{"data":{"model":{"id":"319122","slug":"modular-mini-dslr-mirrorless-tripod-system","name":"Modular mini DSLR mirrorless tripod system","authorship":"author","club":false,"excludeCommercialUsage":false,"price":null,"eduProject":null,"ratingAvg":"0E-10","myRating":null,"ratingCount":0,"description":"

I do a lot of video recording for youtube and courses and have a number of accessories for my camera. However, none of them have been right for me. They are either:

clamp-based for the edge of the desk (making the camera either too far away or jittery with additional arms and accessories)
too short (like Joby or small Manfrotto tripods)
too unstable (compact Manfrotto tripods with some accessories on top)
too large like full size tripods
or too bulky (Joby or full size tripods)

So, I've designed a compact tripod that can hold my mirrorless camera with medium bulk lens, that can be the right height and be as stable as possible, due to having a large thread-based interlocking modular parts with large surface areas between the different parts.

Printing notes

I've printed these parts on Prusa Mini, 0.6mm nozzle, so they are designed to fit a fairly small print bed.

I've had quite a few strange cantilever errors for the tripod base. In the end, it works best printing the base upside down, with support on the flat surface just above the thread. No other support is needed as the angle works well for the rest of the print. Here is photo of the upside-down print in-action

All of the parts are printed with PLA with 0.6mm nozzle and 3 perimeter layers to provide better rigidity. I've used Gyroid infill pattern set between 35-65% for further rigidity.

Note about the thread size

It took a lot of trial and error with the Bolt Factory addon in Blender to get the right thread size that works with an existing telescopic part that I wanted to incorporate into the system. (it comes from a Ulanzi 3-in-1 desktop mount system that's too unstable). This specific part is not needed, as there is also a piece that allows \u00bc\" regular tripod screws to be inserted and screwed in the rest of the cit

The inner male threads are scaled 96% in the X and Y directions in order to work well.

Ball-head mount notes

I've designed the top ball-head accessory around a \u00bc\" screw that is longer than usual and with smaller head. The thread is about 20mm long and the screw head is about 11mm diameter. I've bought these on amazon so they should be available around.

Update

I have now also designed a desk clamp to work with this system.

