Ocular Phone Mount

This is a ocular phone mount that securely positions your smartphone camera in front of telescope or microscope ocular. I made it after being disappointed with other printed or commercial options for being kind of wobbly and insecure when used on a moving telescope. 

Updates

• 22nd April 2024 - Revision 2: New optional variants added for taller clamps and larger aperture. Might be unnecessary, depending on your phone.

Hardware

• 9 x M4 hex nut ISO 4032, DIN 934
• Hexagon head screw M4x35 DIN933 with full length thread (or M4x40 for the V2 taller clamp)
• 2 x Hexagon head screw M4x60 DIN933 with full length thread (or M4x50)
• M4 threaded rod cut to 100mm lenght (or 130 for the longer clamp)

Buy 1 meter M4 Threaded rod and saw it or cut it with heavy duty clippers to size. This will damage the end of the thread which you will need to clean up with a metal file. You could do all thumbscrews this way, but buying the shorter screws is more convenient.

Compatibility

It will fit most 1.25" telescope eyepieces and most phones, but not all of them. Check below if it's good for your use case.

• Ocular diameter: 30-40mm
• Distance from camera to the top of the phone: 5-45mm
• Distance from camera to the bottom of the phone: 95-155 or 125-185 with longer clamp arm.

Print instructions

Print without supports in the shown orientation

Assembly notes

Most phone cameras are not centered, so use the half of mount that will allow you to better secure your phone. If your camera is in the middle, it doesn't matter which half you use for clamping. 

Hard tighten the nuts onto the thumbscrew printed heads with 7mm wrench or pliers. The long thumbscrew is made from threaded rod and 2 nuts.

It doesn't matter which of the 2 holes on the top phone clamp you use unless you need to utilise the extreme ends of the adjustment range. 

For the rest of the assembly, follow the photo.

Onshape source

Links

Here are some other telescope parts from me you might be interested in:

Hadley telescope tube subassembly - Vase mode

Crayford focuser for Hadley telescope

Sturdy mount for Hadley telescope

Dovetail mount for Hadley telescope