ARCHIVE Wits' End- Developing a BlackVue DashCam mount

[NLXTACY]

Just posting this because I'm getting crazy distracted and don't want to forget about it.

Adding the BlackVue Dashcam to the turbo truck. I needed something and I kept getting asked for mounting options. I hate anything sticking to the windshield so this gave an opportunity to create a new mounting solution. From here its possible to make other types of mounts.

The better part of a day was spent just figuring it out. This one isn't cut-n-clean. It needed to mount onto the Wits' End arm but I wanted it to be able to lock the camera in place so that it couldn't just be removed/stolen. Couple hours of hand milling and had a working prototype. From here it'll get some mechanical engineering time to make it perfecter.

The mount is currently Delrin but will eventually be aluminum. It attaches to the (2) 1/4-20 threaded screws on the bottom of the mirror arm. The BlackVue mount is just a strip of VHB. That is still going to be used but itself its to affix to the aluminum plate. One edge of the mount will be locked into place while the opposing side has a nub to lock it into that side. The VHB is just belts and suspenders.

I'm thinking about keeping the flat area on top for wifi/gps/parking/toll passes

 

[NLXTACY]

Couldn't find the proper cutter bit for the undercut so dremel'd one

 

[NLXTACY]

The mount is designed to work with any amount of play on the arm/wedge/mount.

 

[NLXTACY]

Mounted inside the truck. Came out pretty damn flawlessly.

 

[NLXTACY]

The locking feature I wanted to add requires the same tool the BlackVue comes with to unlock it from the mount in order to remove it.

 

[nukegoat]

Is the blackvue the dashcam to get? Serious question, I remember looking on Amazon and being overwhelmed with Chinese dashcam clones

 

[Oneops]

Stellar!

 

[bucketman]

Can't wait for mine!

 

[Kernal]

Great work as usual.

What power is needed and can it be run off the wires to the sunroof motor??

 

[NLXTACY]

Great work as usual.

What power is needed and can it be run off the wires to the sunroof motor??

About to find out

 

[mdcoa]

@NLXTACY , any idea when these will get to production?

 

[NLXTACY]

Switched it to a two piece to make machining easier AND so that it grabs onto the base without needing to remove the VHB tape. Better for resale I guess

Currently being tested on a 3rd Gen on washboard roads.

 

[NLXTACY]

First bits being machined for final fit check

 

[FMC80]

Yer parts are so pretty…so to speak

 

[roflbox]

First bits being machined for final fit check

View attachment 2908212

View attachment 2908213

do you have a CNC in house?

 

[NLXTACY]

Production first article of the BlackVue dashcam mount to attach to the GMA. It’s been reduced in size and now two pieces in order to be easier to machine but also to clamp the mount better do that the #VHB isn’t required at all.

So the ONLY reason I’m bringing this up instead of waiting until I have a finished product is because there is an opportunity for another function:

See that flat face on the new mount? It faces the windshield. Nearly parallel with it. It gets direct Sun/sky exposure. This *could* very easily be a pad to mount anything from a GPS transponder, a SiriusXM antenna, or even a FastPass or other cell/wifi/Bluetooth device that needs to be visible or need access thru the windshield. The question is whether or not the area is large enough for something like a FastPass or similar? Or could any flat surface be enough? It could also work for a parking garage sticker or similar.

 

[NLXTACY]

Finished the mount and getting ready to install it this week. I need to still figure out the rear facing camera. I'm making ten of the mounts though and they just went out to anodize. Added to the site:

Dashcam Mount for Generic Mirror Arm- BlackVue

Dashcam Mount for Generic Mirror Arm- BlackVue (GMA-BV1)

absolute-wits-end.com

 

[NLXTACY]

Finishing touches on the #Blackvue #dashcam

I think it works

 

[NLXTACY]

Gotta still do a @shocktower and tuck the wires

 

[NLXTACY]

Ok so update on the #BlackVue mounts. We found two issues that wasn’t planned for so had to modify the mount design. I’ll post that separately.

One issue we found was the added bulk of cabling that needed to be controlled especially when dealing with a 2-channel dashcam. The wire bundle was too thick so a raised channel cap was made to handle the extra wiring.

No cost difference to anyone who already order the BlackVue mount. It’ll just be part of the product.