","category":{"id":"26","path":[{"id":"21","name":"Gadgets","nameEn":"Gadgets","description":"Everyone loves smart gadgets. Use 3D printing to make amazing items for audio, photo & video, computers, and phones. Top models are ready to download for free.","__typename":"CategoryType"},{"id":"26","name":"Photo & Video","nameEn":"Photo & Video","description":"Get ready for your next photo adventure! Save money with printed photo gadgets - GoPro or camera mounts, OCF grids and diffusers, lens adapters or tripods.","__typename":"CategoryType"}],"__typename":"CategoryType"},"modified":"2023-08-28T03:38:11.567811+00:00","firstPublish":"2022-11-17T09:58:27.201772+00:00","datePublished":"2023-08-28T03:38:11.548417+00:00","dateCreatedThingiverse":null,"nsfw":false,"summary":"Modular desktop tripod system that's highly stable, supports DSLR cameras, mirrorless, and all smaller cameras.","likesCount":20,"makesCount":1,"liked":null,"printDuration":null,"numPieces":0,"weight":null,"nozzleDiameters":null,"usedMaterial":null,"layerHeights":null,"mmu":false,"materials":[],"dateFeatured":null,"downloadCount":126,"displayCount":955,"filesCount":5,"privateCollectionsCount":24,"publicCollectionsCount":27,"pdfFilePath":"media/prints/319122/pdfs/319122-modular-mini-dslr-mirrorless-tripod-system-c7d27c4a-d9d0-47ee-a59a-3852e0b7e827.pdf","commentCount":2,"userGcodeCount":0,"remixCount":1,"canBeRated":false,"printer":null,"image":{"id":"1344086","filePath":"media/prints/319122/images/2757651_ac656dff-5065-497d-b676-259673dcc7f6/pxl_20221117_093734614.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"oSgKHQaYilCIaZiFiZqXiWeAZwV4","imageWidth":3072,"imageHeight":4080,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},"images":[{"id":"1344086","filePath":"media/prints/319122/images/2757651_ac656dff-5065-497d-b676-259673dcc7f6/pxl_20221117_093734614.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"oSgKHQaYilCIaZiFiZqXiWeAZwV4","imageWidth":3072,"imageHeight":4080,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},{"id":"1344085","filePath":"media/prints/319122/images/2757649_f9cfbfc7-868e-431b-bf73-cccc91de2683/pxl_20221117_093556308.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"oSgGDYSrZqiPl3d0dvWLU0CbCcBY","imageWidth":4080,"imageHeight":3072,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},{"id":"1344082","filePath":"media/prints/319122/images/2757650_3bc1a959-adea-448b-aebc-27fb423a3d14/pxl_20221117_093606595.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"oigKHQaeSYCIhsa3lZmVmWeQdgRo","imageWidth":3072,"imageHeight":4080,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},{"id":"1344084","filePath":"media/prints/319122/images/2757652_ef2d83a7-4e95-4eef-b533-329af32aef39/pxl_20221117_093744903.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"XRgGHQbJdIV9CKtlarukmXaAWQaZ","imageWidth":3072,"imageHeight":4080,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},{"id":"1344081","filePath":"media/prints/319122/images/2757654_ed927178-0b80-41f1-9b8b-ff4c7d0178c4/img_20221115_211511.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"V0kKDYCQfWhdmYiIeGd3hNCDCp+Z","imageWidth":4608,"imageHeight":3456,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},{"id":"1344083","filePath":"media/prints/319122/images/2757653_467779e1-65da-417c-bbf2-2821fb8a2d00/img_20221115_160721.