I need more hobbies.. Working on a PVC post discrete camera housing... (a better birdhouse)

I reference this chart. I thought PETG had some UV resistance, but I guess ASA is really the only one suited for outside.

Ultimate 3D Printing Material Properties Table

This properties table compiles physical and mechanical properties for the top 3D printing materials. Compare metrics for strength, stiffness, density, etc.
www.simplify3d.com www.simplify3d.com
 
Looks great!

If you find dirt daubers, wasps, etc. come in at the periphery of the camera's front you could use some duct seal, installed from behind the front piece, after the camera is aimed and before you secure the top.

Not sure if you're familiar with it but you could take a 3 to 4" ball, roll it between both palms back and forth, making a cigar-shape that gets longer and skinnier as you do that. When you get it the right thickness, place it where you want it and press into place. If too short, place another piece "in series". I'd try a piece twice as as big as the gap and form it in.

You can't screw up: pull it out, squish back together and try again.

Available at Lowes, Home Depot and more, 1 lb. brick for under $5.

G-B_ductseal-1lb.jpg

post-top-cam_ductseal.jpg
 
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TonyR said:
Looks great!

If you find dirt daubers, wasps, etc. come in at the periphery of the camera's front you could use some duct seal, installed from behind the front piece and before you secure the top.

Not sure if you're familiar with it but you could take a 3 to 4" ball, roll it between both palms back and forth, making a cigar-shape that gets longer and skinnier as you do that. When you get it the right thickness, place it where you want it and press into place. If too short, place another piece "in series". I'd try a piece twice as as big as the gap and form it in.

You can't screw up: pull it out, squish back together and try again.

Available at Lowes, Home Depot and more, 1 lb. brick for under $5.

View attachment 213129

View attachment 213130
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We don't really have much issue with any of those here. I have 5442s installed all over with their regular housings and have never really had any issues other than dead flies falling out if I take one down.
 
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Ri22o said:
We don't really have much issue with any of those here. I have 5442s installed all over with their regular housings and have never really had any issues other than dead flies falling out if I take one down.
Click to expand...
Man, that's great and I wish I could say that. Here in NW AL the dirt daubers get into the tiniest of places and pack them with mud when nest building.

I have to put those child protective covers on any unused power outlets outdoors because they'll pack the hole for the earth ground with mud and it dries like cement! I actually have to get it out with a drill bit, twisted between my fingers! :headbang:

It's not part of their nest where they lay eggs for the larvae and store bugs for them as food when they hatch. I swear they do it to piss me off! :lol:
 
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I had some camera mounts printed out in black ABS (black ABS has no tints so as to dilute the filament). Roughed them up with some 120 grit sandpaper and gave them two coats of white spray paint (doing some more work with the sandpaper after the first coat was dry).

The printers added a hole for the corrugated hose to enter at the side. Next print I'll have them make the hole 2mm smaller as the dimensions I gave them were just a touch too big but we made it work.

They've been up for a year now and no issues. I never did end up buying the original aluminum mounts.

CanCuba

Thread '3D printed PFA137s'

My 3D printed PFA137s got dropped off yesterday afternoon and I'm very impressed with the quality and presentation.

They don't have holes in the side but that will be corrected with a drill. I use flexible corrugated hose and seal the connection with silicone.

For $10 USD each, these will serve me well until I get the aluminum originals in a couple months.

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While not the final version of the housing, I am working on testing it out since the weather is more favorable. It's approx 18' from the camera to the driveway.

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T54IR-ZE-S3 at 12mm. Thoughts on this orientation? I know it's a lot of sky, but it's going to be a lot of sky regardless of which rotation it is set to in order to look up at their face.

I'll grab some more captures and images once I get through some mid-day meetings.

Front Walk 2025-04-25 12.49.31.310 PM.jpg
 
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Post and sleeve are in, conduit finished up, and camera in the birdhouse and mounted. All I have left to do now is run the Ethernet (and finish up with the bed, it turns out the quarry where I got the stone for the other beds was destroyed in the hurricane :( )

I may consider reprinting the base and lid. I ran out of the filament I used to print them, and the new filament I used on the main body is a different brand and a different shade of white. I prefer the main body white, though, which is good. Of the parts, those will be the easiest to remake. The camera snout needs some touch up to the paint as well, I scratched it when rotating it into position.

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