Logitech C270 Manual Focus with Audio and LED Cutouts and Document Cam Holder

thingiverse

I needed to transform a dozen Logitech C270 webcams into face-down orientation document cameras with sound enabled so they can be used with mini whiteboards to show problem-solving strategies to students. I borrowed the idea and plate designs for manual focus from this website: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3081838 Thanks to codiac2600! And to Vecko who had some YouTube references that probably came up with this manual focus design first. Anyway, I took codiac's STL file and remodeled it in CAD (a tedious process using splines) and recreated his front and back focus plates. I added cutouts for audio and the LED. The ring design is my own; I figured it was easier to remake from scratch rather than spline fit. Plus, I heard Logitech changed the size of their focusing grip in the past year or two. Anyway, I found I had to shave away a slight bevel on the inside of the lip of my ring to get it to press onto the Logitech tooth ring, but it seems to work decently well - I'm using ABS. Procedure: First, open the Logitech face plates and use an exacto to remove the glue that holds the factory focus-ring in place. There are many YouTube videos showing this process. Assembly of 3D printed parts: Screws: Use the three original Logitech screws to hold the inner plate to the C270. Press the focus ring onto the Logitech ring, after shaving away any material so it makes a snug fit. Place the outer plate onto the assembly, and I used #4-40 x 3/8" length machine screws. Probably 1/4" length would also work. Lastly: I made a holder to preserve "top-up" orientation while the webcam is pointed face down towards the table. You can simply slide the C270 clip mechanism into the "reverse mount" part, and it will nicely face downwards without appearing upside-down on a computer screen. All you'll have to do is screw the "reverse mount" part onto a stick of suitable length to hold it at whatever height you desire. Then you can use the manual focus ring to make your document focused at whatever distance you made the stick length. Edit: I have no idea why ThingView isn't working, so I uploaded some snapshots from CAD and my final print. Maybe Thingiverse's server will generate the ThingView in a few days