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"GxgKFYJte4efpnWaiLeGZ2CSBV27","imageWidth":4608,"imageHeight":3456,"__typename":"PrintImageType"}],"tags":[{"name":"camera","id":"41","__typename":"TagType"},{"name":"gopro","id":"42","__typename":"TagType"},{"name":"modular","id":"628","__typename":"TagType"},{"name":"tripod","id":"2193","__typename":"TagType"},{"name":"canon","id":"4514","__typename":"TagType"},{"name":"sony","id":"6103","__typename":"TagType"},{"name":"camcorder","id":"23892","__typename":"TagType"}],"thingiverseLink":null,"filesType":null,"previewFile":{"id":"1422877","filePreviewPath":"media/prints/319122/stls/2757593_9f88f856-bbe4-4416-88f3-e3c10c72b50a/tripod02a_preview.png","__typename":"STLType"},"license":{"id":"3","disallowRemixing":false,"__typename":"LicenseType"},"remixParents":[],"remixDescription":null,"__typename":"PrintType","user":{"id":"170815","handle":"dimitar","verified":false,"dateVerified":null,"publicUsername":"dimitar","avatarFilePath":"media/auth/avatars/af/af7b203a-d766-492e-88fe-9bf1943ef636.jpg","badgesProfileLevel":{"profileLevel":12,"__typename":"BadgesProfileLevelType"},"__typename":"UserType","isFollowedByMe":false,"isHiddenForMe":false,"canBeFollowed":true,"billingAccountType":"personal","lowestTierPrice":null,"highlightedModels":{"models":[{"id":"562044","name":"Vesa Monitor adapter for the Multifunction Arm System","slug":"vesa-monitor-adapter-for-the-multifunction-arm-sys","ratingAvg":"5.0000000000","likesCount":76,"liked":null,"datePublished":"2023-08-24T06:05:27.601764+00:00","dateFeatured":null,"firstPublish":"2023-08-24T06:05:27.600151+00:00","downloadCount":186,"mmu":false,"category":{"id":"27","path":[{"id":"21","name":"Gadgets","nameEn":"Gadgets","__typename":"CategoryType"},{"id":"27","name":"Computers","nameEn":"Computers","__typename":"CategoryType"}],"__typename":"CategoryType"},"modified":"2023-08-24T06:05:27.622352+00:00","image":{"id":"2138266","filePath":"media/prints/562044/images/4504265_b78094e2-096b-4a09-9f35-e33f3cc600fe/1000006329.webp","rotation":0,"imageHash":"WxgKFYT6qnWFa4pbh2iIdziwZ0Ba","imageWidth":1913,"imageHeight":1440,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},"nsfw":false,"club":false,"price":null,"user":{"id":"170815","handle":"dimitar","verified":false,"dateVerified":null,"publicUsername":"dimitar","avatarFilePath":"media/auth/avatars/af/af7b203a-d766-492e-88fe-9bf1943ef636.jpg","badgesProfileLevel":{"profileLevel":12,"__typename":"BadgesProfileLevelType"},"__typename":"UserType","isHiddenForMe":false},"latestContestResult":null,"__typename":"PrintType"},{"id":"319122","name":"Modular mini DSLR mirrorless tripod system","slug":"modular-mini-dslr-mirrorless-tripod-system","ratingAvg":"0E-10","likesCount":20,"liked":null,"datePublished":"2023-08-28T03:38:11.548417+00:00","dateFeatured":null,"firstPublish":"2022-11-17T09:58:27.201772+00:00","downloadCount":126,"mmu":false,"category":{"id":"26","path":[{"id":"21","name":"Gadgets","nameEn":"Gadgets","__typename":"CategoryType"},{"id":"26","name":"Photo & Video","nameEn":"Photo & Video","__typename":"CategoryType"}],"__typename":"CategoryType"},"modified":"2023-08-28T03:38:11.567811+00:00","image":{"id":"1344086","filePath":"media/prints/319122/images/2757651_ac656dff-5065-497d-b676-259673dcc7f6/pxl_20221117_093734614.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"oSgKHQaYilCIaZiFiZqXiWeAZwV4","imageWidth":3072,"imageHeight":4080,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},"nsfw":false,"club":false,"price":null,"user":{"id":"170815","handle":"dimitar","verified":false,"dateVerified":null,"publicUsername":"dimitar","avatarFilePath":"media/auth/avatars/af/af7b203a-d766-492e-88fe-9bf1943ef636.jpg","badgesProfileLevel":{"profileLevel":12,"__typename":"BadgesProfileLevelType"},"__typename":"UserType","isHiddenForMe":false},"latestContestResult":null,"__typename":"PrintType"},{"id":"562035","name":"Compact tripod or camera desk clamp bracket","slug":"compact-tripod-or-camera-desk-clamp-bracket","ratingAvg":"0E-10","likesCount":12,"liked":null,"datePublished":"2023-08-25T13:34:01.725491+00:00","dateFeatured":null,"firstPublish":"2023-08-24T05:49:00.274928+00:00","downloadCount":64,"mmu":false,"category":{"id":"26","path":[{"id":"21","name":"Gadgets","nameEn":"Gadgets","__typename":"CategoryType"},{"id":"26","name":"Photo & Video","nameEn":"Photo & Video","__typename":"CategoryType"}],"__typename":"CategoryType"},"modified":"2023-08-25T13:34:01.751844+00:00","image":{"id":"2138233","filePath":"media/prints/562035/images/4504213_7c680575-1ff7-4c78-b7cc-3cca376408ce/pxl_20230824_054247042.