Customizable Camera Mount for FlexRC Mini Owl Quadcopter

thingiverse

This is a highly adaptable camera mount specifically engineered for use on the FlexRC Mini Owl quadcopter. Although created with the Mini Owl in mind, it can also be utilized on full-sized Owl quadcopters by adjusting settings through the Customizer. I don't have direct access to a full-size Owl, but I'm open to collaborating with someone who might send me one for testing purposes! The mount's design may also apply to other double-plate quads like the Lumenier and similar models. Multiple aspects of the camera mount can be customized, including height, width, depth, thickness, hole sizes for the camera lens and mounting posts, fore/aft camera position, and camera angle. For example, my camera features a built-in VTX, which necessitates positioning it slightly forward to ensure prop clearance. I also prefer a slight upward angle on my camera, as demonstrated in the side photo. Note that camera angles will influence the required thickness of the mount wall – a steeper angle demands thinner walls, whereas a flatter angle allows for thicker walls. Some measurement and experimentation may be needed to find the optimal fit. The mount prints in two halves: an upper half and a lower half, which are designed to clamp around the camera lens neck. These halves print with the lens mounting hole halves facing upwards, eliminating the need for support material. The 'Print Offset' parameter controls the Y-axis distance on the print bed between the two printed halves of the mount. This value can be adjusted if necessary. I prefer printing holes slightly undersized and then drilling/reaming them out using a drill bit post-print, as this produces more precise hole sizes. **Print Settings** Printer Brand: Printrbot Printer: Simple Black Rafts: No Supports: No Infill: I opt for 20% infill to keep it lightweight. **Post-Printing** After printing, rub the mating surfaces gently with fine sandpaper or a file to ensure they fit together snugly and squarely. Next, drill out the column holes to the required diameter (I use a #29 drill bit for my Mini Owl support posts). Place the two halves, with their prepared mating surfaces facing each other and carefully aligned as they will hold the camera, in a vise. Use an appropriately-sized drill bit (I do this by hand) to open up the lens mounting hole to the smallest size that will clamp fully around the camera lens neck. Be mindful of preserving any angle if you printed the mount at an incline while cleaning up the mounting hole with the drill bit. With attention paid to which half should be on top and bottom (if it was printed at an upward or downward angle), slide one half onto the frame posts, position the camera in the mounting hole of that half, then slide the other half over the posts and position the camera as needed. Ensure the camera is not rotated toward one side or the other. Finally, snug everything down with the frame bolts, and you should be ready to go. **Design Process** This design was created using the powerful OpenSCAD CSG tool, which is why it's highly customizable.