Jon Schiereck has developed a 3D-printed punching machine that turns photographic paper into strips that can be used in cameras. The setup uses specially ground drill bits to punch sprocket holes into the paper, and the mechanism can be operated with a hand crank or a cordless drill.
The design can be tried for free through a Ko-Fi page. Schiereck is also reportedly working on a 3D-printable cutter for preparing 35mm paper strips. The resulting material can be developed like printing paper.
Why it matters
This work opens up part of the production process to users in analog photography by showing that material for use with 35 mm cameras is not limited to ready-made photographic film. The freely available design allows those who want to build a similar setup to examine the project and adapt it to their own needs. Its ability to operate with a hand crank and a cordless drill means that using the mechanism is not dependent on a specific electrical system. However, the project’s practical value depends on how compatible the strips produced will be with different photographic papers and different camera conditions; the available information does not explain this. The completion of work on the cutter also shows that the process will not be limited to the hole-punching stage alone.