Kyle Shepherd

3D modeling dash camera mount

I had obtained a dash camera for my car. However, it was designed to attach to the windshield using a rubber suction cup. After a month sitting in the hot Texas sun, the suction cup degraded and could no longer hold the dash camera.

Therefore, I needed a new mounting system for the camera. The rear view mirror post provided a nice anchor point, but I needed to design a clamp to interface between the camera and the rear view mirror post. Conveniently, I could separate the suction cup from the dash camera, and use the built-in bolt hole in the dash camera enclosure to attach my own mount.

I was at my Oak Ridge National Laboratory internship, next to the KnoxMakers Makerspace, so I had easy access to 3D printers. Using OpenSCAD, I designed the dash camera mount using measurements of the rear view mirror post and the dash camera enclosure. I stuck with simple geometry, cubes and cylinders. I used a 2-part clamp tightened together by two machine screws and nuts.

 1$fn=100;
 2rotate([90,00,00])
 3difference(){
 4    // Positive Shape
 5    union(){      
 6    translate([0,0,0]) cube([20.8,15,19.25]); 
 7    translate([-4,0,15]) cube([28.8,15,29]);
 8    translate([-16,0,25]) cube([52.8,15,9]);
 9    }
10      
11    // Subtracted Shapes
12    
13    // center hole
14    translate([10.4,0,15+29/2]) rotate([90,00,00]) cylinder(r=10.035,h=31,center=true);
15    
16    // camera enclosure bracket
17    translate([4,0,0]) cube([12.8,15,15]);
18
19    // split halves
20    translate([-16,0,29]) cube([52.8,15,1]);
21    
22    // Screw Holes
23    translate([15,7.5,7.5]) rotate([00,90,00]) cylinder(r=1.5,h=30,center=true);
24    translate([-10,7.5,20]) rotate([00,00,00]) cylinder(r=1.5,h=30,center=true);
25    translate([30.8,7.5,20]) rotate([00,00,00]) cylinder(r=1.5,h=30,center=true);
26}

Using Slic3r, I converted the exported STL file into Gcode for the 3D printer to use.

I made the hole for the rear view mirror post too precise. When fully clamped, the mount fit around the post perfectly, but applied no clamping pressure to keep the mount in place. Gluing foam padding on the inside of the hole allowed the mount to grip onto the rear view mirror post.