Camera tripod to Picatinny rail adapter (1/4 20 tpi)

thingiverse

This is a versatile 5-slot rail designed to mount onto any standard consumer camera mount threaded for 1/4"-20 tpi. To secure it in place, you will need to provide a 1/4"-20TPI nut that fits snugly into the hex hole. You might wonder why anyone would want to use this rail, but mounting scopes, flashlights, night vision devices or lasers onto a tripod is just one of many creative uses. If your scope has a broken zero, you can repurpose it as a makeshift telescope or rangefinder. Alternatively, attach a flashlight to a tripod to illuminate your work surface, such as when repairing the kitchen sink. The laser attachment offers even more possibilities - use it to mark fence lines, identify property boundaries, or trace bullet holes. To assemble this rail, simply screw in the 1/4"-20tpi nut into the hex hole. Any standard hex nut should fit perfectly. Important note: Some camera threads might be too short to reach the threaded area of the nut, requiring you to file down one end so it can securely engage with the strong threaded portion of the hexnut. In an effort to optimize the design, I initially attempted to print 1/4"-24tpi threads directly into the rail. However, the results were not satisfactory, and I plan to revisit this idea if there is sufficient interest. For those interested in fitment notes, I compared this rail with various other designs on Thingiverse and found it to be the correct size - albeit low-poly and lacking fancy bevels. Be aware that some mounting claws may experience difficulty sliding onto this rail, particularly those designed for smooth sliding motion rather than unscrewing and clamping like scope mounts. This rail was printed at draft quality with infill settings ranging from 40% to 100%.