3D Printing in Photography
with Jan Brüggemann
Jan Brüggemann is a passionate sports photographer, specializing in ice hockey, which he has been photographing for over 12 years. He is fascinated by unique angles and positions, but the appropriate camera mounts and housings aren't always readily available.
A Markforged Mark Two helped him create the precisely fitting components. Since then, he has produced many unique mounts – and photographs!
Project goals
Unprecedented Photographs
A Saturday evening, two US teams playing ice hockey on TV. Jan Brüggemann wishes he were there, photographing the game. As a part-time sports photographer, he observes not only the action on the ice but also the camera angles and positions. A thrilling back-and-forth, skillful stickwork, and then: the puck lands behind the goal line! But what a cool camera angle! Right behind the net! How is that possible?
The internet was scoured to see if these camera mounts were available in Germany – but unfortunately, without success. So, a different, self-designed solution was needed.
At a glance
Solution
Not just watching, but right in the thick of it!
Jan Brüggemann set about designing the camera mount. Initially, this wasn't easy, as he had to teach himself everything. As a development engineer, he had access to a Markforged Mark Two printer. The simple plug-and-play system made his work considerably easier. After a short time, he held the first perfectly fitting camera housing in his hands.
The league was initially hesitant to grant approval, as they were used to such mounts made of aluminum or plexiglass, and now a 3D-printed plastic component was to be used. But after a personal presentation, Jan Brüggemann received approval and was allowed to position his camera behind the goal in his self-designed and printed mount for an ice hockey game. He also received permission to market these mounts commercially.
"I'm now at version 4, which is already very perfect and which I haven't changed in quite some time!" Jan Brüggemann explains enthusiastically.
His ambition was now fully ignited, and he began to consider where else custom camera mounts could produce unique images. In fact, in virtually every sport!
Instead of the usual spectator position, a camera can now capture fantastic footage directly above the basketball hoop, underwater, or, more recently, mounted on the spoiler of a bobsled!
There's even a system already in use that provides live video feeds in the German Ice Hockey League.
This means that newspaper readers and television viewers aren't just watching, they're right in the middle of the action.
“My photography wouldn’t be where it is today if I hadn’t had the Markforged 3D printer. It offers me new possibilities and perspectives!”
– Jan Brüggemann
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See for yourself how strong the components are.
Implementation
A Change of Perspective – Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing for Photographers
Since the beginning of 2021, Jan Brüggemann has had his own Onyx One, which now supports him around the clock in his projects.
The Onyx material (Nylon PA6 with short carbon fibers) is perfect for his applications, as it is strong enough for secure mounting, but can also break for the safety of the players, for example, in the event of a hard impact.
Jan Brüggemann had been using an aluminum component for his ice hockey camera mount. Since the housing contains a camera, a small router, and a battery, condensation forms due to temperature differences. Therefore, this part was also printed in Onyx with continuous carbon fiber to maintain the strength of aluminum, and the problem was solved by the very next game!
This aluminum component is also a great example in terms of cost: Considering only the material costs, the aluminum part was more economical. But in terms of processing time and the component's utility, the 3D-printed Onyx component is far more efficient.
Perfect Fit
Jan Brüggemann's optimization goal has always been to invest as little working time as possible in his housings and mounts. What used to take him two days now only takes him four hours.
This is how he also learned to design and print the housings as efficiently as possible. Jan Brüggemann works with helicoils and countersunk screws, which he screws directly into the Onyx to save material.
"My systems are starting to gain recognition in the scene, for example, through their use in Manchester during RB Leipzig's Champions League match. It's always great when you see the goal-line camera footage on TV and think, 'Ah, that's mine!'" says Jan Brüggemann happily.
In October, Jan Brüggemann will install a camera suspended directly above the boxing ring in Magdeburg to capture unique aerial images!
“There’s always room for improvement! Other photographers are constantly approaching me, asking if it would be possible to design something. So, all custom orders. That was the case with the bobsled, too. It’s only been done once before in a similar form,” reports Jan Brüggemann.
He obtained approval for the custom bobsled design thanks to his experience. Using a scanner, he measured the bobsled and designed a perfectly fitting component, which he then presented on site. Getting approval isn’t usually easy, but that doesn’t deter him from his vision!
contact
Instagram: @photo.remote.heroes
Telefon: 0157 30 40 50 25
E-Mail: foto@janbrueggemann.de
Internet: www.janbrueggemann.de
The future
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
"My enclosure helped me gain a lot of experience in the early stages, which we were able to use during the implementation phase at my employer's company to support colleagues and bring about a change in thinking within the department. People started thinking about printing parts and simply gave it a try. Now, a colleague and I offer our own workshops at the company and help colleagues think along two paths – does it always have to be conventional manufacturing, or can it also be 3D printing?" reports Jan Brüggemann.
Jan Brüggemann now manages five other 3D printers at his employer: an Onyx One, a Mark Two, an X7, a Mark Two in China, and one in Vienna. Thanks to Markforged's Digital Forge even the distance isn't a problem.
"The next logical step would be integrating a metal 3D printer!" Jan Brüggemann laughs.
Learn more about the applications with the MarkTwo!
Which continuous filament is suitable for which application? How do I design correctly for filament 3D printing? What do users say about it, and where can I find more information? – You've come to the right place! We've listed several information sources that will help you get the answers you need.
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