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New Dev case: 1/4"-20 threaded insert?

Hey-o!

I read the App Notes for the new dev case and find that exciting.

I see that there are now two straps for affixing the device to something.

Is there any chance a v2.0 will have a 1/4"-20 threaded insert? Would be a useful add on for tripods or co-opting other gear that uses the 1/4"-20 thread pattern (i'm thinking about some of the screw in platforms for trail cameras or other photo / video gear).

Thanks for all the hard work!

6 comments

6 Comments

Brian Huggett

Mar 04

04March25 follow up:

I crafted a bracket for the back of the AudioMoth regular case that would accept a 1/4"-20 quick mount plate.

The 2mm thick aluminum plate was nominally 60mm wide x 30mm tall with two 4.5 mm wide holes drilled in line with the case's strap brackets on the back. These holes were drilled wide enough to accept two 9mm long 8-32 screws. I drilled and tapped two holes in the case brackets to accept the 8-32 screws (barely enough clearance in there to accept the tap). A third hole was drilled and tapped in the center of the bracket to accept the 1/4"-20 screw from the quick mount plate. I added some foam gaskets between the plate and case brackets.

Foam gaskets were later trimmed to length.

Quick mount plate attached

Quick mount base attached to plate. The lever at the bottom slides left to release the plate. Importantly, the base is screwed in to a tree or pole. Once released the AudioMoth slides down and free of the base. The lever stays locked to the side. After swapping card and batteries, you can slide the AudioMoth up in to position and click the lever back in to a locked position.

The entire mount sits less than 30mm from the back of the case.

Here is a link to the quick mount on B&H Photo. This mount was $12, but there were cheaper options.

Is this bracket over thought and engineered? Probably.

It is winter here, and I have prioritized my sites to 1) avoid discovery and to 2) be hard to reach if discovered.

Hence my sites are 3 meters up a tree and awkward to swap batteries and cards and reattach with a strap. The quick release seemed like an inexpensive and safe (ish) alternative.

A thoughtful hacker or OAD staffer could probably engineer and 3D print up a clever mounting plate that slides and locks in to the existing brackets. Or maybe just attach a plate through the back of the existing case and waterproof it well.

Looking forward to the new cases and maybe modding them!

Thank you!

Alex Rogers

Mar 04

Replying to

Thanks. I'll order one of the quick-mounts to experiment with. This is the 3D printed adaptor that we've used in the past for mounting onto the top of a tripod.

Brian Huggett

Mar 05

Replying to

Oh yeah! That's a clever mount.

You'll get one of those quick mounts and easily incorporate the design in to your 3D print.

Attaching a couple pics of the AM and mount in the wild

It doesn't seem to sit off the tree too far. Only time will tell if a bird thinks its a great perch...

Alex Rogers

Mar 05

Replying to

Thanks for posting these. These mounts look like an excellent option for long-term deployments. We'll look at the possibility of making a custom mount to support these types of deployments.

Alex Rogers

Feb 20

Yep, we've been thinking about moulded inserts that fit into the strap slots on the large and standard cases. Is there a particule tripod or trail camera mounting system you use? Alex

Brian Huggett

Feb 21

Replying to

Thanks for the reply sir.

I'm pretty much an 'off-the-shelf' user of tripods / mounting systems. I picked up a couple 'quick release' mounts that use the 1/4"-20 standard from B&H photo here in the States. There are a couple trail cam mounts from Hunting Made Easy that screw in to a tree or post - also using the 1/4"-20 thread that I have used. Some photo/video mounts use a 3/8" thread, but that seems overkill for size/weight of the AudioMoth.

I'm in the process of modding my AudioMoth case. Will post some pics over the weekend to share. Thanks again!