uCameraCube

Intro

uCameraCube is a parametric camera module build using OpenSCAD uCube library. It is build with Raspberry Pi and Raspberry Pi camera and comes in three versions, which vary in the type of optics used.

Parts

A uCameraCube is assembled from the following parts:

uCameraCube Overview

Parameters

• CubeSize cubeSize [defaultCubeSize] - size of the camera cube

• String moduleType ["explode"] - type of module assembly. Use "explode" for preview and "flat" for STL export.

• String type ['thin-lens', 'M12', 'photo'] - the type of the camera cube.

• Lens / M12Lens / PhotoLens lens - the lens being used

• TMountAdapter adapter - a T-Mount adapter (only for T-Mount version)

• Number cameraOffset - offset of the camera from the back uFace. For optional adjustment of the camera geometry (only for T-Mount and Thin Lens versions)

Thin Lens version

This is the most simple camera module, which uses an ordinary thin lens. For uCube with the default size a lens with up to 40mm in diameter and flange focal distance up to 50 mm can be used. Makes a simple telescopic camera.

M12 Lens version

This version utilises a broad range of M12 CCTV lenses.

T-Mount version

This version comes with a T-mount adapter. It can accept any T-Mount photo objective and other photo objectives, if you have a T-Mount adapter. Alternatively can be attached to a camera port on a microscope.

Design instructions

1. Download and install OpenSCAD.

2. Download uCube Library.

3. Open a new .scad file and in the uCube directory, and import the library:

include <uCube.scad>

4. Create an instance of a lens you would like to use. This can be either a Lens, M12Lens or PhotoLens:

// f - Focal length
// r - Radius
// minH - Minimal thickness of the lens ( at the edge )
// maxH - Maximal thickness of the lens ( in the middle )
thinLens = Lens( f = 25, r = 12.5, minH = 2, maxH = 5 );
// f - Back focal length
// threadH - Height of the threaded part
// headH - Height of the non-threaded part
// headR - Radius of the non-threaded part
m12Lens = M12Lens( f = 5.4, threadH = 11, headH = 4, headR = 7.2 );
// ffd - flange focal distance
photoLens = PhotoLens( ffd = 35 );

2. Create a uCameraCube module

uCameraCube(  type = "M12", lens = m12Lens );

for M12 Lens version.

uCameraCube( type = "photo", lens = photoLens, aperture = Aperture( shape="circle", size = [10,10] ) );

for Photo Lens version.

uCameraCube( type = "thin-lens", lens = thinLens);

for Thin Lens version.