Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Contax / Leica R - 3D printed lens housings - let's make it happen

Samir Patel

Samir Patel

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Messages
1,981
Reaction score
0
Points
36
Location
Miami, Florida
Wondering if this would be possible. Since many of us all now have a similar contax collection and also some have leica-r collections. With eventually 3D printers popping up in UPS stores nationwide and eventually in our homes I was wondering if we can all get together and come up with a crowdsourced model for each lens which we can just print when needed which would have the gears built in etc. I know Brian was working on this but seems like he decided to not make them available:

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?70936-Leica-R-by-ActionProducts

I am thinking this would beat risking sending my lenses to China or somewhere and hoping I get them back rehoused. How much could this actually cost if printed? Anyone know?
 
I've already done gear rings for all my nikons and I have done a version of the ones for Leica R.

not sure it would be good across all lenses because tolerance vary.

Plus, it's not a rehouse, it's a sleeve and that is not the same thing. Also the sleeves need to be coated, etc. I can totally see why the project was dropped.

Nice thought though.

Battistella
 
Samir, I don't think a 3D printed housing would have the rigidity necessary to be used effectively, I think that a CNC machined alu housing is a must...for a good rehouse.
 
Tommaso Alvisi said:
Samir, I don't think a 3D printed housing would have the rigidity necessary to be used effectively, I think that a CNC machined alu housing is a must...for a good rehouse.
Click to expand...

True,

And the added weight of CNC aluminum means the mechanisms need to be redone as well. This is why the lenses end up being so heavy. This amount of design and custom work also makes it expensive. The 3d printed gears I made for all of my nikon glass is very accurate and rigid and is press fit to the lens. I use these with lens motors, etc without any problems ans it keeps the lenses nice and light.

Battistella
 
David you are right, indeed...

but I tried the 3D printed gears and they are never precise and smooth like Delrin CNC cut rings like the ones from Duclos, RPLens or TLS...

what's your experience?
 
Tommaso Alvisi said:
David you are right, indeed...

but I tried the 3D printed gears and they are never precise and smooth like Delrin CNC cut rings like the ones from Duclos, RPLens or TLS...

what's your experience?
Click to expand...


I printed mine in high resolution and have had very excellent results.

David
 
Wow! I'm obviously not good enough informed about 3D printers...
How did you do this? Do you do it yourself? What kind of printer can be used for this sort of thing? Are they rigid enough to use with a normal follow focus?
 
Mathias Erichsen said:
Wow! I'm obviously not good enough informed about 3D printers...
How did you do this? Do you do it yourself? What kind of printer can be used for this sort of thing? Are they rigid enough to use with a normal follow focus?
Click to expand...

Absolutely, i use them, even with motorized gears. Mine are al made to exact pitch tolerances and work perfectly. No problems at all.

I'll post pics later.

I made tons of handy parts. It's all in design and printing knowledge.

Battistella
 
David Battistella said:
Absolutely, i use them, even with motorized gears. Mine are al made to exact pitch tolerances and work perfectly. No problems at all.

I'll post pics later.

I made tons of handy parts. It's all in design and printing knowledge.

Battistella
Click to expand...

Great! :)

Googleing 3D printers and looking forward to se your design.
 
I have already done this as a prototype with a contax 50mm. Works well but never followed up on it as I've been much to busy.

I had to get it printed 3rd party so dropped about 200 bucks all send and done getting it made. Shot a lot with it. It pretty light. I tried using a clip on mattebox on once but it was too heavy for the lens and I have to go in and tightning up the barrels afterwards. Has a 95mm front.

b381sMi.png
 
Last edited:
Instead of printing, I think much better to use a roto prototype company and have it milled instead. Then you can select anything from delirium, to titanium or magnesium for your housings or gears....

check: http://www.protolabs.com/
 
Bjorn is right,

the purpose of the 3d part is to prototype it. Some smaller stuff works, but you should do it in another material once you have a fit. Be prepared to do many sample before you get it just right. Some of mine are really good samples that work using pla plastic and they can be just fine. Delrin is heat shrunk onto the lens.

Battistella
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top