Leg removal end caps

[guitarpreston]

I kinda wanna do this with my silk. I always glass sitting anyways and I’m short. Tempted to pull the 2 lower legs and worst case heat shrink or electrical tape the threads.

@Bbrinks may have a new side business if they work well and are light!

 

[bowhuntercoop]

@Bbrinks may have a new side business if they work well and are light!

Shoot me a pm if he makes ya set, I’m serious about it as well. Only a few times in the last couple years have i extended the legs.

I know I could buy a new tripod but I’m cheap and I’m slik flat out works lol.

 

[guitarpreston]

Shoot me a pm if he makes ya set, I’m serious about it as well. Only a few times in the last couple years have i extended the legs.

I know I could buy a new tripod but I’m cheap and I’m slik flat out works lol.

I got a smoking deal on this one and it turned out to be the tall version….fully extended gets the arca clamp at or above head height…talk about dead weight to carry lol

 

[Bbrinks]

Yeah and good thing is I have a couple tripods with both the M32 and M30 threads on the twist locks so I can test the fit. Since they’ll be printed, any preference on the bottom grips? Pretty easy to design any pattern on there. I have 85A and 95A TPU to see what works best. The 85A works perfect for the recoil pad I made but for a tripod foot 95A might be a little better to stay put on the threads

 

[guitarpreston]

Honestly I’ll let you drive that bus. Idk anything about 3d printing. I reckon some sort of little nubs, or a random pattern of deer tracks could be neat but may not be all that possible.
Or a threaded center hole to run the metal rock feet but again could be giving back the weight savings and negate the whole project since those are like 1.6 oz each anyway.

 

[Bbrinks]

Made a quick test model this morning to see how it fit and worked first time. Would make it about 1/4” longer, not make it a slick surface, and put some grip features on the bottom but definitely makes for decent weight savings

 

[Bbrinks]

Adding the threaded insert isn’t too much weight, would just need a little insert from PETG or ASA inside at the base for the heat set insert

 

[guitarpreston]

Made a quick test model this morning to see how it fit and worked first time. Would make it about 1/4” longer, not make it a slick surface, and put some grip features on the bottom but definitely makes for decent weight savings

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That’s slick as owl shit! Let me know what a set will run me

 

[guitarpreston]

Adding the threaded insert isn’t too much weight, would just need a little insert from PETG or ASA inside at the base for the heat set insert

I don’t think the insert would be too bad but the OE screw in feet I have are 1.3oz each.

Can you do the bottom in 85 and top in 95? Or would that seam be a problem?
I assume the 85 would be a more grippy material.

 

[guitarpreston]

Also what about possibly making the bottom domed a bit? Similar to the OE

 

[Bbrinks]

Yeah doing it split would probably be an issue. 85a is just more flexible so I can try both and see which one works out best

 

[Bbrinks]

Also what about possibly making the bottom domed a bit? Similar to the OE

Oh yeah, easy peasy, just gotta modify the profile. I’ll see how that works on mine with a 30 degree angle or so to allow it to sit more on a surface when the legs are open vs on an edge

 

[Bbrinks]

Worked pretty well, extending it to cover the threads, add a little internal section to prevent the tube from deforming and profiling the base to be more dome-like gets it to 11.8g (.41oz)

 

[Green-Up]

I'd say that looks like a winner...

 

[guitarpreston]

That’s awesome! I’m definitely interested in trying them

 

[Bbrinks]

FYI for the overall design

 

[guitarpreston]

Grumbling to myself I. Do. Not. Have. Room. For. A. Printer.

 

[Green-Up]

The technology has come a long way, you can get some solid units that don't have a big footprint these days. Assuming you don't need to print large things...

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Worked pretty well, extending it to cover the threads, add a little internal section to prevent the tube from deforming and profiling the base to be more dome-like gets it to 11.8g (.41oz)
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If you sell these let me know sir!