Redneck 3D Printing

[Gone in 60]

Ok, had to share this one, 'cause I'm sort of surprised how well it worked out.

I'm now obsessed with camera positioning on my helmets for the best forward-facing view. Maybe I've been watching too many moto-vloggers on YouTube like Itchy Boots. My initial intention for mounting a camera was just to record footage of my commute incase something bad happens.

My Scorpion 420, which I detailed in another post, does not have a single square inch that isn't a compound curve or angle, and the visor is a center-grab. My only option was to stick the camera on the side. It was ok, but after looking at the footage, I got a large portion of the side of the helmet.

Looking at a few YouTube videos where people made custom-fit GoPro mounts with epoxy, I figured it couldn't be that hard. In my last job, I used JB Water Weld to make all kinds of fixtures and mounts for trade show displays.

Here is my project in pictures. Tested it out this morning, and it was great to have a clear forward view. The camera is slightly to the right of center, so I can reach up with my left hand to open and close the visor without touching it.

I grabbed the photo from my ride in this morning. It shows the lovely freeway widening project underway on the 405, and I caught this loader in mid-dump into the truck.

[peterbaron]

Looks good and functional, Gi60

[the Ferret]

Clear view

[max]

That is a nice low profile support Gone, looks good and a surprising small amount of up tilt for the gopro.
I suppose you check "recording" in your mirror do you?
My mount allows to disconnect from the helmet in an "event" ( see michael shumacher ) and horizon adjustment which i check whilst sitting on a flat surface.

It is a learning process to optimize results to the standard you're happy with, i found that a heavy overcast sky overwhelms the video so i tilt down on those days or not use the cam altogether, it depends what the footage is used for.

Sun in the back video always looks nice, good progress

[pekingduck]

Gone in 60, that looks like a factory piece! I've never heard of JB Water Weld - I have so many questions. Is it a moldable putty you can work with your hands? Is it sand-able or file-able? And paintable? And how did you attach it to the helmet?

[peterbaron]

[url=https://www.google.ca/search?source=hp&ei=qFZlX6X1LZDp_QbW85-4Bw&q=jb+water+weld&oq=jb+wat&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQARgAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCC4yAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIA​DoLCC4QsQMQgwEQkwI6CwguELEDEMcBEKMCOg4ILhCxAxCDARDHARCjAjoICC4QsQMQgwE6BQguELEDO​gUIABCxAzoICC4QxwEQrwE6CwguEMcBEK8BEJMCUJYIWLAXYO8saABwAHgAgAGbAYgBxwWSAQMxLjWYA​QCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab]https://www.google.ca/search?source=hp&e...ent=psy-ab

...and watch youtube how it's done

[pekingduck]

[url=https://www.google.ca/search?source=hp&ei=qFZlX6X1LZDp_QbW85-4Bw&q=jb+water+weld&oq=jb+wat&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQARgAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCC4yAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIA​DoLCC4QsQMQgwEQkwI6CwguELEDEMcBEKMCOg4ILhCxAxCDARDHARCjAjoICC4QsQMQgwE6BQguELEDO​gUIABCxAzoICC4QxwEQrwE6CwguEMcBEK8BEJMCUJYIWLAXYO8saABwAHgAgAGbAYgBxwWSAQMxLjWYA​QCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab]https://www.google.ca/search?source=hp&e...ent=psy-ab

...and watch youtube how it's done

Yep, something else I need (knead?) to add to my Amazon list. I've used something called Suguru moldable glue, but its real expensive and only works okay.

[Gone in 60]

JB Water Weld comes in a roll with the two parts next to each other. You cut off however much you need and roll it around in your fingers to mix it together. Unlike glue it has the consistency of Play Doh.

I keep a rag with alcohol or thinner handy, because your hands will be very sticky when your ready to stick it where you want it. You have about 10-15 minutes of working time and it is hard in a little more than an hour.

I did this at work during lunch with what I had available. I roughed up the back side of a flat GoPro mount with 60 grit paper, stuck a ball of JB to it and mashed the mount against the helmet. I had first put the slickest vinyl tape we had on the helmet so the dry glue would easily pull off with the perfect matching curves on the back side.

It sands like plastic or wood. I rough shaped it with 100 grit, final with 400, and hit it with a coat of gloss black spray paint. I have some 3M VHB tape that’s either the same or very similar to the stuff GoPro uses on their mounts. In any case, it’s not just the kind you can pick up at a hardware store, and it stuck to the dry JB Weld as well as it would stick to plastic. The tape made it stick to the helmet as well as a regular GoPro mount.

I've drilled this glue for display fixtures but I wouldn’t trust tapping it for a screw.

[pekingduck]

Thanks for the particular details. I had to mold a secondary horn button below the turn signal switch on my Grom and the results were mediocre. I'll try again with the JB stuff.

[Gone in 60]

Hey Peking, that earthquake hit while I was typing last night, did you feel it?

Good luck with your horn button. You could probably make a blob that’s a close shape and file and sand it to what you need.

Man, I miss the 3D printer from my last job...