing leatherette cork, or similar on top of the plate. I've got several special camera mounts, and they do chew up modern camera baseplates a bit, as SLRs seem to have become bigger and heavier again. I never thought I'd ever compare a Zenit B favourably to a Canon...

But still, M6 is very close to a 1/4 BSW. Not that I'm complaining, imperial threads are a lot easier to screwcut!

I wasn't aware of the "other" mic thread, sounds like lunacy! :shock:

No cork, but there's currently a square of ex-business card in there. I noticed there's already some circular scoring around the screw hole from its previous ownership. Apparently we've got some thin leather that might fit the bill, but I've yet to see it....

 

[DTR]

If you like a challenge, perhaps DIY anodizing would fit the bill. Guide here.

Intriguing...

 

[blackrodd]

Thanks for the interesting WIP, you obviously know you're way around an ML 4 lathe.
And the pics were good too!
A very pleasant change from wood.
Regards Rodders

 

[Harbo]

Wood pig - is that one of those Aussie "Diamond" cutters - did you work to any plans?

Rod

 

[woodpig]

Wood pig - is that one of those Aussie "Diamond" cutters - did you work to any plans?

Rod

Yes, it's a Tangential or "diamond" tool holder as some call them. No plans, I just milled it as I went along. They're easy to make. As long as the bit is presented 12° to the left and 12° forward it cuts fine.

 

[AES]

Oooooooh, nice work DTR - and woodpig too.

AES

 

[bugbear]

I just planed one up out of mahogany!

I didn't have the "step" though, it was a simple taper to the upper surface.

BugBear