DIY build: inexpensive ARCA mount for Magnetospeed sporter

[Gregor.Samsa]

Gents, I just cobbled together a pretty solid mount to isolate my Magnetospeed sporter from the barrel. This cost about $60 and took about an hour of my time. So far, it seems pretty solid. This mount is comprised of photographic mount components based around 15mm carbon fiber tube rods sourced on ebay:

• 1x adapter plate Square clamp for ARCA ball head $9.39
• 2x smallrig single rod clamp 15mm rail clamp connectors $10.66
• 1x 2pack 15mm carbon fiber rods, 16" $19.59 (you only need one so give on to a buddy or try to source a single pack)
• 1x C-clamp with 1/4" screw adjustable camera mount $30.92 (this clamp works great but is large. in the future I will look for something similar but smaller)

 

[6.5SH]

Nice adaptation of gear! Have a pic of the assembled project?

EDIT:
If someone needed picatinny instead of arca SmallRig has these:

Quick Release NATO Clamp

Quick Release NATO Clamp【SmallRig - DIY Camera Rigs, Stabilizers and Other Camera Accessories】

www.smallrig.com

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

To mount the Sporter, I removed the strap and all clamping components. The sporters mounting body is tapered and unsupported plastic. To clamp it tightly in the mount would likely be unstable and cause the plastic body to crack. I made piece out of 1/2" plywood to fill the cavity inside the mount. I measured the taper then sanded the wood to fit the profile. I then made a couple pieces out of 1/4" plywood to offset the taper on the outside of the mount to allow the sides to be parallel with each other and mount solidly in the clamp. A little bit of black Krylon and it looks fairly decent.

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

A little trial and error and I was able to align everything really well. One thing that I didn't take into consideration was the taper of the forearm. I wound up gluing a small shim to the plywood piece to counteract the taper. You can see the sensor is aligned with the bore axis with the straw inserted. Al the plywood can be removed and the orignal mounting pieces can be reinstalled in a minute.

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

Nice adaptation of gear! Have a pic of the assembled project?

EDIT:
If someone needed picatinny instead of arca SmallRig has these:

Quick Release NATO Clamp

Quick Release NATO Clamp【SmallRig - DIY Camera Rigs, Stabilizers and Other Camera Accessories】

www.smallrig.com

yeah, I'm slow as molasses posting this. the picatinny adapter is sweet too!

 

[Lost_Phil]

I don't know how cheep you need, but Wiser Precision makes a mounting kit for around 100$ to 145$ for the Magnetospeed units.

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

I don't know how cheep you need, but Wiser Precision makes a mounting kit for around 100$ to 145$ for the Magnetospeed units.

Yeah I saw those and they I am sure they are more refined and better than what I put together. I actually was browsing eBay while at my daughter’s tennis class and wound up buying a bunch of stuff to see if it would work.

 

[1911Shootist]

edit - dammit, just realized this is a Sporter specific thread. Most of this still applies except the chrono attachment method.

Here's my Ghetto-Ops mount for the V3... Came out way better than I could've imagined. Super stiff, easy to adjust. $98.



12" rods work well for my chassis and barrels with suppressors, but are long for unsupressed applications. I might pick up some ~6" shorties just for options.

Parts List:

• Arca Clamp with slotted holes:
  • Amazon product ASIN B085CCP2ZN
  • 
• Rod Clamp / cheese plate:
  • Amazon product ASIN B077JP45ML
  • 
• Dual Rod Clamps:
  • Amazon product ASIN B075M52W52
  • 
• 12" Rod pair:
  • Amazon product ASIN B00AZFPK2I
  • 
• Rod mount to chrono:
  • Amazon product ASIN B097C3847H
  • 
• Rod Stops:
  • Amazon product ASIN B00IMRBPUW
  • 
• Qty(2) 5x12mm button head screws and nylock nuts for mounting the chrono. Some flavor of SAE hardware may work, I just use science hardware and units when possible. 5mm fit the existing holes in the Magnetospeed base very well.
• Qty(2) 1/4-20 x 1/2" Cap head screws for mounting the Arca clamp to the cheese plate.