I wanted to create a 3D printed mount to attach Canon EF lenses to a P8079HP night vision tube. All models where printed using a Bambu Lab A1 mini FDM printer. All prints where made using a 0.20mm layer height with a 0.40mm nozzle.
As far as I understand the P8079HP uses 3 image intensifiers and is therefore of the cascade type of tube. More recent tubes appear to make use of ‘microchannel plates’ which release multiple electrons for each incoming electron, through the use of glass with holes at angles (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchannel_plate for more information) – these type of tubes appear substantially smaller.
The following was based on the OpenSCAD model from – https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1029872#files to allow attaching a Canon EF lens, however it didn’t appear to have locking tabs, to lock the lens in place. The stringing on the bottom of the model appears mainly due to not using supports when printing.
You can see I added locking tabs in the following model, to hold the lens in place. I printed the following part using SUNLU PETG for a slightly higher Heat Deflection Temperature.
I then added a holder to allow attaching an 18650 battery holder.
I then added an additional compartment to hold a toggle switch.
You can see the mount attached to my night vision tube in the following photo.
I bought the following ‘5V Step-Up/Step-Down Voltage Regulator’ (https://www.pololu.com/product/2870) to power the night vision tube from the 18650 battery.
You can find the source code for the OpenSCAD model here – https://github.com/anfractuosity/darkplace
To Do
- Attach copper washer to the ground connector of the night vision tube (Unfortunately I found I wasn’t able to solder directly to the ground connector, even after filing it slightly)
- Obtain filament dryer to help reduce stringing