Why pay for Duclos when you can 3D print?

Ended up having to import the arbor from Germany and the cutter from Hong Kong, now I need to decide on the sizes.

I can make (in theory) the following:

72 tooth - 59.2mm diameter
84 tooth - 68.8mm
90 tooth - 73.6mm
96 tooth - 78.4mm
108 tooth - 88mm
120 tooth - 97.6mm

Of those, probably 96 and 108 tooth are the mostly likely to fit everything, the 120 may be too large to clear the follow focus. All my lenses are going to be around 180 degrees of rotation (end to end) so I think I want larger gears to help with smaller changes. If there is enough adjustment on my follow focus, I might be able to make different gear for it too, again to help with the fine adjustments.
 
Just to clarify - because of the thread title - Duclos don't sell stand alone focus rings. They do a cine mod. I purchased a set of Zeiss ZF's and had them cine modded in 2010. They do extremely high quality work.
 
Noel Evans said:
Just to clarify - because of the thread title - Duclos don't sell stand alone focus rings. They do a cine mod. I purchased a set of Zeiss ZF's and had them cine modded in 2010. They do extremely high quality work.
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Well this was never a question about wether Duclos does or does not do nice work, I'm absolutely sure they do.
But it was a tease to make people consider another option that might even be just as good if you do it right, and cost them far far less.
 
Noel Evans said:
Just to clarify - because of the thread title - Duclos don't sell stand alone focus rings. They do a cine mod. I purchased a set of Zeiss ZF's and had them cine modded in 2010. They do extremely high quality work.
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Yes, he does nice work, and duclos is certainly better than 3d printing. However you can get the exact same thing, if you are willing to do the shrink fitting yourself, for 1/3 of the price. It's probably about 5 minutes of work per lens so it is well worth to shrink fit yourself (shrink fitting really isn't rocket science).
 
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Greg_E said:
Ended up having to import the arbor from Germany and the cutter from Hong Kong, now I need to decide on the sizes.

Of those, probably 96 and 108 tooth are the mostly likely to fit everything, the 120 may be too large to clear the follow focus. All my lenses are going to be around 180 degrees of rotation (end to end) so I think I want larger gears to help with smaller changes. If there is enough adjustment on my follow focus, I might be able to make different gear for it too, again to help with the fine adjustments.
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I mill 100 teeth and 120 teeth gears and haven't had an issue with follow focus clearance yet. I personally prefer larger gears because it helps with the short focus throw that many dslr lenses have.
 
Thanks, need to find my largest lens and decide which size. I'm about 3 weeks out on the tools so I have some time. Might purchase one gear so I know what level I need to hit. Need to look for some Delrin scraps too, I've found this is far cheaper than ordering from places that will cut down a full size product, figure I need about 1 foot to do every lens I own.
 
Cordvision,

I've bought a number of your Cine Rings & Push-on Caps. Thought your company was in Switzerland, but you list Sherman Oaks. Is that something new?

Best,
Bern
 
I'm Swiss but lived for seven years in the US. I moved back to Switzerland temporarily. Should be back in the US again soon :)

(Switzerland is also were I do most of the manufacturing of the products I produce in-house...)
 
Does anyone have any trouble getting in contact with helicoptersean? I ordered 5 gears from him and he was really helpful beforehand. Turns out 2 of the gears didn't fit well. One was too tight and refused to go on, the other was too lose and didn't grip the focus ring tightly enough and it would keep turning by itself. I emailed him a bunch of times and it's been over a week. Can not get in contact with the guy whatsoever. :( Couldn't even report an item return since I bought from his website and not ebay. Wasted $70USD for 2 gears that were useless.
 
GrumpyOrang said:
Does anyone have any trouble getting in contact with helicoptersean? I ordered 5 gears from him and he was really helpful beforehand. Turns out 2 of the gears didn't fit well. One was too tight and refused to go on, the other was too lose and didn't grip the focus ring tightly enough and it would keep turning by itself. I emailed him a bunch of times and it's been over a week. Can not get in contact with the guy whatsoever. :( Couldn't even report an item return since I bought from his website and not ebay. Wasted $70USD for 2 gears that were useless.
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He has always been on the up and up and sent any needed replacement gears I have asked for.

Did you happen to measure your lenses with a micrometer beforehand?
 
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