Fired up the printers....

[Paul Taylor]

Finally found the motivation to start working on the 3D Printed panoramic camera I have been wanting to build.

This person designed / supplies the files :

Open 6x12, 6x17 and 6x24 Panoramic Camera by Velvia | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Fully open source panoramic 120 film cameras. | Download free 3D printable STL models

www.printables.com

and there are several remixes of updates / useful parts.

I had been wanting to do this - but it is a lot of work. Since I was mainly interested in the 6x17 - I would have to use my AnyCubic Kobra Max FDM printer, But I noticed that I could barely squeeze the 6x12 onto the print bed of my Creatlity Halot Mage 8K resin printer.

The FDM is doing a great job with the larger body - but the 6x12 looks awesome resin printed. It still seems like "Star Trek" tech - even though I have been 3D printing for ~15 years.

I had a failure the first go-around with the 6x12 - so I had to spend some time figuring out the best supports (went overkill) and orientation to make sure the film path stayed clear.

I ordered a lens (Schneider Super-Angulon 90mm) since there are lens cones designed for the cameras (and as I bonus I can use it on my large format Toyo.)

I still need to print the lens cone - I am going to try/test with the smaller camera first and if it works well enough - I will continue to build the 6x17. I also think I will design a mask to snap in the 6x12 to use the 35mm -> medium format adapters I have.

Once all the parts are printed for the 6x12 I will paint the inside with some light absorbent paint and perhaps paint/leatherwrap the exterior.

6x17 so far:

6x12 resin print so far:

 

[Paul Taylor]

Lens cone printed well :

Painted the cone and the interior of the body with matte black paint :

Press fit / glued in my threaded inserts (and upgraded them from the M3 of the design to M4.)

Added the black felt to the inside of the lens cone and part of the body :

I haven't seen anyone resin print one of these yet (I chose this due to the more accurate / solid / smoother finish over FDM printing) and havent seen anyone put as much effort in (I don't want to have to re-make this for a long while...)

My lens arrived yesterday and is basically in new condition - so I should be ready to test soon. Just waiting on some paint to arrive (accent color!) and then I need to wrap the body in leather to make it more "professional" in assembly.

 

[Bill Brown]

This is all pretty amazing and fascinating to me. To think I was proud of the new eyecup I designed and had 3D printed for my F1-n Speed Finder. Child's play compared to this. I look forward to seeing images shot with this rig. I'm a pano fan. Nice work. Do you know about the special black paint that absorbs something like 99% of the light falling on it? video link:

 

[Paul Taylor]

I am aware of that paint - but apparently it is pretty fragile so I just went with a matte black acrylic. I seen a video where they painted a car in the Musou black - it was pretty crazy lol!

 

[Paul Taylor]

For anyone who wants to make their own, here is the source of the files I am using :

Open 6x12, 6x17 and 6x24 Panoramic Camera by Velvia | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Fully open source panoramic 120 film cameras. | Download free 3D printable STL models

www.printables.com

 

[Tony Warren]

What an intriguing project. 3D printing is fascinating tech and this is way up there. I made my 6x12 out of mdf and used a Kodak lens from a Miniature Speed Graphic which covers it nicely. But this is so much better, particularly the Leica style film loading wish I had though of that. The Schneider lens will deliver too based on my experiences with it on 5x4. Great work.

 

[Paul Taylor]

I wrapped the body in a couple layers of the finest imitation leather Amazon had to offer. Mounted the lens, and assembled.

I then fired up yet another machine... my Laser cutter / engraver. Since I "built" the camera - might as well design up a simple box to hold it right?

I then downloaded some hinges, fancy latch, and some corner supports for the outside of the box to class it up a bit.

Then I cut a suitable name and plaque, to mount on the box after I wrap it in the same very fine Naugahyde. I stuck the letters and numbers to some sticky-side-up tape and commenced to painting

I will apply some more red paint over glue residue. Maybe - it seems suitable to leave given the rest of the "workmanship."

I am going to test the camera within the next few days - but I am pretty sure it will work as intended. It isn't a complex thing and the hard part exist in the lens I didn't make so.....

Box wise I will line with felt and print or laser cut supports for the camera and tools for it. I am going to 3d model some sort of fancy handle appendage and maybe some feets.

 

[Bill Brown]

Hey, now you're just showing off.

 

[Tony Warren]

Icing on the cake.

 

[Paul Taylor]

3D printed hinges worked great :

as did the fancy latch :

Wrapped the box in "leather" - same as the camera. However I ran out - so had to order more to do the lid. I was going to go for a "seamless" wrap of the leather - but in laziness I decided to do it simple as possible and I kind of like the visible edges underneath the sides. I think it will play well with my idea for the carry handle.

Also attached the corner brackets. The brackets were made to go inside - however I think I like them better on the outside as they look neat.

I ordered some different M3 hardware that is lower profile - this allen hardware is all I had on hand.

I still need to wrap the lid - but it is a box. I need to figure out handle situation. It is far from perfect but I like the "I made this look."

 

[Gianluca Drago]

I find your project very fascinating and I like to see how you document the various stages of realisation with your photos. It's something I would never do, and I wouldn't know how to do, but it's just nice to know that there is someone in the world who puts so much application and perseverance and expertise into such a complex and dedicated craft. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Paul Taylor]

So I wasn't super happy with the case I made first - the wood I used was pretty warped and the corner pieces were bothering me. So I ordered some much nicer wood, some more "leather," reprinted the corners, and queued the music, and fired up the laser cutter. I am much happier with the result.

To help make it more durable and stay square - I cut some inserts :

I added a 3d printed 120 roll holder to the inside, accessible via the removable top panel.

Applied some paint :

New corner hardware and some strap attachment points :

And all "done." Not by any means perfect - but I don't want to spend a ton of time on it and hopefully the rudimentary construction will accelerate a nice worn finish. Or it will fall apart. I remade the name plate as well, it occurred to me to engrave the name into the wood - and then cut the letters separately - and glue the cut "positive" letters into the "negative" engraved letters yielding accurate spacing and a cleaner look.

I am finally going to get to test the camera this week - last week was a busy one due to the company I work for taking over some additional hospitals that were severely mismanaged.

 

[Paul Taylor]

Ran a roll of HP5 through it this afternoon. Nothing special, just from the top of the parking garage at my work. However - it certainly looks like the camera is working. I need to adjust the vertical spacing of the frame a bit - but other than that I think it will be good to go.

 

[Paul Taylor]

I had 4 "keepers" out of the six. Not bad for the first roll through the camera - and I forgot my light meter and grabbed the wrong tripod (incompatible plates.)

With a bit of sun flare

The ol' Camry

 

[Paul Taylor]

Since the 6x12 turned out to work just fine - I decided to start printing / building the 6x17. This one is too big to resin print on my machine so I had to print it on my Anycubic Kobra Max FDM machine. This is a pretty large printer, so it was easy. I chose some green filament - inspired by the Leica "Reporter" series cameras that I will never be able to justify the price to own (lol.)

If any of you guys have a printer - I highly recommend PolyMaker filaments. It is about all I use and is the best printing stuff I have experienced in the last ten years or so of printing.

Here are the main components:

And a size comparison to the 6x12

I have started sanding / filing / painting the interior parts of the camera using lessons I learned from the 6x12. I modded the lens cone file to use the same lens as well and I may print a secondary one for some of my other large format lenses.

I think I am going to resin print the knobs and what not as that will require less finishing work due to the smoother surfaces.

I am going to make some small changes to the resin printed 6x12 to improve it's usability and if the 6x17 works out well I am going to gift the 6x12 sans lens to a friend who has been extremely excited about all this.