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camera clamp for hang glider

camera clamp for hang glider
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The problem was: How to put a photo or film camera on my glider without buying something very expensive.
This instructable is not finished yet and might never be. There is always something to improve.

 
Camera clamp 1
The structure of the first attempt for the clamp will be made from strips op aluminum. I had to figure out how to get my camera attached to the clamp when I found a cheap tripod at a yard-sale. I salvaged the ball-head from that tripod.
 I started bending and drilling the aluminum. (I have a nice tool for the bending and drilling, but you can also use a vise and a hand drill) Because I don't want the clamp to damage the glider, I rounded all edges and corners. To make it look better, I painted it black.
I also added some foam where the clamp would be on the tubes of the glider.
The first clamp has two aluminum parts and two bolts. The bottom bolt is always in the loose position. The upper bolt with the wingnut will be closed to clamp on the tube.
I have flown with this clamp several times, but I was not totally happy with the grip of the clamp and it was kind of bulky.

Camera clamp 2
I wanted to make a better clamp. Still I used the same materials, but a different design.
 For the second clamp I also bended two strips of aluminum. This time I uses one shackle of a chain to make it hinge. It can open without totally removing the bolt. I used a (metric) M8 bolt and drilled a hole trough the head with a M4 bolt trough it to make sure the bolt can swivel but not turn.
This clamp worked fine, but on many places my camera had to be mounted up side down.

Camera clamp 3
Next I bought a very cheap but nice clamp. It works fine on my bottom-bar, but has no way to aim the camera accurately  on any other tubes and again it films up side down. Great advantage is that it is very small.

Camera clamp 4
The next camera clamp must be better than the rest. I want it to be small, stable and with the picture right side up. I have some ideas already, but I am also open for suggestions.

I will post my attempts.
3 comments
Sep 7, 2011. 11:06 PMbertus52x11 says:
Since you have specifically requested suggestions, here we go: First of all I would keep the hockey-clamp. It's compact and versatile. You can simplify the design by skipping the ball-joint and use a bolt (1/4" BSW thread, a bit hard to get your hands on). However, this doesn't solve you upside down problem. I suggest you fabricate some kind of metal support similar to my instructable "rear pocket camera mount". Use the cover of a CD player and use your nice bending machine to fabricate it. Now don't use a bolt to secure your camera, but use 2 wide rubber bands instead (postbode elastiek). That should be secure enough. Ideally, interconnect this newly fabricated support and your hockey-clamp by a gimbal (heliostat). Search here on Instructables, there are some good examples. With this, your camera is horizontal, regardless of the movement of your glider (unless you're making loopings!).
Sep 14, 2011. 12:16 AMbertus52x11 says:
Trust me, rubber bands are way stronger than you imagine if they are in a good condition. They provide very good friction on the body of cameras or smart phones.
I estimate that landing is no worse than riding a bike...(see below)

I use them all the time and so do my customers. So far I have sold many of them and we have had no incidents. Check out the principle at www.cameraclip.eu



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Author:kenyer(Technisch Speelgoed)
I'm a social-worker, working with 16 - 23 year-olds. I used to be a printer and I worked voluntarily in Romania for a couple of years. One day a week I have a toy-store in technical toys. I have this ...
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