Tuesday, July 17 2018
I really like my Leica Q camera. However, sometimes I want to use a remote shutter release and the only way to do that is with an iPhone app that isn’t the friendliest thing to set up and use. If I’m waiting for a specific event to trip the shutter I can count on my phone being asleep instead of ready to go.
I have an old fashioned cable release. I need a bracket to use it with the Q.
Aluminum bracket
3D printed bracket
Bracket on camera
I first milled a proof of concept using a piece of aluminum. The concept is fine, but the time it takes to mill a decent bracket with my manual desktop mill is excessive. Why not try to 3D print the bracket. This is my first try 3D printing the bracket. 30 minutes print time.
The bracket worked, but there was excessive flex in the arm that holds the cable release over the shutter release button. I don’t think the bracket would last long in actual use. Modifications are necessary.
2nd 3D print
Fits, but….
Still some flex
I increased the thickness of the arm and added a gusset where the arm meets the foot of the shoe. Those were the design changes. I also changed some of the printing parameters (see below).
The part fits well. There is still some flex, but not nearly as much as the first print. If you cycle between the last two images, above, you can see the amount of flex. I’m going to stick with this design and print parameters for now. One change I would like to make are the threads for the cable release. The cables use a special tapered thread that I don’t know how to model in the tools I use. I’m using a non tapered 3mm-0.5 thread which catches enough of the threads on the cable release to hold the cable. It works, but it is not correct.
Here is the Q cable release adapter STL file you can use if you have access to a 3D printer. Flip the part upside down so the flat top is on the build plate. If you must have a bracket and don’t have a 3D printer or a friend with a 3D printer email me. We can probably work something out.
Print params:
- Printed in PLA
- part flipped so the flat “top” is on the build platform
- 0.02 layer height
- 4 shells
- 4 top layers
- 4 bottom layers
- 40% infill
- build platform supports enabled
Thursday, July 19 2018
Aluminum and plastic
Yesterday I fnished the aluminum version of the remote shutter release adapter and gave it a few coats of paint. Here it is next to the 3D printed version. The 3D printed version fits better as I milled the ears that fit into the flash shoe a bit too deep. As a result it flexes about the same as the plastic version.
Which one to use? Choices are good.
Sunday, 24 Dec 2023
I exported a STEP file from the Fusion 360 model for any who might like to play with the design in their CAD program.