# 3D printed Stereo Macroscope and twin rig 3D camera system

April 21, 2010

Tony Bignell is a creative engineer and inventor that has used Shapeways to make a stereo macroscope and twin rig 3D camera system. We asked [Tones-3D](/content/hisdesign?user_id=24196/index.html), as he is known on Shapeways, to explain his 3D printing projects to us.

Tony Bignell: To talk about the stereo macroscope, I really must talk about the whole 3-D twin-rig camera system, most of which uses parts printed by Shapeways. It starts [with the camera base](/content/model/72937/baseplate_for_stereo_3_d_twin_rig_camera.html). This allows me to trigger both cameras simultaneously, using the USB socket (and an ingenious camera software hack called Stereo Data Maker), and a set of batteries-and-switch contained within the printed baseplate. **I use this setup for taking 3-D photos**, but there’s a limitation: I must be a minimum of 2 meters from the nearest part of the scene or there will be too much stereo differential.

The **Stereo Macroscope works like a pair of sideways periscopes**, and reduces the minimum distance to about 600 millimeters; this, plus a little bit of zoom-in on the cameras’ lenses, allows me to take some of the macro 3-D photos I love taking. Here’s a sample of [one of the photographs](http://www.abignell.id.au/VioletTownAlbum/lichen.html).

In addition to this, **I love wide-angle lenses for scenery photography**, and [here they are on Shapeways](/content/model/72944/wide_angle_lens_adaptor_for_stereo_3_d_twinrig.html).

This also uses a couple of other Shapeways-printed parts. The [Twin Wide Angle Lens Cap](/content/model/93536/twin_wide_angle_lens_cap.html) and the [twin rear lens cover](/content/model/72950/twin_rear_lens_cover.html%20/index.html).

I have also made a [3-D camera for my wife Robin](/content/model/92233/z_bracket_kit_2.html). The **reason for setting up the camera upside-down is to get the lenses closer together than on my own rig, because Robin takes more social photos**, and getting a bit closer is desirable, and possible thanks to the closer lens spacing.

A few of her [photos are posted on her page](http://www.abignell.id.au/robin/mainpg.html%20), scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the 3-D photo sets.

Tony, thank you so much for sharing your great project with us!