Photogrammetric Control Cradle for small objects

This is a cradle for holding small (mm to cm scale) objects stationary, whilst they are photographed from multiple angles for the purpose of close-range, hand-held, low-cost (non-industrial) photogrammetry (i.e. photogrammetric scanning, for the purpose of reconstruction of 3D virtual models). It is particularly useful for holding objects with complex shapes, such that a particular side/face can be scanned/reconstructed, whether singularly or for the systematic reconstruction of the whole 3D object.

The cradle incorporates distinct "steps" and "towers", which contain a series of small holes, designed to be filled with narrow diameter black rubber gasket (glued in place, then cut with a very sharp blade to be flush with the surface). When printed in a light material these provide an abundance of small, distinct dots, the centres of which have known coordinates in x, y and z (with reference to the centre of the base of the cradle). These are designed for use as control points (CP, als