SSD Cage for Chronos 1.4/2.1-HD - 3D-printable

[SergeyKashin]

My cage ssd

 

[Endothermic]

I printed the cage, got an ssd and the correct cable. When I go into the settings, the camera does not recognize the ssd. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here. Any suggestions? Brand new user....

I WAS able to get some footage of a match lighting, but couldn't save it!

Thanks.

 

[Nikon1]

Are you using an eSATAp cable?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESATAp

 

[mostafa]

Can you check if the SSD device is detected in the USB/SATA storage window on the Util > Storage page? If yes, press the Format Disk button to format the SSD drive to FAT32 file system. If you require any further assistance, please contact [email protected]

 

[Endothermic]

Thanks Mostafa. Formatted it, I'll capture some new footage tomorrow and test saving.

 

[systemsfail]

Hi There! I have recently acquired a Chronos 2.1 and LOVE my camera! This is my first post on this forum. However, I was very inspired by the 3D printable SSD Cage. I have taken it a step further and buried an M.2 SSD into a handgrip for my Chronos. I have made a brief video to showcase it and (hopefully) attached an image to my post. Let me know what you think:

https://youtu.be/okWUfRP2YLg

I have provided a BOM in the description of the video in case you would like to make your own. I am also prepared to build up a few for anyone who might want one that is plug-and-play.

 

[Nikon1]

Hi, been trying to design and build something very similar some time ago, but had too much other projects going on to actually get any work done on this.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/48-pentax-medium-format/412087-pentax-67-custom-right-hand-grip.html
I really like your design, and am interested in getting one.
Do you ship to Germany?
[have not looked at the video yet, but dont have any time to build one myself currently anyways, probably will check it out later]

 

[systemsfail]

Yes, I can ship to Germany. Please email or PM me.

 

[systemsfail]

Here are some better images of the grip and it's accompanying parts:

 

[Nikon1]

Tried to have a look at the 3D-File linked in the Video, but both, the Grip itself and the Inserts just lead to an Error-Page. Also the Link for the Rosette and the Standoff seem to be swapped.
I Personally would want something Protecting that Cable Coming out at the Bottom, so if i set the Camera down or it falls over or something, the Cable wouldnt take all the Stress from that. Extending the 3D-Printed Material Down a bit on the "outside" would do. I would want that material to extend at least 1x or 1,5x the Thickness of the Cable beyond the Point where its Fixed (aka, the Point it would bend from, so the Cable would have at least a bending Radius of something like R=2xD or R=1,5xD, which would be worlds better for that Cable than a Sharp bend at Full Force.
As Far as Mounting goes, i would use this:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/255280846968
(Standard Arri-Rosette with a Slot For Adjustable Mounting on 1/4" Holes)
To mount to the Left Side of My Cage i am Building (see: https://forum.krontech.ca/index.php?topic=683.0 . Just Posted some Updated Images of the Progress there.). That Plate seems Fine and sure works fine if you dont have a Cage, but as i soon have a Cage, that is just More Streamlined. Still need to Tap these with 1/4" 20TPI, would probably end up using the Lower two of these (see Image).
.
Will PM you soon about further Details.

 

[weatherproductions]

Pretty nice Nikon1

 

[mkonrad]

Here are some better images of the grip and it's accompanying parts:

I have a question regarding the disk and cable used. Do you have any links?
Is the enclosure for the disk 3d printed?

I like the small disk but in my setup I would prefer the disk below
the camera like a winder or vertical grip or mounted to 15mm rails
as the camera would almost exclusively  be used in a studio with a 1st assisant
and remote screens.
Have you tested your dis for max dng write speed?

 

[systemsfail]

Tried to have a look at the 3D-File linked in the Video, but both, the Grip itself and the Inserts just lead to an Error-Page. Also the Link for the Rosette and the Standoff seem to be swapped.
I Personally would want something Protecting that Cable Coming out at the Bottom, so if i set the Camera down or it falls over or something, the Cable wouldnt take all the Stress from that. Extending the 3D-Printed Material Down a bit on the "outside" would do. I would want that material to extend at least 1x or 1,5x the Thickness of the Cable beyond the Point where its Fixed (aka, the Point it would bend from, so the Cable would have at least a bending Radius of something like R=2xD or R=1,5xD, which would be worlds better for that Cable than a Sharp bend at Full Force.
As Far as Mounting goes, i would use this:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/255280846968
(Standard Arri-Rosette with a Slot For Adjustable Mounting on 1/4" Holes)
To mount to the Left Side of My Cage i am Building (see: https://forum.krontech.ca/index.php?topic=683.0 . Just Posted some Updated Images of the Progress there.). That Plate seems Fine and sure works fine if you dont have a Cage, but as i soon have a Cage, that is just More Streamlined. Still need to Tap these with 1/4" 20TPI, would probably end up using the Lower two of these (see Image).
.
Will PM you soon about further Details.

