Seek Thermal Compact Imager Mount

Background (the story)

This model was made for a friend who was using a stick hot-glued to a cheap phone tripod and would use a rubber band to mount the imager to the stick. Seek Thermal Compact Imagers are commonly used for PCB board repair, which is what this design is intended for. 

How It's Used:

The compact imager is inserted into the camera cover, a connecting cord is ran through the channel along the mounting rod, the cord goes behind the system and plugs into a phone in rest on the phone mount portion. An app is opened on the phone that allows the user to view thermal images through the thermal imager. The mounting rod is connected to a height adjustment component that uses a threaded system and a tab to raise or lower the camera mount system. The holding bar is also able to be pushed in or pulled out for easier adjustment for viewing. 

Design Features:

Phone stand for a cellphone to rest during use.

Hole below phone stand for connecting cord to slide in without any warping or deforming of the cord.

Long thin base for use with a mat to go over to help stabilize the whole system.

Sliding insert uses threads to twist up and down for height adjustment for viewing ease and accuracy.

Sliding insert has a notch for ease of use when putting your cable through.

Holding rod has a channel running through the top so the cable can rest comfortably without any damage or kinking.

Imager Cover is snug but not too snug, can rotate from a vertical orientation or a horizontal orientation. 

Print and Assembly Instructions:

See photos for slice alignment and support suggestions. 

All parts excluding the Imager Cover should be printed in PLA with any infill amount, I use 15% with a .15 mm layer height for most all parts. 

Imager Cover should be made out of PETG or more rigid. I found that PLA would twist and break in the rod mount. PETG does not twist and deform like PLA did. Supports will be needed no matter the positioning in your slicer. I had the Imager cover printed on its side with the open side portion up, so support material was only needed for the insert and for a small section in the internals of the Imager cover. In Prusa Slic3r I used supports on snug and everywhere.

Sliding Insert should use a support enforcer for the overhangs. It is VERY important to not have supports on the threads for any threaded portion of this design. 

Bottom Control Mount and Height Adjustment Screw: 

Bottom control mount is the tab for the threaded sliding system. No supports, No Brim. .15 layer height works just fine for me, lower layer height could make threads work a little smoother for both components. 

Height Adjustment Screw should have no supports and should be oriented so the wider end is on the print bed, the narrower threading is for the bottom control mount. Orienting the screw with the wide end down will allow for no supports needed. I do recommend using a 2mm brim for the screw since it is fairly tall and narrow. 

Holding Rod For this portion I have printed both in a horizontal and vertical positioning, I found that horizontal position takes significantly less time but requires support on the base of the model, not necessarily for the insert hole for the Imager Cover. I found with my printer bridging parameters were fine for the insert hole. If printing vertically use a brim with a minimum width of 2mm with or without supports depending on your machines ability to handle bridging parameters. They are very small bridges, most machines should be able to handle it without supports. 

Phone Stand and System Mount should be printed using supports everywhere on snug, pretty straight forward. 

Assembly Instructions:

The primary instruction is going to be around the Sliding Insert, Bottom Control Mount and Height Adjustment Screw. View image 15.

After you have all pieces printed, assemble the Bottom Control Mount and Height Adjustment Screw together by first inserting the Height Adjustment Screw into the Phone stand and System Mount hole for the adjustment screw. Super glue and thread the Bottom Control Mount to the Height Adjustment Screw. If you do not super glue these two parts together you will have a hard time actually adjusting height, due to the fact that if you are turning the system it will loosen the thread when trying to increase height. DO NOT super glue prior to inserting the two components into the Phone Stand and System Mount. This part can be a little tricky, be sure that you have the Height Adjustment Screw and the Bottom Control Mount Inside the designated slot in the Phone Stand and System Mount. If done properly you should not be able to remove the Adjustment screw from the System Mount. 

After this you will use the thread to insert the Sliding insert into the System mount. Spin the Bottom Control Mount to get the Sliding Insert into the right position. 

For general printing instruction, if you do not want different colors then you can print all parts excluding the Imager Cover in one print. I will include a pre sliced file for your use using Prusament PLA filament stock settings for a MK3. I also will include a file Using Hatchbox PETG settings for the Imager Cover. If you are going to print all parts (excluding Imager Cover) in one, be sure to apply all custom support and brim settings into your slice. Again the important aspects are that anything threaded should NOT include supports, and the Height Adjustment screw should certainly use a brim with a minimum of 2mm.