Fixed Rear Camera Mount v3 (for Prusa MK3 & Pi Cam v2.1)

thingiverse

The ultimate goal of this design is to successfully attach a Raspberry Pi Camera (V2.1) to the rear of the Original Prusa i3 MK3 heated bed, with the aim of creating an elegant solution for timelapse video in OctoPrint. By tackling this challenge, I aimed to address several key factors: - Utilize an established reference point on the MK3 for mounting - Determine the optimal fixed position for the camera's given angle of view - Ensure the camera, arm, and cables all have the necessary clearance during print operations - Minimize the length of the ribbon cable between the Pi and its camera - Use tight tolerances to avoid unnecessary fasteners - Keep things simple and uncluttered NEW in VERSION 3: - A slightly increased forward angle is now included to allow for a higher bed view percentage - A ribbon cable routing slot has been added to the arm - Smoothed edges have been implemented throughout The mount is a modified replacement part for the underside cable retention module on the existing heat bed. Simply remove the two allen screws and use them to attach the new arm, taking advantage of this standard reference point to keep the arm in a relatively consistent position. As expected, mounting so close to the bed results in some blind spots, but I repeatedly worked with the angles to find the best compromise. The arm is designed not to interfere with any print functions, although the tolerances are tight (modders be warned). The camera slides into the top of the holder and the ribbon cable (~450mm or longer) protrudes from the bottom, allowing it to be neatly folded over the arm and coiled around the heat bed cabling on its path back to the mainboard housing. Printer placement requires an additional ~105mm behind the print bed with the arm attached, so keep that in mind for things like enclosures. Also understand that this part is very precise and will require a well-honed printer to pull it off without heavy post processing. The camera mount presented here is designed to work seamlessly with the Einsy Case Mod that I developed to make the Raspberry Pi Zero W rear accessible when connected directly to the board. See that part here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2815815 In addition to the camera mount and case mod, a completed solution requires the acquisition or build of the following items: 1x Original Prusa i3 MK3 Printer (https://www.prusa3d.com/) 1x Raspberry Pi Zero W (https://www.adafruit.com/product/3400) 1x Raspberry Pi Camera Board V2 (https://www.adafruit.com/product/3099) 1x Raspberry Pi frame, 3D printable@ (https://www.prusa3d.com/prusa-i3-printable-parts/) 1 x Flex Cable for Raspberry Pi Camera or Display - 18" / 457mm (https://www.adafruit.com/product/1730) 1x 40mm Raspberry Pi Zero / Pi Zero W Compatible Camera Cable (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072LLWJVD/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) 1 x Adafruit CSI or DSI Cable Extender Thingy for Raspberry Pi (https://www.adafruit.com/product/3671) 1x Break-away 0.1" 2x20-pin Strip Dual Male Header (https://www.adafruit.com/product/2822) Stay creative, my friends!