Web Cam Edge/Center Finder

Saw this on another board and figured I’d give it a try. Great for CNC Mill’s, but could be used even without CNC just for edge and center finding.

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=27425

I tried using a webcam I already have, but it didnt have external focus and it was only a basic 640 x 480 res so even if I could focus it – the crosshairs were too thick and the res too low.

Saw a Radioshack branded Logitech 1.3 MegaPixel webcam that has a focus ring on the outside for $20 today and got that to give it a shot.

So far so good –

The Letter N on my laptops Keyboard. I’m holding the webcam and flashlight and then trying to hit print screen without shaking anything – pretty hard. Picture on screen was much nicer and I could get closer, but not without a big black crescent appearing from the focus ring blocking the light. Not to mention photo bucket resizing and compressing the image. I’ll have to cut that down a bit to allow the lens to get closer to the workpiece while still allowing illumination.

Going to take the webcam apart tomorrow to see how the board is – I’ve taken a cheapie logitech apart before and it was just like the one in HSM thread.

Not sure I can make a housing anywhere as nice as that guys.. but I’ll give it a shot when I get some stock.