Apologies for the delay - I was traveling. Anyhow, I think I fixed the links...

Your suggestions are very do-able - I like the idea to protect the cable with a guard that extends from the handle. I could modify the design for you if you like.

You cage design is EXCELLENT! However, your rosette mount would only save a few millimeters of thickness as compared to the one I am using. I also don't understand how it will attach to the cage as you need a male base on the rosette and that one looks to be female. Unless you plan to use the slot to screw through - in which case, I think it would work but puts the point of connection well outside the rosette and could prove to be less robust.

 

[systemsfail]

I have a question regarding the disk and cable used. Do you have any links?
Is the enclosure for the disk 3d printed?

I like the small disk but in my setup I would prefer the disk below
the camera like a winder or vertical grip or mounted to 15mm rails
as the camera would almost exclusively  be used in a studio with a 1st assisant
and remote screens.
Have you tested your dis for max dng write speed?

Having the disk below, like a winder/V-grip is a good idea. I opted against above/below due to my need for solid tripod mounts and the fact that I wanted a better grip for handheld shooting.

Yes, the enclosure is 3D printed. Below are the links to the drive, adapter and cable I used. I have not tested the drive to find it's speed - it is much faster than SD card though...

SSD:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07864V6CK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

M.2 to SATA Adapter:
https://www.newegg.com/en-labs-m2ngff25sata-m-2-sata/p/35G-008B-00007?Item=9SIACJF8369107

SATA to ESATA Cable:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GM7CMFG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

3D Printed Drive Enclosure:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/RCK8VCYNG/m-2-sata-drive-enclosure

 

[mkonrad]

thanks for the info

It looks like I will have to get a Blackmagic recorder for my setup as well so I can reply to clients requests and replay earlier shots (no longer on the camera)
In that case I will probably just add the disk to the extra monitor/recorder with a cold shoe or nato clamp

would be interesting to know if the M2 to Sata to eSatap is slower than directly to a 2.5 disk, I am not enough of a compter geek to know if there are any additional bottlenecks...

 

[Nikon1]

Your suggestions are very do-able - I like the idea to protect the cable with a guard that extends from the handle. I could modify the design for you if you like.

Thanks, that would be great!
.

You cage design is EXCELLENT! However, your rosette mount would only save a few millimeters of thickness as compared to the one I am using. I also don't understand how it will attach to the cage as you need a male base on the rosette and that one looks to be female. Unless you plan to use the slot to screw through - in which case, I think it would work but puts the point of connection well outside the rosette and could prove to be less robust.

Yes, it is intended to just have 1/4" Screws Bolted through the Slot, which are provided with the Thing from the Seller. I couldnt find anything with a Matching Hole Spacing for Two Screws to my Grip Design in the ~20 Minutes i spent Searching for that, but that one will fit for sure, as the Slot makes That Adjustable. I am Very much aware, that this is not the Most Solid Solution Possible, but i first want to see, if i even like the Way that would Feel, Look and Work. And that Adjustable Arri Rosette is a Cheap and Easy Way for me to figure this out without spending a ton of time on it.
I Have the Tools to just go and Make a Custom one of these any time I wanted, and if i feel like its not Stable Enough, i would end up using Stainless or Toolsteel for such small Parts anyways. Its just a Small Metal Plate with some Holes (and maybe a Slot, but if i make a custom one anyways, i might as well make the Holes to fit my Design), no big deal Really.
So Rigidity is currently not my Main Concern, as its still Metal, and should be able to take at least some amount of force. Will See after some Time of Testing, if i trust the Thing enough to use it permanently in this configuration, or if i will change it later on.
.
Main Goal with that Grip/ Cage Design i am doing there is also to be able to break down the Whole Rig as fast as possible on the Field, and assemble it as Quick as Possible, while taking up as little space as possible for Transportation. I use a Hard-Shell Briefcase (its Like a Flight-Case the Size of a Briefcase, Protected Corners, same Locks, and a really Durable and Comftable Grip) for the Chronos, and that has to also hold a full Set of Prime Lenses, a Small-HD Monitor incl. Accessories and a ton of Batteries, a Wall-Power adapter for the Small-HD, A Ton of Batteries for the Chronos, Cleaning Stuff, some Tooling, SSDs, lot of different Cables, including 5m BNC Cable and a Remote Trigger button to attach to any Normal BNC-Cable (can use that for the SDI-Out of the Small-HD also), Some Chargers, Screw on Filters and Filter-Thread Adapters for the Lenses, a bunch of different Firmware Versions on SD-Cards each A Color Checker, some Mount Plate Adapters, a Exposure Meter and a Speedbooster. And Eventually a Power adapter Plate for V-Mount Batteries also. So Space is VERY limited in there, that Briefcase is a lot heavier than you would expect from looking at it. But really Compact, Durable way to Travel with this Camera.
.
Thats why i like to have a as small as possible / Practical version of this.
This Grip should really help with that, as so far (talking setup time, would use more space in the Case however, but should be well worth it), i just plugged the m.2 SSDs in and let that hang from the eSata-Port, completely Naked PCB and all. Still very surprised, this so far has not caused damage to the SSD or anything else there, that is one Sketchy setup, especially when you shoot in the Rain, anything involving Splashing Water or Snow/ Metal Shavings (usually used at least a Plastic bag to protect the SSD in those Cases, which i taped onto the Drive). Somehow has worked well enough so far.
That Grip should make this a fairly Clean and well protected setup, and would take just barely longer to setup than my current solution (usually still needing to Plug the SSD into the Adapter for the eSata cable, which in this case could and will be left as one single part for Transportation, while adding the Step of needing to screw that into the Arri Rosette every time). Even if its not as Stable for use as a Grip, that alone, protecting the Drive, would make this very much worth it to have and use.

