BMCC 2.5k Teardown and Rebuild!

Just planning my wedding at the moment!

Dammit, Tom! I thought we was gonna be bachelors fir life!

Hey, so here is a simple test...I think the way the BMCC is designed causes a heat problem because the SSD gets super super hot and thats what really effects the overall heat of the camera. Luckily, my camera design is so much more open, literally it's so free for air circulation. Anyways, let me know what you think.

This is so great...and in a scary-yet-satisfying kind of way. It's nice to know BMCC has such sexy insides, and I also mean that it's capable of capturing amazing images, but the heat does become an issue, especially when, like me, one were to live and work in such a humid and hot area of the world as the southern-most tip of Texas. Shooting with the Red One on a project back in 2010 the DIT had zip-lock bags of ice gaffer-taped to the top of the brain on more than a few occasions. Today, I forget how hot the BMCC actually gets until I reach in to pull out the SSD. I'm surprised the label hasn't melted off by now.

So glad to hear you're back such great progress on your most interesting project, Davi!

Love it! A gutsy project for sure! Looks like you're going to squeeze every once of image quality from that beast!
I'm sure that keeping the sensor cool will make a big difference in reducing the noise. You may also want to look into shielding the boards from RF.

Hey, so here is a simple test...I think the way the BMCC is designed causes a heat problem because the SSD gets super super hot and thats what really effects the overall heat of the camera. Luckily, my camera design is so much more open, literally it's so free for air circulation. Anyways, let me know what you think.

This is so great...and in a scary-yet-satisfying kind of way. It's nice to know BMCC has such sexy insides, and I also mean that it's capable of capturing amazing images, but the heat does become an issue, especially when, like me, one were to live and work in such a humid and hot area of the world as the southern-most tip of Texas. Shooting with the Red One on a project back in 2010 the DIT had zip-lock bags of ice gaffer-taped to the top of the brain on more than a few occasions. Today, I forget how hot the BMCC actually gets until I reach in to pull out the SSD. I'm surprised the label hasn't melted off by now.

So glad to hear you're back such great progress on your most interesting project, Davi!

Yeah you know just the act of separating the sensor from the ssd makes a huge difference! In heat affecting the sensor, as you can see the image still has noise when you under expose, but I feel the image holds up better... Idk I'll keep doing more tests.

Love it! A gutsy project for sure! Looks like you're going to squeeze every once of image quality from that beast!
I'm sure that keeping the sensor cool will make a big difference in reducing the noise. You may also want to look into shielding the boards from RF.

How does one shield the board from RF? You are talking about radio frequency??

Well, it's been several months. I've tried hard to learn all I could about design, 3D printing, 3D programs, and real world functionality. I've been working with a very cool company in Seattle and we decided to do trade work. I'll shoot them some commercials for their site and they will print my camera body. Simple! But it's been a long road and lot's of collaboration. The body is being printed right now and will be done in about 27 hours plus washing and drying. I'll make a video once it's all assembled and done.

The idea with this print is to have me assemble the body and begin using the camera. After a few weeks of shooting I'll have a better focused, detailed idea as to what needs to be fixed in the 3d print model. Please keep in mind this is not to look super pretty but functional, hopefully the final print will be a little more aesthetically pleasing but that's not the main point. Any ways thanks for all of the people who have been so supportive. This has been a lot of work and one thing I learned from this whole experience is that we live in a miraculous day in age, the internet, technology, and innovation has reached the farthest corners of the world and is all present at our very finger tips. We can build, invent, create anything our minds can think of! Even if it's crazy...

D Magic body 7 pic 4 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

D Magic body 7 pic 3 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

D Magic body 7 pic 2 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

D Magic body 7 pic 1 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

Love it! A gutsy project for sure! Looks like you're going to squeeze every once of image quality from that beast!
I'm sure that keeping the sensor cool will make a big difference in reducing the noise. You may also want to look into shielding the boards from RF.

How does one shield the board from RF? You are talking about radio frequency??

Yes, shielding from radio frequency.
There is a guy who specializes in RF shielding named David Schulte and he has a company called The Upgrade Company. His web site is down, but give David Shulte a call: http://davidjschulte.com/upgradecompany/ He has a proprietary shielding that he applies to boards that is claimed and reported to work wonders in lowering noise and increasing depth and "blackness". His work primarily targets the modification of High End audio products, but the benefit in video is claimed and sited too. His work comes with a money back if not delighted guaranty. Just so you know, he's not without controversy and has his detractors. It's hard to determine if they're real or fabricated by his competition. I have a friend that has his modified Signature OPPO 105 and is thrilled with the sound and picture. With a money back guaranty, it seems like you can't go wrong.

