3D printed Old Style Camera theater prop
By Anar on 22/02/2022, 16:02 - Print - Permalink
Being involved in a theater play that takes place in 1920, we needed an old style camera.
After searching a real one without success, I decided to make our own by combining 3D printing, woodworking and painting.
Here is the result....
In June we should perform a theater play that takes place in 1920 in which I have a few roles. But one of my roles is also to make theater props and decoration items. Unfortunately we are just a small theater company with no budget so I have to find ideas and try to make theater props and decoration items based on low-cost and recycled materials. Among them we needed an old-style camera. So I decided I will simply 3D print it.
Here is the 3D modeling phase.
While being quiet simple, the overall size is a bit challenging for 3D printing and I must find a way to reduce printing times. The most time consuming and challenging part being the fellows... I first simulated a "one shot" 3D print of the fellows that gave me a 2 days print time (48h). Wouldn't it be possible to reduce that ?
After a bit of brainstorming I decided to cut it in 2 halves at 45° (diagonal) which could be printed completely empty and without the need for supports. This solution dramatically reduced the print time down.
The other big square shaped parts couldn't be optimized as much but the longest one was about 6 hours which is still OK with me.
Once printed, I sanded the parts and painted them (except the parts that I already printed in black PLA and the parts that will be covered with wood marquetry) and made sure they all fit well together.
After that I glued thin wood marquetry panels (from wallnut wood) on the PLA white parts with neoprene glue and gave them an epoxy protection coating.
After assembling I think the final result looks great and should do the trick in our theater show in June.