 

[Nikon1]

Having the disk below, like a winder/V-grip is a good idea. I opted against above/below due to my need for solid tripod mounts and the fact that I wanted a better grip for handheld shooting.

Was also thinking about an Above-Below solution for an External Battery (V-Mount+ Voltage Converter for much longer Battery life than internal ones could Provide) and SSD.
But the Top is pretty much the Only Place i can put an Monitor onto, and the Bottom also is kind of needed for Tripod Mounting, and even though i sometimes do quite a bit of Handheld Shooting as well, i need to change between a Tripod Mounted Camera and Handheld Shooting very quick and sometimes often, so no time to Play around with removing SSDs from the Bottom or something like that.
Also, the Center of Gravity on that Camera is already fairly high, when used with an External Screen (at least on some of the Smaller Video Heads i am using, not too much of a Problem on the Big ones), and Putting anything below the Camera additionally would make this much worse for Tripod use.
When you posted that Grip Design, i honestly still was not completely sure how i would do a proper SSD mount for that Cage, but about where you put it would also have been pretty much the only Place to have it, without being in the Way somehow.
I Thought about using something like this however:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/replacement_for/1488834-REG/tilta_ta_bsp_v_g_bmpcc4k_v_mount_battery.html
With Tripod-Quick-Release Mounts (i am Personally using a Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release System on almost anything) on top and Bottom of it, so i can very Quickly remove it if needed, or just keep it on, and Mount the Whole Rig to the Tripod, for example if Battery is Low on the Camera, but i need to finish a Save or something.
Also need to figure out how to Rig this Adapter Plate i already have
https://www.globalmediapro.com/dp/A2HG93/Globalmediapro-VLP-U-V-Mount-to-DC-Multi-Voltage-Converter/
To that Tilta Baseplate / modify that to Replace the Existing V-Mount.
For Handheld Shooting it wouldnt bother me nearly as much to have something below the Camera itself, as that would honestly be the Only Place to put the V-Mount Battery where it wouldnt annoy me (besides maybe a Belt-Clip with a long Cable, but that has its own Draw-Backs).
While i am At it, i might as well add some Way to Mount Rails to the Tilta Thing, or make a Custom new Top Plate for it to replace the Existing one, so i would have a Rig, where i can very Quickly add Rails and a ton of Battery Capacity (even Recharge the Internal one on the Go while Shooting), and just as fast also remove it again.
But first i need to Finish that Cage. Then i will see how i end up doing all of that.
.
@mkonrad:
That Tilta Baseplate thing might also be a good way for you to mount an SSD, or any Similar Product like this, if you dont mind having it below the Camera and have a big/ Serious Video Head (i sure hope so/ would expect you to have one, if you shoot with RED Cameras and a Flex4K), so the Higher Center of Gravity is not an issue.

 

[muringuets]

Hello everyone, just finished a custom M2 case, it's smaller than the regular one, but still bigger than I expected. Seems that the M2 adapter is to blame here (despite cuting an inch from it already).

If you find one that is smaller please let me know, I'll happily switch for a smaller version...

 

[systemsfail]

Nice work! I like how it mounts into the holes on top of the camera.

 

[jasoncarter]

Just emailed you. Looks GREAT!