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General

Disabled camera adapter

This is a bespoke adapter for a compact camera, which will allow a disabled photographer who has only the use of her left hand, to use her camera again.  I have also written it up as an article for issue 241 May 2016 Model Engineers Workshop.

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/editorial/page.asp?p=250

Here’s a sequence of photos of the build:

 

Roughing out the Acetal plastic cradle for the camera body
Roughing out the Acetal plastic cradle for the camera body
A relief radius needed cutting into the cradle to allow the rotating bezel to function
A relief radius needed cutting into the cradle to allow the rotating bezel to function
This shows the method used to locate the tripod securing screw location
This shows the method used to locate the tripod securing screw location. The base will be located through this screw hole (the thread is 1/4″ x 20)
The rotating left/right zoom control is on top of the camera, so I made a rough prototype fork to see if I could transfer the operation to a knurled wheel
The rotating left/right zoom control is on top of the camera, so I made a rough prototype fork to see if I could transfer the operation to a knurled wheel
This is a rocker which will operate the shutter button on top of the camera via a push rod and trigger
This is a rocker which will operate the shutter button on top of the camera via a push rod and trigger
Top view showing position of zoom control fork and the aluminium push rod which will operate the shutter button via the rocker in the top plate
Top view showing position of zoom control fork and the aluminium push rod which will operate the shutter button via the rocker in the top plate
Boring out the handle to reduce weight. Finger grooves were machined using a 6mm radius cutter
Boring out the handle to reduce weight. Finger grooves were machined using a 6mm radius cutter
The zoom roting wheel needed a square hole cutting into it for positive location onto the zoom fork. Deep knurls were machined into the wheel
The zoom roting wheel needed a square hole cutting into it for positive location onto the zoom fork. Deep knurls were machined into the wheel
Two of the four 6BA cheese head screws which will hold it all together
Two of the four 6BA cheese head screws which will hold it all together
Homemade radius cutter to finish off the corners
Homemade radius cutter to finish off the corners
Using the radius cutter on the base
Using the radius cutter on the base
Assembled showing the added white reference line for the function dial
Assembled showing the added white reference line for the function dial
Assembled and held in the left hand as it will be used. This photo shows the location of the shutter trigger and the zoom wheel
Assembled and held in the left hand as it will be used. This photo shows the location of the shutter trigger and the zoom wheel
Completed assembly
Completed assembly