3d Printed Underwater ROV Camera Housing

We are building a ROV!

To work under water is often necessary to make a waterproof housing for a variety of electronic devices. Usually we try to adapt for this purpose that any of the materials at hand, and the result... is not the best result:(
A simple and reliable solution available for a long time! 3D printing even with budget home printers ensures complete water resistance and can withstand great water pressure!

Step 1: Our Printer and Models

We used 3d printer Prusa Bizon. It has heated bed, a big working area upto 30x30x30cm and 0,05 Z step.The most our models are acetone treated ABS with 5 solid layers and 30% infill. Models without acetone treatment are typically held not more than 1 bar.
As our models infill is 30% only, we always check the weight before and after the test to make sure that no water gets into the space between the layers. And the weight is always the same, that means the body is completely sealed.

As an example here is our DIY 3d printed motor thruster housing

Step 2: Water Pressure

How big the water pressure is? For devices working in our pool at a depth of 2-3 meters (6-10 feet) the water pressure is 0.2-0.3 bar (2,9-4,35 psi). The same pressure is able to create an adult man by mouth. For fishermen typical depth of 10 meters (33 feet), rarely up to 20 meters (65 feet), so a fishing camera must withstand a pressure of 2 bar (30 psi). The same pressure used in car wheels. Even more pressure must withstand underwater robot camera (ROV), and I think you as a visionary inventor always want to have a sufficient margin of safety. So, where could we get a cheap but reliable, comfortable and beautiful body for our underwater devices? You can just print it!

We've tested some 3D printed underwater housing and all of them successfully withstood the water pressure of 10 bar (145 psi), which corresponds to a depth of 100 meters! (328 feet).

Step 3: Hydraulic Chamber

The pressure generated in the hydraulic chamber by a regular syringe.Depending on the diameter of the piston you can create up to 30 bar! It is absolutely safe for you because the pressure created by just few milliliters of water and in the case of chamber damage pressure instantly drops to zero without causing you any harm.

It is also very safety for tested gauges. You can even test an underwater housing with installed camera! In case of a leak it will fill only few milliliters of water and the camera will not be damaged.

Water supply through a conventional ball valve with a nozzle for thin hose. At the moment of water supplying I open valve a little, and then close it to draw into the syringe a new portion of water. As you can see you need very little water.
At the end of the test I just open the tap and the water poured out (if I test in the house, then draws water back into the syringe).