People are beginning to fully recognize the power of the devices they hold in their pockets. High-end applications of your smartphone include using it as a microscope, albumin tester, or allergen detector, while more pedestrian uses take advantage of the powerful CPU and camera to make for an affordable augmented reality or VR headset. Vadym Chalenko, of Chicago, has used 3D printing to magnify the power of smartphone cameras to take it to the professional level with his 3D printed Beastgrip smartphone mount.
The Beastgrip is a universal adapter for almost any smartphone, including Droids, iPhones and Windows phones. The project’s creator saw the potential for adding pre-existing technology, things you might already add to a digital camera, to these pocket devices to make them even more powerful. The adapter can mount a diverse assortment of lenses, as well as lights and microphones, to transform your handheld device into a professional grade film studio. In addition to the paraphernalia used to increase the strength of your phone’s camera and microphone, you can also fix your Beastgrip to any tripod or other rig to capture shots from a variety of angles.
Chalenko explains why such a mount might be useful, saying, “Phone cameras become so powerful that many of Indie film makers, videographers, photographers, journalists and others use phone cameras to fulfill their photo and video equipment arsenal.
Although, phone cameras are progressing every day, there is always room for improvement. Having the opportunity to use camera phones with conversion lenses, filters, support photo/video gear and other accessories can dramatically expand camera phones’ capabilities! There are many devices on the market that can serve this purpose in one way or another. But Beastgrip is a device that combines many of those features in one universal and convenient package.”
Chalenko modified an Afinia H-Series 3D printer to control for external temperatures in order to print the frame for his adapter in ABS. Then, he used 90% US-manufactured parts to complete his design. In order to move to full-production, to obtain more printers, components and finishing tools, Chalenko launched his Kickstarter campaign, which is well over its goal of $25k by almost $10k, at the time of writing. Check out the video below:
The early bird prices for the Beastgrip started at about $65, so the mount looks like it will be in the $70-75 range when Chalenko goes to full-production. Now, we must wait for Dr. Ozcan to launch his smartphone microscope, albumin tester, and allergen detector on Kickstarter before we can inspect each other’s food at the drop of a hat.
