Modular Tripod Extender

thingiverse

I wanted to use my USB webcam for meetings instead of having the built-in laptop one staring up my nose. I discovered that placing the camera on a mini tripod right on the table made it bounce and jiggle every time I typed or used the mouse. Mounting the webcam on a tripod wasn't an option since it would be positioned way off to the side, not in front of me where I needed it. A 25-inch extender boom arm was my solution - over-engineering at its finest. This extender arm is surprisingly stiff and sturdy, measuring over two feet long and easily holding the weight of a small Logitech webcam. Each segment is seven inches long and can be locked in place by wedging them together, allowing for various lengths to be achieved. There are two end pieces - one with an attachment to mount on a tripod and another with a platform that has a 7mm hole. This allows for a 1/4-inch bolt to be passed through to secure the webcam. If you wanted to customize it further, you could 3D-print a bolt for the camera and a nut to attach to the tripod using one of the many customizers on Thingiverse. However, since these parts are attaching to real-world metal threads, I used metal hardware for durability. To prevent sagging at the base, I printed an extra segment and attached it to the other side of the boom arm. A small weight, such as an empty caulk gun frame, can be hung from this counterweight to solve the problem of camera angle caused by a long moment arm.