Oh, and GREAT JOB on your teardown and rebuild!!

IMG_20150804_193305 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

IMG_20150730_103002 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

My very first prototype Version 2.0 will look a little better. But it works

Congratulations! Is this a plastic 3D printer build? I wonder how a Hammerite or crinkle paint finish would look as a finishing touch? But very impressive project!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow. Awesome updates. Well done sir.

Congratulations on pulling it off, and sticking to it all the way till the end. If you ask me, it looks nice even as it is, just to touch up the surface, and it's all good

It seems a Lil big, but very nice work being able to put everything together.

Now you just need to find a coder so you can add some new features

Sent from my Z970 using Tapatalk

That's awesome. So glad you kept at it!

The SSD slot reminds me of the Floppy Disk Drives of old LOL

Hello,

Here is a better view. I'm holding it. Finally got it all put together, I will definitely need to re-print a version 2.0

IMG_20150810_213338 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

IMG_20150810_213228 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

The new more final model is done and I'm excited, it finished printing this past Monday... but I'm away from home!! I'll be picking it up on Monday and by Tuesday I'll have it all put together. I hope it all fits properly, it's a different model, much more improved.

SpaceClaim.363 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2015-11-26 at 9.55.55 AM by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

I'm going to print the body out of ASA, once I got deep into this project I knew I'd need a way to print for cheap. I don't have tons of money so I did 'trade work' with a professional 3D company here in Seattle called Pro3dComposites.
http://pro3dcomposites.com/materials/asa/

We agreed on printing my camera body for free if I'd make them a commercial for their web-site. So I'm kind of stuck with the best they can offer me from the 3D printing world. I'm happy with the quality as the first prototype they printed me was ABS
and that was quite good, ASA is supposed to be even better. I originally wanted CARBON FIBER lol if you watched my first video. lol Maybe someday...

Here is the commercial I finished for them: (with the prototype printed camera)

Nice little spot. Doesn't need to dissolve to white at the end, I don't think; just leave the tag on straight through. Love the Macintosh cameo.

Great innovation Davi, ergonomy was one thing that was truly lacking forcing users to rig. your concept is in the right direction.

Looks interesting
It would be cool if yor new cooling system can unlock 60fps

Looks interesting
It would be cool if your new cooling system can unlock 60fps

Yeah, the only obstacle is "unlocking" anything... It's much harder than it seems. I am actually working on some Reverse Engineering but hopes are not high as it's very complicated and FPGAs are even more complex.

Last time I'll update this BMCC 2.5k Teardown and Rebuild!! I promise. Here is the final product "Vursa Mini"

Vursa Mini 03 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

Vursa Mini 02 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

Vursa Mini 01 by Davi Silveira, on Flickr

Dude. So cool! Love seeing the progress of this!

Nice to see your creature.
you could be interest to add this to your beast
http://dp2retina.rozsnyo.com/
an interface to feed a videosignal to Ipad retina display, or to a Macbook display, they build interface where attach display. An interesting project.

so freakin' sweet.
if you build them; we will buy them.

The body design looks a lot more like the FS100/FS700, to be honest!

Great effort...rewarding results.

Great effort...rewarding results.

Thanks man, here is the last video

Great effort...rewarding results.

Thanks man, here is the last video

Cool. Nice to see the finished build!


Well done!

Congratulations Davi! This is one of the most impressive DIY projects I have ever seen! I think it's safe to say that you now own the lowest noise highest performing BMCC in existence! Very well done!

Davi

Thank you for updating your project.

May I ask why you have decided to keep the touch screen on the dumb side of the camera?

Davi

Thank you for updating your project.

May I ask why you have decided to keep the touch screen on the dumb side of the camera?

Yeah, since I couldn't get the parts to make an articulating screen converting the FCC cable to a ribbon cable plus all the extra time it would take to figure all of that out I decided to stick with my original plan based on some concept art drawn by people on this same forum. With the screen on that side it makes it easy for an 1st AC and/or 2nd AC to pull focus, access the menu, and serves as a monitor for anyone on that side of the camera who wants to see the shot. Director, Producer, DP... while the Camera Operator can use his own ViewFinder. Like I said in the last video it has come in handy more often than not! Quite surprised how useful it's been. Additionally with an extra SDI I can send a signal to Video Village plus the ViewFinder as an extra SDI out, so that's a total of 3 SDIs. Those are most of the reasons why I placed the touch screen on that side. Hope that answers your question Leon.

