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3-axis ballhead mini tripod thingie (aka. the tennisball-pod)

3-axis ballhead mini tripod thingie (aka. the tennisball-pod)

I guess the title is pretty self explanatory, but a picture is worth a thousand words!

This is my first instructable so constructive comments are appreciated. I originally posted this on my blog, and after much grudging by my friends to post here, I decided I should. So here goes.

This thing turned out to be surprisingly versatile, and much better to use in practice than I had originally anticipated. The one pictured here gives me about 120 degrees of movement around the two horizontal axes and 360 around the vertical. Not too shabby.

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Step 1Materials

the bill of materials is ridiculously small, and not restricted to these options. You can easily find replacements for all these parts.

You need:

. one tennis ball.
. 1/4' bolt (that fits your camera, be careful to get the right tread. what's it called?)
. a nut, butterfly nut and a washer.
. a tube or can that the tennisball will snugly fit into. Doesn't matter what kind, it should be sturdy. Try using the can that the balls come in.
. some tape and a knife or something.

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46 comments

1-40 of 46

Apr 17, 2009. 3:58 AMkavinat123 says:

that's cool i will try it . it 's very interesting.

Nov 14, 2008. 2:22 PMthebboy says:

very cool. might try. 5/5

Nov 15, 2008. 4:03 PMHellchild says:

no. dont' "might", Do.

Nov 15, 2008. 9:09 PMSoE (author) says:

yea don't might, do :) that sounds like a pretty good slogan

Nov 17, 2008. 2:45 PMHellchild says:

Thanks. if you use just be sure to give me credit.

Nov 15, 2008. 7:07 PMthebboy says:

what? i might.

Nov 17, 2008. 2:44 PMHellchild says:

DO IT!!!

Nov 17, 2008. 3:01 PMthebboy says:

ok, now i just need to find a nut that'll fit my camera.

Nov 21, 2008. 5:27 AMHellchild says:

just take a camera to the hardware store and test different nuts or bolts, that's what I did

Nov 21, 2008. 2:18 PMthebboy says:

ok. do you know how to make it longer?

Nov 22, 2008. 5:50 PMHellchild says:

What do you mean?

Nov 22, 2008. 8:33 PMthebboy says:

the tripod. it's too short, it needs to be a little longer.

Nov 23, 2008. 2:44 PMHellchild says:

I'VE GOT IT!!!! Wrap it in 10 strips bacon, then put in your closet for a week. and when you take it out it will have gotten linger by 2 feet! I tried it, It works!!

Nov 23, 2008. 3:02 PMthebboy says:

really?

Nov 24, 2008. 5:38 AMHellchild says:

yes.

Nov 24, 2008. 2:15 PMthebboy says:

wow, that is crazy.

Nov 24, 2008. 2:25 PMHellchild says:

I know, right?

Nov 24, 2008. 7:30 PMthebboy says:

ya, people say that a lot

Nov 26, 2008. 4:22 PMHellchild says:

what, My Bacon thing?

Nov 27, 2008. 7:41 AMthebboy says:

no, i know right. they say i know right a lot.

Nov 29, 2008. 5:40 PMHellchild says:

Is that bad?

Nov 29, 2008. 5:51 PMthebboy says:

no, but it's starting to get annoying.

Nov 30, 2008. 8:11 AMHellchild says:

deal with it.

Nov 30, 2008. 8:08 PMthebboy says:

Dec 1, 2008. 5:18 PMHellchild says:

good.

Dec 1, 2008. 7:04 PMthebboy says:

uh, now what?

Dec 2, 2008. 11:45 AMHellchild says:

now You Do the fricking bacon thing!!!

Dec 2, 2008. 2:24 PMthebboy says:

oh.

Dec 2, 2008. 3:27 PMHellchild says:

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dec 3, 2008. 2:20 PMthebboy says:

uh, thanks for the idea, but i'll try this other idea i have.

Dec 3, 2008. 4:36 PMHellchild says:

what is it?

Dec 4, 2008. 2:30 PMthebboy says:

i'll find a long tube that's tight enough so that it will hold the ball without anything inside the tube, but loose enough so that it can move freely without too much resistence. I can probably find somthing like that.

Dec 4, 2008. 5:00 PMHellchild says:

but then the ball will probably fall through though

Dec 5, 2008. 2:23 PMthebboy says:

maybe. if it doesn't work i can fill it with card board or something.

Dec 5, 2008. 4:46 PMHellchild says:

ok. but, just sayin', that would be a lot of cardboard circles

Dec 6, 2008. 10:21 AMthebboy says:

true, but i think i can find some.

Dec 6, 2008. 10:34 AMHellchild says:

ok then

Dec 6, 2008. 2:30 PMthebboy says:

well, ok.