Lens shade + cap for Mitutoyo M Plan Apo 5x

prusaprinters

<p>The Mitutoyo M Plan Apo 5x is quite popular among macro photographers due to its exquisite optical properties and extremely long working distance. Yet there's a problem with this objective when used for photography: the shiny chrome surface that causes ugly ring-shaped reflections with specular object surfaces (like, for example, spiders' eyes).<br>So I made this “shade” that covers all of the chrome surface that points towards the object but does not affect the light path. And, while I was at it, I made a protective cap as well, to be able to keep the objective mounted to my camera/bellows/tube construction without the risk of dust settling on the front lens. The cap fits on the lens shade, not on the “naked” objective.</p><p>If you want to print these, keep in mind:<br>1. A soft material must be used, meaning you will have to use TPU.<br>2. The material should have a matt/dull surface which means that most kinds of TPU are not well suited for the purpose.&nbsp;<br>3. Of course, the lens shade should be black.<br>In fact, I know only one material that fits the first two of the above requirements, and that's Varioshore TPU from ColorFabb. I used this and aditionally varnished the objects using a matt black lacquer since the “black” Varioshore filament is not really that “black”.</p><p>I attached the STL files as well as a 3MF and Gcode file each containing both objects. The 3MF and Gcode are set to the Varioshore settings that work best for me - maybe yours will differ.<br>Most likely the files will work as well for the Mitutoyo M Plan Apo 7.5x (I don't own this, so I can't test). Maybe the 10x, too (not quite sure because of the differing front lens mount). Any other Mitutoyo objectives like the BD Plan Apo series definitely won't fit, and of course no objectives from another brand.</p>