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VisiCam is a Java application, that turns a webcam into a VisiCut compatible network camera with marker detection and perspective correction. Uses OpenCV through JavaCV. It supports standard USB webcams (via v4l) or custom commands to fetch images (for network cameras).
Using VisiCam and VisiCut you can retrieve an image of the lasercutter's working area and place your designs over your material.
For a first test, you can just tape the markers somewhere near the edges of your lasercutter bed, but keep the following in mind for a professional set-up:
- The markers must not move relative to the lasercutter, so fix them with glue or something similar.
- In the standard setting (Zoom Output = 100%), only the rectangle between the markers will be usable. Otherwise you need to change to a smaller value (e.g., 75%).
- It is okay if the markers are outside of the laser bed or not exactly placed in a rectangle, this is compensated by the calibration in VisiCut.
- The markers should be roughly on the Z-level in which the laser is focused, and should not move in the Z-axis. Otherwise, you will have to repeat calibration whenever you move the camera relative to the lasercutter. (In that case, you don't need VisiCam. Any network-accessible webcam will be enough.)
- For most lasercutters, the bed can be moved up and down for focusing (Z-axis). Because of that, it's not the best idea to fix the markers to the laser bed, because for very thick materials you move the bed so much that the camera calibration is no longer accurate. It is better to put the markers somewhere outside of the bed, but roughly at the Z-level on which the laser is focused. For example you could glue the markers to the side of your lasercutter, left and right of the movable bed.
If you have an Epilog Zing lasercutter, one possibility is to place the markers on the metallic Z-axis holders. Feel free to upload a lasercut design for a marker holder.
If your lasercutter is in a mostly fixed location, you can just mount the camera to the ceiling.
If it is portable, you can also mount the camera to the lasercutter:
- Epilog ??? mount for Raspberry Pi Camera module
- Epilog/Cameo Zing mount for Logitech Pro 9000 camera
If you have any improvements, feel free to edit this page (use the "Edit" button, requires a free GitHub account). If you find a bug in VisiCam or cannot find information, please open an issue. VisiCut is a volunteer project, so it cannot become better without your participation -- Feel free to contribute what you learned to make it easier for the next user!