The 4x5 folding camera prototype is under way!

The wooden parts were cut on the CNC machine in 10 different plates. The prototype is made of red oak as that's what I had laying around. Due to it's dimensional instability, it will not be offered as one of the material options, even though the texture and the color of the wood is amazing.




I'm using the bandsaw to separate the parts off the plates, but a coping saw would work just as well (or even better, as it's very easy to "ding" the parts when using a bandsaw).


The pile of parts. The connecting bridges and the sharp edges need to be sanded off.




My made shift sander (a handheld sander clamped sideways to a piece of plywood). It sped up the sanding process dramatically, compared with doing that by hand. Note the dust colection hose, for the sake of your lungs, wear a mark and/or make sure the dust is sucked away.

The sanded off parts. What was not captured is me using a small file to file off and bring to size the rear standard "dove tail" area. You can spot the assembled front standard frame and frame support. I got a bit too enthousiastic with the samding of the plate which held the front standar parts, so you can see the gap caused by the thinner plate in the join.


Tonight I'll start cutting the brass parts and start assembling the wooden parts.




FREELANCE COPYWRITER