DSLR rig mount for Luxpad with ball joint

thingiverse

I purchased a nice LED video light called Luxpad 22 that is really affordable and excellent quality. To enhance it, I designed this barndoors (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2125573). Next, I wanted to attach it to my DSLR rig. The original mount is compatible with either 3/8 inch screws or a flashlight hotshoe. Additionally, the pad itself features a flashlight hotshoe. I decided to create a custom rig mount with a ball joint for greater flexibility. It consists of a hotshoe with a threaded bolt, a screw nut to secure the hotshoe to the pad, a ball joint attached to the threaded bolt of the hotshoe, and another screw nut to tighten the ball joint to the ball socket, which is fitted to the rig. To mount it securely to the rig, I used an M5 screw with a handle; the M5 thread was cut using a thread cutter. The threaded bolt at the hotshoe has an unconventional thread design. After experimenting with different threads, I discovered that my printer lacks precision and cannot accurately produce them. For optimal results, I needed a pitch of 2.5mm per step. Furthermore, I encountered difficulties with the hotshoe's threaded bolt due to its limited bearing area, which is subjected to excessive stress. The initial threads were very fragile and prone to breaking at the base of the threaded bolt when slight tension was applied. As a result, I chose to print the hotshoe with a 7° angle, using support structures that touch the build plate. This allows the fiber alignment to be slightly offset from the thread, resulting in increased stability. Although it is still somewhat shaky, the design functions effectively. In the future, I intend to replace the hotshoe with a metal one from eBay, which explains why this project remains ongoing. UPDATE I added an extra hole to the bolt within the hotshoe, allowing for the insertion of a standard 15mm wood screw. This provides additional stability and ensures that the hotshoe will not crack again.