Camera mount bracket for Piper Cherokee tie-down ring

thingiverse

Piper Cherokee aircraft have circular tie-down rings on the underside of both wings for securing the plane when parked. I designed this mounting plate to be used in pairs and clamp around the tie-down hook, enabling attachment of an action camera mount like a GoPro, Virb, Contour, Drift, etc. This design fits Piper tie-down rings with specific dimensions: an outer diameter of 2 inches across, an inner diameter hole of 1 inch across, and a thickness of ¼ inch. This bracket was loosely inspired by the following design, which also features an accessory block and RAM mount that can be utilized with this design if desired: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:609142. You can view a video of the camera mount in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyRXeVGwSYY. Print Settings: * Rafts: No * Supports: No Instructions: You'll need to print two copies of the mount, preferably using ABS filament, although PLA should work too. You'll also require two ¼"-20-1" screws, along with matching washers and nuts. The photos depict wing-screws and wing-nuts for tool-free installation/removal, but lock washers or lock nuts may be desirable for added safety. To prepare the printed parts, you might need to use a round file to clean out the holes so that your screws can be easily inserted and removed. You'll also need to improvise a way to attach your camera-specific mount onto one of the ¼ inch bolts. My photos show a ball head camera mount, which allows for arbitrary camera angle adjustments. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C3DY73S. Cameras with tripod-compatible screw holes can be attached directly to one of the two screws through the mounting plant. You might also want to use accessory or RAM mount blocks from this other project: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:609142. It's a good idea to apply a thin layer of rubber (or RTV silicone, Sugru, Plastidip) on the inside of the printed pieces to reduce slipping movement against the tie-down ring. Allow any such coatings to dry or cure fully before mounting.