MD80 Mini DV Camera Mount Bracket Mark II.

The Next Idea: Having found a small video camera that worked on my bike to an acceptable level, (the MD80 Mini DV camera) it was now a case of finding somewhere more suitable to mount the thing but in a place where it would not be influenced to much by vibration and the operation of the bike. So far my experimental "Mark 1" bracket proved that video capture was possible but the quality had been influenced by the steering motion of the bike and the issue of trying to focus through a "double bubble" screen resulting in somewhat wobbly footage. The New Placement: Having tried mounting on the handlebar clamp and then focusing through the screen I opted to try and move the camera forward and mount it rigidly in a fixed point behind the screen rather than having it move with the steering. This required making some sort of fixing bar to bridge across behind the screen hopefully using existing screws to fix it in place. The Crossbar: I found an old piece of chrome plated 10mm diameter tube, (figure 1) in my shed, (forget where it was originally from). flattened and bent the ends to roughly the angle required for the fixing point on to the bike, (Figure 2). then drilled and filed two 5mm slots about 8mm long, (figure 3). This was to allow for any discrepancy in measurement. Offering it up to the bike for inspection I was satisfied that the slots and angle of bend were good enough and fixed it to the bike using existing screws, (figures 4, 5 & 6). The Pivot Bracket: My design for the bracket and clamp are somewhat over engineered simply because I have access to the machinery and materials to be able to do the job. The main important dimension is for the slot that the camera sits in, the rest is open to adjustment. Machine a piece of Aluminium or similar material to 45mm x 74mm x 15mm (bracket, figure 7). Mill out a slot 7mm x 21mm x 42mm from one end as shown in figure 7. Drill two diameter 6.2mm holes with a 30mm pitch, 23mm in from the same end as the slot. Using a scrap piece of material clamp it against the rear face and drill a 10mm diameter hole across the face 16mm in from the opposite end on the centre line of the two pieces of material, (this creates the half bore for the tube). Drill and tap two M6 x 1.0mm holes 10.5 mm either side of the half bore 12mm deep. This is the basics for the Pivot Bracket, the other machining, (chamfers etc.) are just for looks. The Pivot Bracket Clamp: This is the component that is going to be used to clamp the pivot bracket to the crossbar. Once again the one I have made is a bit over engineered for what it does and can be made much simpler for function. Machine a piece of Aluminium or similar material to 32mm x 36mm x 15mm (clamp, figure 8). Using a scrap piece of material clamp it against the rear face and drill a 10mm diameter hole across the face 16mm in from the block width measuring 32mm on the centre line of the two pieces of material, (this creates the half bore for the tube like before). Drill two diameter 6.2mm holes with a 21mm pitch on the center line of the block 10.5mm either side of the half bore. This is the basics for the Bracket Clamp, the other machining, (chamfers etc.) are just for looks. Use two M6 x 1.0mm bolts 25mm long to clamp the assembly to the crossbar, (figures 11 & 12). The Camera Clamp: This is the component that is going to hold the camera in place on the bracket in the machined slot. The placement of the clamp will also help to retain the Micro SD card should it work loose under vibration. Machine a piece of Aluminium or similar material to 45mm x 12mm x 12mm (camera clamp, figure 9). Drill and tap two M6 x 1.0mm holes 10mm deep, 30mm apart on the center line of the 45mm dimension. Mill a slot 22mmwide 6mm deep between the two tapped holes, (see figure 9). Screw a piece of M6 x 1.0mm 30mm long studding in to each tapped hole. Cut and stick a piece of 1mm thick rubber, 10mm wide by 22mm long in to the slot, (this is to protect the camera when clamping it to the swivel bracket). This is the basics for the Camera Clamp, the other machining, (chamfers etc.) are just for looks. Use two M6 x 1.0mm Nylock nuts on the studding to secure the camera, don't over tighten the nuts! The Footage: Using the picture link, (figure 14) you can visit You Tube and see some of the video footage captured from this camera. Bear in mind the original video quality has been compressed for uploading and as a result is not as good.	Figure 1: Showing the piece of chrome plated diameter 10mm tube with the two flattened ends matching the angle for the fixing point on the bike. Chrome Tube. Figure 1.	Figure 2: Showing a more detailed view of the flattened and angled end of the chrome plated diameter 10mm tube. Fattened & Bent End. Figure 2.
	Figure 3: Showing the drilled and filed 5mm by 8mm slot in the flattened end of the chrome plated tube. This is to allow for adjustment when fixing it to the bike should there be any slight discrepancies in the hole positions. 5mm by 8mm Slot. Figure 3.	Figure 4: Showing the chrome plated tube when fitted to the bike using existing holes and screws. The washers behind the bar at each end are to space the bar away slightly and emulate the screw head diameter. Crossbar Fixing Points On Bike. Figure 4.
	Figure 5: Another view showing the chrome plated tube when fitted to the bike using existing holes and screws. The washers behind the bar at each end are to space the bar away slightly and emulate the screw head diameter. Crossbar Fixing Points On Bike. Figure 5.	Figure 6: Showing a closer view of the crossbar fixing point with spacer washer behind it to emulate the bolt head diameter. Crossbar Fixing Point. Figure 6.
	Figure 7: Showing four views, (Front, Side, Rear and Top respectively) of the pivot bracket component in it's painted finish. Pivot Bracket All Views. Figure 7.	Figure 8: Showing four views, (Rear, Top, Front and Side respectively) of the bracket clamp component in it's painted finish. Bracket Clamp All Views. Figure 8.
	Figure 9: Showing four views, (Bottom, Side, Top, and End respectively) of the camera clamp component in it's painted finish with protective rubber pad. Camera Clamp All Views. Figure 9.	Figure 10: painted assembly showing the camera clamp, pivot bracket and chrome plated crossbar tube that will be used to secure the MD80 Mini DV camera to the bike. Painted Bracket Assembly. Figure 10.
	Figure 11: Pre painted assembly showing all the required components fitted to the crossbar using two M6 x 1.0mm bolts, 25mm long. Pre Painted Bracket Assembly. Figure 11.	Figure 12: This shows the painted finished assembly of the bracket with the MD80 Mini DV camera housed in its proposed recording position on the bike. Mounted Bracket Assembly. Figure 12.
	Figure 13: Showing the completed bracket assembly with the MD80 Mini DV camera fitted in position when viewed through the screen, (apologies for poor picture quality due to sun glare). Mounted Bracket Assembly. Figure 13.	You Tube Video Link. Figure 14.