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"3AcKFQLveIV6x1aHiEuIaHaQZwZ4","imageWidth":3072,"imageHeight":4080,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},"nsfw":false,"club":false,"price":null,"user":{"id":"170815","handle":"dimitar","verified":false,"dateVerified":null,"publicUsername":"dimitar","avatarFilePath":"media/auth/avatars/af/af7b203a-d766-492e-88fe-9bf1943ef636.jpg","badgesProfileLevel":{"profileLevel":12,"__typename":"BadgesProfileLevelType"},"__typename":"UserType","isHiddenForMe":false},"latestContestResult":null,"__typename":"PrintType"},{"id":"562135","name":"Desk clamp for mini tripod modular system","slug":"desk-clamp-for-mini-tripod-modular-system","ratingAvg":"0E-10","likesCount":9,"liked":null,"datePublished":"2024-12-19T13:14:49.074062+00:00","dateFeatured":null,"firstPublish":"2023-08-24T09:11:30.491797+00:00","downloadCount":63,"mmu":false,"category":{"id":"26","path":[{"id":"21","name":"Gadgets","nameEn":"Gadgets","__typename":"CategoryType"},{"id":"26","name":"Photo & Video","nameEn":"Photo & Video","__typename":"CategoryType"}],"__typename":"CategoryType"},"modified":"2024-12-19T13:14:49.110350+00:00","image":{"id":"2138590","filePath":"media/prints/562135/images/4504920_fbced24c-789a-4634-89e3-98e4fadd298c/pxl_20230824_084700190.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"ohgKHYT6Z3h9Z3c7hWlqhl+F/DXY","imageWidth":4080,"imageHeight":3072,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},"nsfw":false,"club":false,"price":null,"user":{"id":"170815","handle":"dimitar","verified":false,"dateVerified":null,"publicUsername":"dimitar","avatarFilePath":"media/auth/avatars/af/af7b203a-d766-492e-88fe-9bf1943ef636.jpg","badgesProfileLevel":{"profileLevel":12,"__typename":"BadgesProfileLevelType"},"__typename":"UserType","isHiddenForMe":false},"latestContestResult":null,"__typename":"PrintType"},{"id":"504424","name":"Parrot Teleprompter Lens Adapters","slug":"parrot-teleprompter-lens-adapters","ratingAvg":"0E-10","likesCount":4,"liked":null,"datePublished":"2023-06-18T20:17:59.336979+00:00","dateFeatured":null,"firstPublish":"2023-06-13T13:40:52.535209+00:00","downloadCount":27,"mmu":false,"category":{"id":"26","path":[{"id":"21","name":"Gadgets","nameEn":"Gadgets","__typename":"CategoryType"},{"id":"26","name":"Photo & Video","nameEn":"Photo & Video","__typename":"CategoryType"}],"__typename":"CategoryType"},"modified":"2023-06-18T20:17:59.350233+00:00","image":{"id":"1953051","filePath":"media/prints/504424/images/4096600_43c605f9-d2e6-4cb0-ab2f-90cdcad7229c/pxl_20230525_094432481.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"XRgOHQRnl4+Fx3ZIioeoZoqIz3r4","imageWidth":1428,"imageHeight":1896,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},"nsfw":false,"club":false,"price":null,"user":{"id":"170815","handle":"dimitar","verified":false,"dateVerified":null,"publicUsername":"dimitar","avatarFilePath":"media/auth/avatars/af/af7b203a-d766-492e-88fe-9bf1943ef636.jpg","badgesProfileLevel":{"profileLevel":12,"__typename":"BadgesProfileLevelType"},"__typename":"UserType","isHiddenForMe":false},"latestContestResult":null,"__typename":"PrintType"},{"id":"562072","name":"Minimal side desk cable clamp","slug":"minimal-side-desk-cable-clamp","ratingAvg":"0E-10","likesCount":2,"liked":null,"datePublished":"2023-08-24T09:04:50.977382+00:00","dateFeatured":null,"firstPublish":"2023-08-24T09:04:50.975672+00:00","downloadCount":10,"mmu":false,"category":{"id":"29","path":[{"id":"3","name":"Household","nameEn":"Household","__typename":"CategoryType"},{"id":"29","name":"Office","nameEn":"Office","__typename":"CategoryType"}],"__typename":"CategoryType"},"modified":"2023-08-24T09:04:50.993905+00:00","image":{"id":"2138555","filePath":"media/prints/562072/images/4504849_965af6ec-86c9-47a2-afbc-0dc9df03a719/pxl_20230824_085420866.