Tripod Locking Collar Replacement (Velbon - Challenger 3) by ottaross

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

The cam-lock sleeve for this type of tripod can break after a while, and it seems a shame to discard the whole thing for want of a small piece. This will replace the upper locking collar on the "Velbon" Challenger 3 tripod at any rate.
No doubt the lower locking collar will break someday and then perhaps I'll add that part. It took several hours to model these pieces accurately, so updates aren't likely to happen soon.
I was unaware (until disassembling an intact leg) that there was a little block behind the cam-lock which effects the high-friction clamping on the leg. Turns out that block is a convenient means to tweak the tension on the lock without having to constantly adjust the cam lever shape. HENCE - there are three blocks included which allowed me to choose the one that worked best for the optimal tension. They print quick so you can choose your preference and discard the others.
Print with a fair bit of density to ensure it all holds together. I've used 60% in my final print.
The dimensions are thickened to hopefully get a bit more resilience this time around.
Note that the vertical pin is smaller than the actual pin used in the product part. I've used the shaft of a pop-rivet that is about 2.5mm in diam, as I'd lost the original pin. For the cross-pin which connects to a central post, I used the original pin. Drill or adjust for your preferences.
The odds of anyone else having this same tripod are probably rather low, but have shared this here a) for the odd person who does have one, and b) for a comparison in case you have a similar tripod and which to use this as a starting point in your design.