I have put more adapter designs on the Shapeways and Scuplteo websites. As before, all the adapters are royalty free – I get no profit on any sales.
Here are the designs. The leftmost one (clip-on #1) is the design that has been available for a while. All the others are new. The new designs were prompted by concerns that the original clip-on might come loose in rough driving. That has not actually been a problem in my experience. The original clip-on is easy to install and stays in place during all kinds of driving. Therefore, I do not actually recommend any of the new designs, but they work well and are available if you want to try them. They just do not solve any actual problem!
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Bolt-on #1 uses two metric M3 by 8mm bolts, with nuts and washers, to fasten the two pieces tightly to the BlackVue. Slightly smaller UTS #4-40 by 3/8 inch bolts will also work. At least one forum contributor found the design aesthetically offensive (as did I), so I created bolt-on #2.
Note: UTS stands for Unified Thread Standard, which is a common standard in Canada and the US. Sometimes you will see instead UNC or UNF, which in addition specify that the threads are coarse (UNC) or fine (UNF).
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Bolt-on #2 uses much smaller UTS #1-72 by 1/4 inch bolts, with nuts, and washers. Slightly smaller metric M1.6 by 6mm bolts will also work. The smaller bolts and adapter flanges, compared to bolt-on #1, are more pleasing to the eye. However, the smaller bolts/nuts/washers may be more difficult to find.
Comparison of bolt-on #1 and bolt-on #2
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Bolt-on #3 consists of a large U-shape that fits almost entirely around the BlackVue body. The second adapter piece that fits around the lens barrel then bolts onto the U-shape. The U-shape has embedded into it brass threaded inserts for the bolts to bolt into. The hardware may be difficult to find. I could not find suitable small metric threaded inserts, and instead used E-Z Lok part 260-002-BR, which has UNC #2-56 threads. The two bolts are UNC #2-56 by 1/4 inch. The threaded insert fits tightly into the U-shape. Long-term, I do not know if the threaded inserts might cause cracks in the U-shape. The plastic of the U-shape, however, seems tough, flexible, and not-at-all brittle. If you
really want to use this design, send me a private message and we’ll see what we can do about the hardware. Assembly needs some care and patience.
Direct front view. Bolt heads almost hidden.
Close-up showing flange of brass threaded insert
Adapter parts before attaching to BlackVue.
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Clip-on #2 keeps the bolt-on idea of having a plastic ring going entirely around and tightly gripping the BlackVue body. However, I was able to eliminate the need for any nuts or bolts or threaded inserts! The big adapter piece slips around the lens barrel and BlackVue body in the usual way. The small adapter piece then snaps into place between the BlackVue body and the big piece, and it closes the gap in the big piece, completing the ring. Ridges in the big piece fit into grooves in the small piece to further secure the fit. The fully assembled structure is surprisingly rigid. Long-term, I do not know if the two spring-like parts of the big piece, reaching from the front of the BlackVue around to the back, might relax their tension a bit. This tension is what keeps the adapter tightly in place. Fitting the pieces in place is a puzzle or a test of intelligence!
(not really...)
Side view.
Back view.
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Shapeways page:
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/ErewhonGadgets
The Shapeways page has a “Download Model” button so you can download the adapter STL design file and print it yourself.
Sculpteo page:
http://www.sculpteo.com/en/s/markfisher58958/