Missing the obvious..

[ChrisD]

So I spent 3 hours yesterday designing a macro slider that I could produce on a 3D printer.. It eventually dawned on me that I already had a linear table on the printer that could do sub-mm steps!

Well here's a couple of stacked shots using the printers bed as a stage. 1st one at 0.8mm steps, 22mm deep. 2nd super-macro at 0.2mm steps 6mm total. Mr hairy 'n' scary has been dead in the shed for some time and looking a bit dusty.

 

[kev7d]

I don’t know what you mean but the bug look mean and ugly.  

[ChrisD]

Essentially a glorified hot-melt glue gun CNC controled. Squirts plastic in layers to make usefull stuff, or toys. 

[kev7d]

Looks flash to me.  

[FUJI]

 

Impressive end result Chris..

I think I get it....

‘instead of purchasing a dedicated expensive automatic linear macro table, Chris has used the one already existing on his 3D printer....it can be set to move forwards in tiny steps....exactly what a macro table does.

I assume that he secured  his camera with macro lens on the printer table, and then after focusing the first step....set the mechanism to move a tiny step forward for each exposure, leaving to an all-round focussed macro shot?

The results are excellent....I bet TIPF member....Weary-crab ....will be very interested....perhaps you should PM him Chris ?

 

FUJI

[kev7d]

Aha. I think I am beginning to understand.

[ChrisD]

Spot on Fuji, the only difference being i had the camera on a tripod and used the printers bed as a stage for the subject (less inertia when stepping). Need to work on the lighting setup to reduce the glow (any advice appreciated). Images were stacked with Helicon Focus.

I'm working on designing a clip-on bed extention to make working close to the lens a little easier, might incorporate a few attachment points for mounting subjects. I'll post a link to the design on Thingiverse once completed, in case someone else here is mad enough to get into 3D printing.

[kev7d]

Now this is clever stuff Chris. Nice one.

[WearyLandcrab]

Brilliant piece of ingenuity, look foreword to seeing more. Try using a good light diffuser, I use a laminated sheet of baking paper over the subject this will reduce hot spots

[ChrisD]

Thanks WLC and everyone. The ring flash I'm using is TTL only with limited exposure adjustment. Difficult to diffuse due to short working distance. I'll try dialing it down to min' and sync' an external overhead speedlite with a diffuser.

[ChrisD]

Bed extension completed. Decided against clips as blue-tack/floral foam is more versatile. Print files here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2876685

 

[Ryewolf]

That's an interesting setup Chris, I've never tried any sort of focus stacking.