Tabletop Camera Tripod

thingiverse

The purpose of this design is to facilitate distance learning by opening up options for camera placement. Distance learning is commonly done via videoconferencing, and not all learners have the convenience of a laptop with a webcam built in. For this problem, I offer a portable tripod that can be used to mount a detached camera; whether it be a webcam, a DSLR, or a smartphone in a holder, almost any camera system that mounts to a standard 1/4in.-20 bolt can be attached to this tripod. The tripod and camera can then be setup on a table to facilitate videoconferencing, with a level picture, close to eye level. These were the issues I had in designing the tripod. The biggest of which was learning how to design in SolidWorks in order to develop a printable STL file. My background is in AutoCAD. So the greatest challenge was the learning curve of the software. I also had to consider size, strength, and printability. Too small would mean it can’t support much weight, too large would be hard to fit in some printers. In the end I decided on a six-inch tall tripod with legs thicker than they needed to be. If I were to change anything regarding this design, it would be to incorporate directly the 1/4in.-20 bolt into the head of the tripod. As it stands, the user must provide their own one-inch long bolt to attach the camera. My reasoning for this is simply because manufacturing a quarter inch bolt from extruded polymer would not be as strong as it should be to safely fasten expensive camera equipment. Luckily, the additional hardware required in the current design is inexpensive, less than a dollar per fastener, and you only need one. 3D printing would strengthen the design by providing a greater infill percentage than similarly sized tripods already on the market, made from similar materials. Existing tripods are commonly built from hollow tubing. 3D printing can provide greater density, and thus stronger parts, by increasing the infill percentage in the print settings.