3D Printed Raspberry Pi Security Camera System

Details

This project is using the Motion Image for Raspberry Pi. I have linked to the Github for the original writer of this program. The main reason to place this project here is to discuss industrial design and 3D Printing. I have created a shell that emulates many security cameras on the market. There are several projects that even utilize dummy camera shells that refit a rpi and camera inside the purchased body. This is an exercise in producing files for the 3D printer that both look and function as a factory produced product. This serves as a simple argument against people who claim that 3D printers are merely for trinkets and not for useful designs. This shows that a person can save money by producing a consumer product on your desktop. I will add project logs that explain and illustrate my process of using Autodesk 123Design to produce files that are both useful and attractive. I will also try to illustrate how I design the parts to be printed without support.

Components

1 × Raspberry Pi B

1 × Sainsmart NOIR Camera for RPI

1 × 5V 2A Power Supply

1 × Edimax Wifi or your favorite flavor

1 × 3D Printed Parts at my Thingiverse Link

Project Logs

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3D Printing Parts Instructions
tlankford01 • 09/13/2015 at 18:24 • 0 comments

I will try to be clear and concise in these instructions to help you have a successful print the first time. I have placed the pictures in the top bar in the order of the download on the Thingiverse page. I will also have the instructions and names in that order in this step. It is not required to print in this order. In fact, I printed the V1_AV_CAM_ Bottom.stl first and the V1_AV_CAM_Mount.stl second. This let me get my electronics in place first. Most of the parts are unsupported but they are all easy to remove the support from if you follow these instructions. Thank you for following along with my Instructable this far.
V1_AV_CAM_Lens_Mount.stl Print with 5 bottom and 5 Top layers, 3 layers, 20% infill. This should actually print the piece solid. It is only 2mm tall. NO support is required.
V1_AV_CAM_ Top.stl This is the tallest piece at 175mm. If your printer can not print this tall you may have to lay the piece down and print with supports. If you can print as it sits it does not require supports and only needs a 5mm Brim. 3 shells, 3 layers top and bottom and 20% infill.
V1_AV_CAM_Mount.stl This piece needs support with 5mm spacing. there will be a small amount of support under the actual camera board mount edges that is hard to get to. It is not necessary to remove this material. This mount is for the sainsmart noir camera. It does not fit the raspicam board. I will probably make a piece for it later.
V1_AV_CAM_Back.stl The back is printed as it sits. it does need support at 5mm. A 5mm brim is also helpful with this piece. 3 shells 3layers top and bottom 20% infill.
V1_AV_CAM_Bottom.stl This is the main piece that all the others are built around. I printed it first myself. It does not need supports or brim. just 3 shells 5 layers top and bottom 20% infill.
The final 3 pieces are for the wall mount. They are printed at 3 layers 3 shells and 20% infill
V1_AV_CAM_Base_Mount.stl requires a 5mm raft and 5mm spaces support. The other two pieces are unsupported but with a 5mm brim.
Designing Parts for 3D printing
tlankford01 • 09/13/2015 at 18:20 • 0 comments

STL's for Camera
The Lankford Group's 3D Hub
In the above link you will go to my thingiverse page and be able to download the files to 3D print this object. If you do not have a 3D Printer you can go to 3D Hubs and order from my hub or from a hub closer to you. I will give the actual instructions for 3D printing on the next step. This step is more of a discussion of designing parts for additive manufacturing while adhering to industrial design principals
The pictures for this step are 3 of the 8 pieces that are required to build this camera housing. I wanted to show what I am starting to do in my designs to look more and more commercial. The goal is to create an item that is virtually indistinguishable in quality and appearance, from an item that can be purchased on the market.
The disc shaped piece is the inner camera cone and recess to hold the 38mm acrylic protective lens. On the side we can see in the rendering, we also see the screw hole supports and fitted recess for the actual camera board. Adding these make for a strong piece but also shelling out the design also makes for a lighter piece that looks like a piece that came from a factory. Lighter pieces also translate into less filament used and faster printing times.
The second piece is actually the bottom mount of the entire camera cylinder housing. It is an exterior finished piece as well as structural. To make a piece strong and attractive we fillet (curve) the edges especially perpendicular support pieces. This smooths everything but also provides base support to cross connected pieces. Finally we recess our screw locations and we use stainless steel button head screws. The screw heads are exposed so these will not rust and they are also attractive since the head is rounded.
Our final example is the main housing. it is printed without supports and is strong and has integrated hardware locations to secure everything in place. The Raspberry Pi is secured to its own mounting posts and the wires are all routed through a specific channel to keep them secure, dry, neat and out of the way. We will see more examples in the printing and assembly steps.