Assembly Guide: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 22:35, 10 March 2026

Before You Begin

Before assembling a Dipstick, make sure you have all the parts necessary. For the bill of materials, see BOM.

Assembly Instructions

Overall this should take under an hour.

Notes:

Parts

3D printed parts

Capstan
Capstan Handle
Capstan Cap
Tensioning Cap
Flexible spine
Camera Clamp Body
Camera Clamp Swing Arm

Hardware

M4x10mm bolt x 6
M4x16mm bolt x 1
M4x10mm Thumb screw x 2
M4x40mm axle bolt x 1
Machine screw

Additional parts

1.25" Diameter PVC tube
Endoscope
105" 1mm diameter Dyneema cord
Phone mount

Instructions

Twist the tensioning cap onto the flexible spine, leave it at the tip
From the bottom, thread the Dyneema cord through the two holes of the flexible spine.
Tie a double or triple knot at the end of each string.
Insert the endoscope into the flexible spine, from bottom to top. Keep the camera sticking out by an inch.
Attach the camera clamp body to the top of the flexible spine using one M4x10mm bolt and one M4x16mm bolt.
Hold the endoscope flush or 1mm inset using the camera clamp swing arm and screw in place using a M4x10mm bolt.
Drop the loop end of the Dynema cord and the USB end of the endoscope down the top of the PVC tube, the end with the tab.
Line the flat side of the flexible spine with the tab and insert into the tube. Hold the threaded collar in place using a thumb screw.
Take the capstan cap and insert the machine screw from the inside of the flat section.
Take the phone mount and attach it to the screw. Use a screwdriver through the opposite side to tighten.
Attach the capstan cap to the bottom of the PVC tube and hold in place using a thumb screw.
Loop the Dyneema cord around the capstan, then add subsequent loops alternating from the left and right side to keep the capstan centered. Make 5 loops total (4 additional loops from the initial), and ensure they overlap minimally.
Slide the capstan handle onto the capstan, and secure using 4 M4x10mm bolts.
Slide the capstan into the capstan cap, and secure using 1 M4x40mm bolt.
To deploy, turn the tensioning cap until turning the capstan handle 180º corresponds to 180º range of motion of the endoscope.

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 === Parts ===
+[[File:Labeled dipstick.jpg|thumb]]
 === '''3D printed parts''' ===
@@ Line 23: / Line 24: @@
 * M4x10mm Thumb screw x 2
 * M4x40mm axle bolt x 1
+* Machine screw
 '''Additional parts'''
@@ Line 32: / Line 34: @@
 === Instructions ===
-# Slide the end of PVC tube without the tab inside into the capstone collar, and hold it in place using the thumb screw.
+# Twist the tensioning cap onto the flexible spine, leave it at the tip
-# Take the Dyneema cord and feed the two ends through the flexible spine, from the inside towards the tip.
+# From the bottom, thread the Dyneema cord through the two holes of the flexible spine.
-# Tie a double knot at the end of both strings
+# Tie a double or triple knot at the end of each string.
-# Insert the endoscope into the flexible spine, from bottom to top.
+# Insert the endoscope into the flexible spine, from bottom to top. Keep the camera sticking out by an inch.
-# Drop the loop end of the Dyneema cord and the USB end of the endoscope down the naked end of the PVC tube with the tab inside. Align the flexible spine to the tab and slide it in, making sure the extra ends of the string and endoscope head stay sticking out of the spine.
+# Attach the camera clamp body to the top of the flexible spine using one M4x10mm bolt and one M4x16mm bolt.
-# Twist the threaded collar onto the end of the flexible spine and continue rotating until it reaches the end of the PVC tube. Hold in place using a thumb screw.
+# Hold the endoscope flush or 1mm inset using the camera clamp swing arm and screw in place using a M4x10mm bolt.
-# Take the loop of the Dyneema cord and wrap it around the capstone. Twist the loop 3 times so that there are 4 loops around the capstone.
+# Drop the loop end of the Dynema cord and the USB end of the endoscope down the top of the PVC tube, the end with the tab.
-# Hold the capstone in place using the big screw through the center.
+# Line the flat side of the flexible spine with the tab and insert into the tube. Hold the threaded collar in place using a thumb screw.
-# Using 4 short M4 screws, attach the capstone knob to the capstone.
+# Take the capstan cap and insert the machine screw from the inside of the flat section.
-# Rotate the threaded collar until half of the flexible spine sticks out of the PVC tube.
+# Take the phone mount and attach it to the screw. Use a screwdriver through the opposite side to tighten.
-# Tie two overhand knots on each free end of the Dyneema cord to hold it in place.
+# Attach the capstan cap to the bottom of the PVC tube and hold in place using a thumb screw.
-# Place the bottom of the tentacle cap on the top of the tentacle, hold in place using a short and long M4 screw.
+# Loop the Dyneema cord around the capstan, then add subsequent loops alternating from the left and right side to keep the capstan centered. Make 5 loops total (4 additional loops from the initial), and ensure they overlap minimally.
-# Connect the endoscope to a phone, ensure that the orientation of the camera matches the direction the tentacle bends. Twist to adjust.
+# Slide the capstan handle onto the capstan, and secure using 4 M4x10mm bolts.
-# Holding the endoscope head flush to the tentacle cap, secure the tentacle cap top using a short M4 screw.
+# Slide the capstan into the capstan cap, and secure using 1 M4x40mm bolt.
-# Rotate the threaded collar until the flexible spine is fully extended, or is sufficiently tensioned.
+# To deploy, turn the tensioning cap until turning the capstan handle 180º corresponds to 180º range of motion of the endoscope.
-# Ensure that the knob can rotate 180º and corresponds to a 180º range of motion of the tentacle.
-# Screw in the phone mount to the capstone collar.