Making a Camera Gear Organizer From a Mystery Flight Case 30 August 2025 at 15:00

Making a Camera Gear Organizer From a Mystery Flight Case

30 August 2025 at 15:00

I picked up this weird aluminum flight case at a yard sale a while back, and honestly had no clue what the thing inside was supposed to be. The original equipment looked pretty high-tech, but I wasn’t planning to use it anyway. What caught my attention was the case itself – lightweight aluminum construction, built tough for travel, with some interesting mounting hardware already installed along the top edges. The whole thing just screamed “repurpose me into something useful.” Sometimes the best projects start with a mystery box and a vague idea of what could be possible.

The problem I was trying to solve had been bugging me for months. As someone who makes videos, I keep accumulating camera gear – action cameras, drones, batteries, chargers, microphones, and all the little accessories that come with each device. Most of the time this wasn’t an issue since I shoot in my shop and have a dedicated gear cabinet to keep everything organized and dust-free. But recently I needed to take a bunch of cameras out to the farm for a project, and throwing everything into a backpack felt pretty sketchy. I needed a proper transportation solution that would protect expensive gear while keeping everything organized and accessible.

The inside of this case had serious potential. It was one big open volume with mounting brackets already in place, plus it was designed to travel and take abuse. But I couldn’t just throw foam in there and call it done – this had to be a real system.

My main camera is pretty substantial, so I knew I’d need to dedicate serious space for that. The smaller action cameras and accessories needed their own organized storage that wouldn’t turn into a jumbled mess every time I opened the case. The solution started to take shape as a two-section design that would maximize the available space while keeping everything accessible.

I decided to split the case into two distinct areas. The larger section would house my main camera in a custom-fitted cradle, with enough room for it to sit securely without getting cramped. The other section would work more like a library system – foam panels that could slide in and out of tracks, each one holding specific cameras and gear in perfectly cut foam recesses. This way I could pull out exactly what I needed for a particular shot without disturbing everything else. The concept was solid, but figuring out the mechanical details would take some work.

The foam panels were the trickiest part to get right. I ordered some layered tool foam that lets you trace around objects and peel out layers to get the exact depth you need. The challenge was making these panels work vertically instead of horizontally like they’re designed for. Each panel needed to slide smoothly in tracks while holding cameras securely, which meant getting the spacing just right. Too loose and things would rattle around, too tight and the panels wouldn’t slide properly. I also had to account for the fact that most of my gear wasn’t as thick as the foam, so the panels could sit pretty close together without interference.

The mechanical system required some 3D printed components to make it all work. I designed simple clips that would grip around the outside of each foam panel while having a fin on the back that could slide down into wooden tracks. Getting these printed parts to fit properly took a few iterations, but the concept was sound. I also had to add some taper to the top of the track openings so the panels would guide themselves into position instead of requiring perfect alignment every time. Sometimes the little details like that make the difference between a system that works smoothly and one that’s frustrating to use.

For the main camera section, I went all-in on custom protection. Instead of just stuffing foam around it, I took a photo of the camera’s bottom and modeled a precise cradle in Autodesk Fusion. This let me create something that would hold the camera exactly right while providing maximum protection. The cradle got 3D printed, and I also designed a flexible strap system that could hook over the camera to lock it down securely. If you’re interested in learning this kind of 3D modeling and design work, you should check out our “Fusion for Makers” course – it covers exactly this type of practical problem-solving with Fusion.

The finished case turned out better than I expected. Everything has its place, from the smallest memory card to the main camera, all surrounded by foam and protected by that aluminum shell. The sliding panel system works smoothly, and I can grab exactly what I need without unpacking the whole case. Plus I can lock it up and toss it in the truck without worrying about expensive gear getting damaged. Sometimes the best projects come from combining something you found cheap with a problem you actually need to solve.

Thanks for following along with this build. Now, go make something awesome!

TOOLS

(purchasing via these affiliate links supports ILTMS)

Woodworking

Finishes & Adhesives

3d Printing/CNC/Laser

Welding

MIG welder *
TIG welder
Welding mask (auto darkening)
Welding gloves
Welding magnet
Angle grinder *
Cut off wheels
Metal cutting bandsaw *
10″ Evolution Miter Saw for cutting Steel, Aluminum, Wood, etc.

Electronics

Other Stuff

The post Making a Camera Gear Organizer From a Mystery Flight Case appeared first on I Like To Make Stuff.

Quickly Prototyping a Camera Clamp 23 November 2024 at 16:00

I Like To Make Stuff

Quickly Prototyping a Camera Clamp

By: ILTMS

23 November 2024 at 16:00

A few weeks ago, I faced a problem: I wanted a flexible way to mount my 360 camera around my workshop. Sure, I could have bought a pre-made solution or made due with a spring clamp, but where’s the fun in that? Like most of my projects, this was about solving a specific need and learning something in the process. I had a 360 camera that could capture video in every direction, and I wanted a mount that would let me position it anywhere on my shop’s exposed ceiling joists without hassling with complicated clamps or climbing on a ladder.

My first attempts were rough. I started with a basic prototype using rubber bands and some hand-cut pieces. It quickly became clear that my initial design had some major flaws. The spring tension wasn’t strong enough, the pieces didn’t move or grip how I wanted, and the whole thing felt like a janky, temporary solution. But that’s the beauty of prototyping — each failure teaches you something new. I realized I needed to think about two key things: the right spring force to hold the mount, and the best shape for keeping it in place without being difficult to remove.

I considered several design concepts. One idea involved little fingers that would twist around the joists, but that seemed overly complicated. Another involved a cam mechanism that would clamp down, but that felt too complex. Ultimately, I settled on the simplest solution: a mount with spring tension that could spread around a joist and hold tight until deliberately pulled down. The beauty was in its simplicity, especially since the camera weighs almost nothing.

As I worked through different prototypes, I learned a lot about clamp design. I discovered that the geometry of each piece matters tremendously. The top needed to be wedge-shaped to allow forced entry and tightening. The ends needed to pivot, like traditional clamps, to create a better grip. I also had to figure out how to incorporate a quarter-twenty bolt to attach the camera mount, which added another layer of design complexity.

3D modeling became my secret weapon. Instead of just making something for myself, I started thinking about how I could design this in a way that might help other makers facing similar challenges. By turning my physical prototypes into a digital model, I could refine the design, make it more universally useful, and potentially share it with others. It’s something I always emphasize — being able to 3D model your ideas is like a superpower for problem-solving and sharing solutions.

After multiple iterations and reprints, I finally nailed the design. I spent time testing different springs, drilling precise holes, and ensuring the mount could grip joists securely. The final test was crucial: Could I move this mount quickly around different parts of my shop? Absolutely. I could push it up to the ceiling in one spot, take it down, and immediately reposition it over my workbench or in another area of the workshop.

This project wasn’t just about creating a camera mount. It was about the process of iterating, learning, and solving a specific problem. Each prototype taught me something new about mechanical design, spring tension, and the importance of thoughtful iteration. What started as a simple need to mount a 360 camera became a mini-engineering journey that improved my understanding of how things work.

Would I have been better off buying a pre-made solution? Maybe. But that misses the point of making. For me, the joy isn’t just in the final product, but in the process of figuring things out, making mistakes, and ultimately creating something unique that solves exactly what I need. This camera mount might seem like a small thing, but it represents something bigger: the maker’s spirit of creativity, problem-solving, and the satisfaction of building something with your own hands. Thanks for being here with me. Now go make something awesome!