Reader Comment: CAD + Lathe + 3D Printer to Repair a Mamiya RB67
Anthony K writes:
I'm a fellow photo nerd and a huge fan of your work. Your website is a staple in my daily photography news bookmarks folder.
I recently took the plunge into medium format film photography and purchased a Mamiya RB67 with a broken focus rack and knob. I repaired it using CAD, a lathe and a 3D printer. I copied the geometry of the original focus knobs in CAD so anyone can 3D print replacements for their rb67. I documented it all here:
Reviving a Legend: Mamiya RB67 Repair
I sent you this because you have a knack for medium format photography and I figure you might get a kick out reading the techniques involved in film camera repair.
If you have any suggestions on who else I can send this article to, that would be greatly appreciated!
DIGLLOYD: regarding “staple in my daily photography news”—sorry for the less frequent updates. A powerhouse before, I am still (slowly) getting my strength back. A big improvement from last year, but still a fraction of my former energizer status.
I’m impressed—pretty cool and a fun project.
Today, everything is crapified—products are designed to fail and are all but unrepairable. 20 years from now, projects like this will have to keep reaching back to the glory days of mechanical designs.