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"IwgWDYKgWIeMl3iYeIeId6+793h4","imageWidth":4080,"imageHeight":3072,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},"nsfw":false,"club":false,"price":null,"user":{"id":"170815","handle":"dimitar","verified":false,"dateVerified":null,"publicUsername":"dimitar","avatarFilePath":"media/auth/avatars/af/af7b203a-d766-492e-88fe-9bf1943ef636.jpg","badgesProfileLevel":{"profileLevel":12,"__typename":"BadgesProfileLevelType"},"__typename":"UserType","isHiddenForMe":false},"latestContestResult":null,"__typename":"PrintType"},{"id":"504409","name":"Coldshoe mic adapter for Canon M6 Mark ii","slug":"coldshoe-mic-adapter-for-canon-m6-mark-ii","ratingAvg":"0E-10","likesCount":1,"liked":null,"datePublished":"2023-06-13T13:13:27.645709+00:00","dateFeatured":null,"firstPublish":"2023-06-13T13:10:36.770648+00:00","downloadCount":11,"mmu":false,"category":{"id":"26","path":[{"id":"21","name":"Gadgets","nameEn":"Gadgets","__typename":"CategoryType"},{"id":"26","name":"Photo & Video","nameEn":"Photo & Video","__typename":"CategoryType"}],"__typename":"CategoryType"},"modified":"2023-06-13T13:13:27.662629+00:00","image":{"id":"1953020","filePath":"media/prints/504409/images/4096527_de975ab3-1380-4db2-baaf-8a3cfa5feafd/pxl_20230520_082734214.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"GggKFQShd/dWyYqmmGlnhIOwOAl6","imageWidth":1428,"imageHeight":1896,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},"nsfw":false,"club":false,"price":null,"user":{"id":"170815","handle":"dimitar","verified":false,"dateVerified":null,"publicUsername":"dimitar","avatarFilePath":"media/auth/avatars/af/af7b203a-d766-492e-88fe-9bf1943ef636.jpg","badgesProfileLevel":{"profileLevel":12,"__typename":"BadgesProfileLevelType"},"__typename":"UserType","isHiddenForMe":false},"latestContestResult":null,"__typename":"PrintType"},{"id":"504441","name":"TELEPROMPTER PAD shorter camera base","slug":"teleprompter-pad-shorter-camera-base","ratingAvg":"0E-10","likesCount":0,"liked":null,"datePublished":"2023-06-15T04:03:11.099136+00:00","dateFeatured":null,"firstPublish":"2023-06-13T13:49:24.611682+00:00","downloadCount":7,"mmu":false,"category":{"id":"26","path":[{"id":"21","name":"Gadgets","nameEn":"Gadgets","__typename":"CategoryType"},{"id":"26","name":"Photo & Video","nameEn":"Photo & Video","__typename":"CategoryType"}],"__typename":"CategoryType"},"modified":"2023-06-15T04:03:11.116008+00:00","image":{"id":"1953095","filePath":"media/prints/504441/images/4096691_8f09e723-2bd1-4dce-8349-441c18c4d89c/pxl_20230528_071640375.jpg","rotation":0,"imageHash":"GggKDQD9WBq6WJXHiI2Hiv0wBj8Z","imageWidth":1428,"imageHeight":1896,"__typename":"PrintImageType"},"nsfw":false,"club":false,"price":null,"user":{"id":"170815","handle":"dimitar","verified":false,"dateVerified":null,"publicUsername":"dimitar","avatarFilePath":"media/auth/avatars/af/af7b203a-d766-492e-88fe-9bf1943ef636.jpg","badgesProfileLevel":{"profileLevel":12,"__typename":"BadgesProfileLevelType"},"__typename":"UserType","isHiddenForMe":false},"latestContestResult":null,"__typename":"PrintType"}],"featured":false,"__typename":"HighlightedModelsType"},"designer":false,"stripeAccountActive":null,"membership":null},"contests":[],"contestsResults":[],"prusameterPoints":null,"latestContestResult":null}}}