With the screen on that side it makes it easy for an 1st AC and/or 2nd AC to pull focus, access the menu, and serves as a monitor for anyone on that side of the camera who wants to see the shot

I admire your trust in your colleagues.

Hope that answers your question Leon.

It sure does Davi.

Hi Davi
this is a really good mod and I like it so much.

I wonder how much will this cost me if I want to do the same with my BMPC 4k?

Hi Davi
this is a really good mod and I like it so much.

I wonder how much will this cost me if I want to do the same with my BMPC 4k?

Thanks man, this was so long ago lol everything I did was either trade work or by me. I really don't know the cost, the cable was the hardest thing to get. Shoot me an email and I'll help you out further.
vidasilveira85@gmail.com
Davi

Hi Davi

Good to see that you have resurfaced.

Since all the changes in BMD cameras since your build.

Where are you in the Blackmagic Design camera evolution?

Hi Davi

Good to see that you have resurfaced.

Since all the changes in BMD cameras since your build.

Where are you in the Blackmagic Design camera evolution?

Hey hey, doing good. Currently I own a UMP and still use my 3D-BMCC 2.5k as b-cam on some projects. I'm actually working on a video/blog on how I did the teardown and rebuild! lol Should have done this a long time ago but better late than never I guess.

Hi Davi,

Can you point me in the right direction for the Exact Edge Cable you used to extend the Sensor.

thanks

Hi Davi,

Can you point me in the right direction for the Exact Edge Cable you used to extend the Sensor.

thanks

Hey James,

Check out my blog on my site. I break down the whole thing! www.davi-silveira.com

Davi,

Trying go to page 2 of the build log results in an invalid link to localhost.

Davi,

Trying go to page 2 of the build log results in an invalid link to localhost.

I don't know where you're at... Have you gone to my blog and watched the video?
http://www.davi-silveira.com/blog-post-bmcc.html
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ggopE34li7w

From here http://www.davi-silveira.com/blog-classic.html
Click top right menu , select blog takes me to a Rough Guide Teardown 2.5k with left a right buttons.
Clicking the right button activates a link to
http://localhost/wordpress/page/2/

Went through the whole thread and all I can say is amazing job Davi, I love seeing this type of project. Maybe because I'm not good with my hands and would destroy everything if I tear down a camera

Went through the whole thread and all I can say is amazing job Davi, I love seeing this type of project. Maybe because I'm not good with my hands and would destroy everything if I tear down a camera

Funny you should say that - I’ve bought a few faulty 2.5k units over the years. All but one of them has had the flexible cable ripped in two when the previous owner opened the unit.

If you ever open one of these - watch the video from Davi - you MUST remove the fan first - and disconnect the little cable hidden beneath. Overwise you risk the same problem.
You can repair the cable - not a job for the faint hearted though ( microscopes , careful sanding down to the copper , attaching a Flat Flex socket , and extending with a new 12 way 0.5mm flat flex.

Hi Davi,

Can you point me in the right direction for the Exact Edge Cable you used to extend the Sensor.

thanks

Hey James,

Check out my blog on my site. I break down the whole thing! http://www.davi-silveira.com

Thanks for this work ! Amazing and very inspiring !
I have several questions for you :
- how did you attached the vlock mount at the back ?
- Did you change the battery ?
- Did you make an HDMI OUT on the top ?
- Do you think its possible to change the mount ?
- Where did you 3D printed the new "cage", what materials, how much did it cost you ?
- Do you think its possible to hack the firmware somewhat ?

Cheers

Hi Davi,

Can you point me in the right direction for the Exact Edge Cable you used to extend the Sensor.

thanks

Hey James,

Check out my blog on my site. I break down the whole thing! http://www.davi-silveira.com

Thanks for this work ! Amazing and very inspiring !
I have several questions for you :
- how did you attached the vlock mount at the back ?
- Did you change the battery ?
- Did you make an HDMI OUT on the top ?
- Do you think its possible to change the mount ?
- Where did you 3D printed the new "cage", what materials, how much did it cost you ?
- Do you think its possible to hack the firmware somewhat ?

Cheers

Great questions!! Man this has been so long ago! Here is a blog post I made with a video to go along with it.

http://www.davi-silveira.com/post/13/

I hope this answers your questions