Made Myself a Tripod Table

[thaflash_la]

This was more of an excuse to design and build than anything. I've barely used it, but it's been a fun build and I actually want to improve it even though I don't have much use for it:

You can kind of see where I'm going with this, aim at an object with the spotter, shift over to the rangefinder, and use the base to adjust your point of aim to wherever you were looking through the spotter.

I started off with these cheap clamps:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KYEO70Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And I made a jig to drill holes to mount them onto my bases:

Next step was the "aiming" base, and I was inspired by the older Elcan optics.

Left and right adjustments in the front, and up and down is in the back.

Went through a few design changes getting things to line up and settled back on this one:

Video of it in action here:


I plan to release the files on this, but I'm not completely happy with it yet. I'm going to add a swivel to both adjustments so you can get the full range of motion without putting stress on the parts, and I'm going to make it bigger overall for greater stability. I want the plate to hug the clamps. I might do something to make the aluminum plate look less like scrap... but that might be stretching it for me. I definitely want to make a remote fire for the rangefinder so it doesn't move as much when ranging distant objects as well.

 

[DUTCH84]

Great idea! I have been pondering a way (similar to this) to sync my spotter with my range finder. Now you gave me another idea on how to do this. Please share the design when you feel it is finished.

 

[thaflash_la]

Thanks. I definitely will. I’ll probably even try to get this iteration up if I can’t get the time to work on the evolution this weekend.

 

[flyer]

I like this, it's very close to what I need for my binocular mount.

I need to get from a photographic cheese plate with a 9mm square hole pattern of 1/4-20 threaded holes to an Outdoorsmans binocular tripod adapter (with a dovetail base and a 1/4-20 threaded hole).

If you think you can help me out with an aiming base, let me know.

Also, I think it would be nice if you had a semi-recessed thumb wheel for the pan adjustment.

 

[thaflash_la]

I did make a thumb wheel for the windage, and I used stacked orings to give the adjustment some tension, I just didn’t have a good picture of the front on my completed one.



When I make the entire thing bigger I’ll have more space for a more refined adjustment.

Once I post up all the files and parts, as long as your devices have a 1/4”-20 screw hole, you can just throw them onto an arca plate and you’ll be set.

 

[flyer]

I'm trying to get rid of adapter stacks.

My binocular tripod adapter is already QD, I want to bolt it permanently to my mount setup.

Also, if you could make one with a top that has an M-lok slot, that would be great. I want to use my backup Trijicon MRO as a finder scope so I need a Picatinny rail for my QD MRO mount to grab.

If you could make both of those tops, I could co-wittness my LRF binoculars and finder scope to my spotting scope and make my whole spotting/ranging/weather station/ballistic calculator setup quick to deploy.

 

[flyer]

Oh, one more thing, there are plastic press on thumb wheels that fit over the top of socket head cap screws. That would be easier than what you printed for pan thumb wheels. I would only need a thumb wheel on one side so if you made it so it can be assembled righty or lefty, I think that would be just as good as wheels on both sides.

The only problem is it might be hard to find long fully threaded socket head cap screws.

 

[acudaowner]

great dyi build .

 

[Rover31]

Where are you going to post the finished design? Here or?
Thanks it looks great!

 

[thaflash_la]

I’ll probably put it up on Thingiverse. I’m going on a trip this weekend so I’ll see if I have some downtime if I can at least put up this version for now.

 

[Rover31]

Cool
Let us know your user name or post a link if you have time
Love stuff like this!
Thanks

 

[thaflash_la]

I’ll post it in this thread. I don’t think I have an account there yet though.

 

[Strykervet]

I did this, and stacking them works better IMO but I need a mount kind of like your Elcan style mount for my LRF. Ideally I'd like to superimpose the LRF reticle over the Observation reticle at infinity (or 6 miles, the limit of the LRF). That way the greatest difference will be the vertical distance between the two devices at 0m, just a few inches, and at 10,000m they'll be point on. Right now I don't have a solid mount for the LRF, it's just bolted on. Maybe I'll get a buddy to make me one of those if he can... A mount like your Elcan setup but with a base cut to fit the LRF's angled lug.

Here it is:

The idea was also to zero the PEQ2 to the others but I haven't been able to make that happen yet. Need the LRF locked down and adj. first. OR adjusted and locked down. The idea was to lase the target with the PEQ and follow that up with the LRF to get the reading without actually looking at the target through the LRF.

 

[thaflash_la]

That's a cool setup, but might be too much for this particular iteration to handle. I didn't design it to work on its side, but what I have planned for the next evolution might be better suited.

Something like a cage setup would be better probably. I think I'll look around and see what kind of camera equipment I can adapt for that.

Here's the link for the current files. It includes the jigs I made for the holes as well.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3643593

 

[Rover31]

Here is what I put together via parts on Amazon and a couple of hardware bits.

 

[thaflash_la]

I wanted to do slots like the abel table, but just haven’t gotten around to milling something like that. And after seeing similar things on amazon, it’ll be easier for me to buy something.

 

[thaflash_la]

Taking inspiration from @Rover31 and @Strykervet i purchased a “cheese plate” from amazon to take the place of my aluminum plate.

SMALLRIG Multi-Purpose Switching Plate for Rail Block, Dovetail Camera Cheese Plate - 1681 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019C2ZM8Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oCi6Cb172RWX6

I’m going to adapt my aiming mount if necessary, to fit the hole pattern, and also see about printing up brackets so that I can make a cage with other cheeseplates. I don’t know what other kind of extraneous shit I can bolt on, but I’ll find stuff.

Also seems good for my labradar setup where I can fine tune the aiming, and slave a scope to get groups and velocity.

 

[thaflash_la]

Need to test for a couple more parts, but I should be able to have this uploaded tomorrow as an update to my files. I modified the part to fit on the smallrig pattern cheese plate. This should also do away with needing to file down the M6 bolt.

 

[Dougie308]

This was more of an excuse to design and build than anything. I've barely used it, but it's been a fun build and I actually want to improve it even though I don't have much use for it: View attachment 7077194

You can kind of see where I'm going with this, aim at an object with the spotter, shift over to the rangefinder, and use the base to adjust your point of aim to wherever you were looking through the spotter.

I started off with these cheap clamps:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KYEO70Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And I made a jig to drill holes to mount them onto my bases:
View attachment 7077195

Next step was the "aiming" base, and I was inspired by the older Elcan optics.
Very well done!


View attachment 7077196

Left and right adjustments in the front, and up and down is in the back.
View attachment 7077197
View attachment 7077198

Went through a few design changes getting things to line up and settled back on this one:View attachment 7077200

View attachment 7077201

Video of it in action here:


I plan to release the files on this, but I'm not completely happy with it yet. I'm going to add a swivel to both adjustments so you can get the full range of motion without putting stress on the parts, and I'm going to make it bigger overall for greater stability. I want the plate to hug the clamps. I might do something to make the aluminum plate look less like scrap... but that might be stretching it for me. I definitely want to make a remote fire for the rangefinder so it doesn't move as much when ranging distant objects as well.

 

[Rover31]

Ok so much much more basic than what you are doing but here is another simple tripod table I put together.

 

[thaflash_la]

I need to get a tripod strong enough to shoot off of. Mine claims it can handle 60lbs, but that’s clearly chinese lbs.