Homekit Camera Case (HKCam)

thingiverse

I've started creating some nice HKCams based on another user's design here https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3587354. The website for this project is located at https://hochgatterer.me/hkcam/. Their software is easy to install on a Raspberry Pi Zero W and works perfectly with HomeKit (Siri).\r\n\r\nUnfortunately, I encountered some challenges when printing the 3D case, so here's my attempt to address these issues. Although the design is very similar, my creation was built from scratch in Fusion 360. I am tagging the original as a form of "remix culture," but this is original work too. I am also respecting the original license.\r\n\r\n### Here are my improvements:\r\n\r\n1. Designed for FDM printing. The original design, while beautiful, includes several surfaces that don't print well on an FDM printer. For example, the filleted edges and the hex-nut at the bottom of the body resulted in very droopy overhangs for me;\r\n\r\n2. The 1/4" standard-for-tripods UNC thread is too small for 3D printed threads. Many of my prints were ruined when the threaded bolt of the tripod broke off inside the body. Impossible to get out, so two of the three parts would need to be re-printed each time. In this design, I opted to use the 50% larger 3/8" UNC thread you find on some tripods. This works really well!\r\n\r\n3. The tripod is a TRI-pod, with three legs that will never wobble if one leg is slightly non-planar with the others. Also, I've made the ends slightly larger, with a slightly larger stance and circular shape. I attach tiny rubber feet there for an extra firm grip on the surface below.\r\n\r\n4. The aperture beside the two Micro USB ports has been re-positioned for the new Pi location and slightly enlarged to allow for 90° micro-USB angle connectors, allowing my power cable to point down instead of straight out the side.\r\n\r\n5. The Pi Zero was too low in the body to accommodate a typical 5mm heat sink on my Pi's processor. This design lets the Pi sit high enough that a heat sink fits nicely.\r\n\r\n6. Speaking of heat, this design has vents on the top of the body as well, which should allow for a nice updraft from the side vents, across the surface of the PI, then up and out the top.\r\n\r\n7. An additional tab to hold the lid in place very nicely.\r\n\r\n8. A sleeker beveled part where the threaded connection hole is rather than what looks like a hex-nut tacked on (design choice?).\r\n\r\n9. Slightly larger tolerances between the Pi and the body.\r\n\r\nIn addition to a photo of a finished piece in Galaxy Black and black PLA, I've also supplied several renders from F360, the cyan ones are rendered with a transparent lid so that the detail is visible, but no, I can't print acrylic with my Prusa =). The Galaxy Black renders look almost identical to the real thing though =) I've also included a couple with a yellow lid for visual comparison to the original project.