Articulated Camera Arm
by JeremySCook in Workshop > Laser Cutting
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Articulated Camera Arm

Articulated camera arm fastens down to a 2x4, and allows you to position your camera in "infinite" positions. Nominally cut with a laser cutter and 3D-printed. Could also be made manually, or with just a laser cutter or 3D printer by itself... Though using a printer would take a looonng time.
Video:
![Articulated Bench Camera Mount [Laser Cut]](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FV3/AVDX/KLI0PZ3J/FV3AVDXKLI0PZ3J.jpg&filename=Articulated Bench Camera Mount [Laser Cut])
Supplies and Tools
Materials:
- 1/4" MDF
- 1/4 - 20 carriage bolts:
-2" long for main links, 2 1/2" long for links that straddle 2x4, ~1" long for ball head - 1/4 - 20 nuts, optionally 1/2" nuts
- Optional: Filament (if using 3D printer)
- Optional: Ball head (discussed later)
Tools:
- Laser cutter (my intro to 60W unit)
- Wrench
- Vise
- Optionally 1/4-20 tap
Cut

Cut out parts per designs found on GitHub (DXF and LightBurn formats available).
STL file for ball head also available there if you'd like to print.
Optional: Nut Knob

Using a vise, press the 1/4-20 nut into the 1/2 inch nut to create a sort of "knob." Clean the threads with 1/4-20 tap.
You could also use a wing nut, or possibly even just use a standard 1/4-20 nut, but this would make it more difficult to secure.
Assemble

Assemble the links using carriage bolts and nut knobs. Shown here is a section that turns the rotational axes at 90ยบ, allowing you to move your camera in a vertical as well as horizontal direction.
Affix to 2x4 and Add Camera


Attach camera to 2x4, using the longer links to straddle it, locking the assembly down with nut knobs.
- Shelf setup is part of a 2x4 basics bench build [Amazon]. They supply the plastic framing, you supply lumber. Works really well IMO.
It's possible to simply screw a camera into the 1/4-20 threads on the end of the 3D-printed piece, but a better solution is to use a ball head. Different options:
- Small Rig ball head [~ $5 eBay]
- Joby ball head w/ quick-release [~$40 Amazon]
- 3D-printable Joby adapter (can be used with small rig device, but I didn't find it to work quite as well as actual Joby product)
Note that Amazon links are affiliate, meaning I get a small percentage of any purchases.
Thanks for reading!