I have several Konica Hexanon prime lenses from the 1960's and 1970's that I like to use on my Sony mirror-less camera because they are much more affordable than modern lenses for the camera with the same aperture. But I worry about damaging them while carrying them in my pack while hiking and camping. I also had one get fungus on a rainy camping trip. So I designed this custom hard lens case to protect the lenses, and included a separate compartment to hold a desiccant packet.
Commercial lens cases are available, but they are generic sizes and are bulky. Using the unique capability of 3D CAD and a 3D printer a custom fitting lens case, with only about 1-2 mm of gap between the lens and the case, can be made for each lens. I regenerate desiccant and then put it in a coffer filter that I tape shut and put it in the top to capture moisture.
The lens case can be used without the desiccant by leaving out the middle piece with hexagonal grid. This is a more compact case for day hiking, etc. When assembling, put the lens in the base, screw the middle part with the hexagonal grid on, and then put desiccant in the top and screw it on. I made the middle and the top the same dimensions so I could leave out the desiccant as described above, but they can be different.
The model was developed using the free version of Fusion 360 since it is for hobby and non-commercial use. Open the model in Fusion 360, under the Design workspace - Modify/Change Parameters, and change the parameters for customizing the lens case. There are tutorials on-line for learning the basics of Fusion 360 that explain this and how to export the stl file.
I have included a sketch where all the dimensions are labeled with the names used in the Fusion 360 model, and a cross section showing how an example lens fits in the case. The lens should fit tight in the case so it doesn't rattle around, mine has only 1-2 mm of clearance each way. Some clearance is required or the lens will get stuck.
To change the text is a little harder. There is a parametric text add-on available in GitHub, but I didn't want to go through that complexity. To manually edit the text on the case in Fusion 360, go to the sketch just before each emboss in the timeline, they are near the right end. The sketches are named:
Case - End Label EDIT
Lid - Top Label EDIT
Lid - Side Label EDIT
Middle - Side Label EDIT
Right click the sketch icon in the timeline and select "Edit sketch" by left clicking on the menu item. Double left click on the text and a EDIT TEXT box will open, allowing you to edit the text. Left click on the Ok box, and left click on the Finish Sketch box.
I printed the case in PETG, 2 vertical shells, 2 solid layers top and bottom, 7% fill density and gyroid pattern. This makes the case light weight, and if it were to be dropped the case has 6 mm thick walls that would hopefully absorb the impact. I also made one with 3 mm walls which is less bulky and may work too (Shell Thickness is another parameter that can be changed).
I included the stl files for my Konica Hexanon 57 mm f/1.2, which is a relatively rare lens. Its also radioactive since its made of thorium glass but is the main reason I developed this case. So it would be great if anyone who uses this determines the parameters for their lenses and posts them as remakes to make it easier for others to use.
The author hasn't provided the model origin yet.