Inside Our Custom Camera Mounts: A Behind‑the‑Scenes Look at Time‑Lapse Production

If you’ve followed our blog or Instagram, you may have noticed the captivating time‑lapses, photographs, and videos filmed on or around our build plate. Capturing these shots with standard equipment would be nearly impossible—our cameras must stay rigidly fixed while the printer’s moving parts glide over them. To solve this, we designed and 3‑d printed bespoke mounts for our GoPros and iPod Touch, ensuring a seamless, reliable workflow.

From the moment the project began, we iterated on each design to meet our strict criteria: secure attachment, no interference with the print head, and optimal camera angles. Below you’ll find a detailed overview of each mount, plus STL files so you can replicate the setup in your own lab.

Custom Camera Tripod

When hands are full, a purpose‑built tripod is indispensable. Instead of hunting for a commercial solution that fits our height and movement requirements, we designed a lightweight tripod that could be printed in under a day. Combining simple printed legs with standard hardware, we achieved the exact specifications we needed for steady, hands‑free shots.

STLs: Tripod Leg, Tripod Apex

GoPro Mount 1 – Hero Version

Our first GoPro mount was engineered to capture the entire build plate from a single front‑on angle. The mount slides onto the build plate, keeping the camera far enough to encompass the full field of view while keeping the mount itself out of the frame. This design eliminates the need for manual repositioning and ensures consistent, high‑quality time‑lapse footage.

STL: GoPro Hero Build Plate Mount

GoPro Mount 2 – Session Version

When we acquired the GoPro Session, we needed a mount that could capture footage from a corner angle rather than the front. The second design is smaller, fully contained, and features a flexible clip to secure the camera more tightly. It slides onto the build plate’s corner, positioning the lens to view the entire print while staying clear of moving parts.

STL: GoPro Session Build Plate Mount

iPod Touch Mount

Our latest addition is an iPod Touch mount, enabling instant, high‑quality time‑lapse capture with built‑in editing and upload capabilities. The mount is slim enough to fit beneath the Mark Two’s cover, and it integrates a custom case and detachable struts that keep the device at an optimal angle—both on the build plate and on a tabletop.

STLs: iPod Touch 6th Gen Case, iPod Touch Case Strut

These custom mounts form the backbone of the engaging visual content you see on our social channels. Stay tuned for more behind‑the‑scenes insights as we continue to refine our imaging solutions.