1 Topic by james76

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Topic: Camera Focus

Just finished build and calibrated - scans are ok but have lots of gaps however have confirmed I need to re-align lasers as not quite parallel - one side would rotate as I tightened the holder so had to twist in other direction before tightening to get angle right.  For first try at calibration the results are encourgaing but I now need to get the calibration correct and the lightning.

One thing that has me confused is that the object on the table is not in focus but items further away are - is this a problem and will it affect quality?  I have seen posts where users have removed the front lens to allow closer focus - I am concerned as if this was general photo I would reject as slightly blurred.

2 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Camera Focus

I think focus is important for fine details at least with a tiny laser dot

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

3 Reply by pirvan (edited by pirvan 2015-10-15 23:27:10)

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Re: Camera Focus

The RaspiCam is designed to focus from about 3ft to infinity, so your image of the turntable which is only about 10-12" away is indeed out of focus.

The fix is to refocus the camera.

The lens is "glued" in place with a dab of lacquer, so you will need to break that glue joint, then focus the lens by turning it gently until it's in focus.  I've done this mod myself, and it's not hard, you just need to be careful when you break that glue joint, or you could tear the CCD off the board.

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4 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Camera Focus

yeah need Macro

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

5 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Camera Focus

does lens have to be reinstalled after? and how does lens focus? more details on this please and if solvent used to remove

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

6 Reply by pirvan

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Re: Camera Focus

Check out the instructions here, half way down in the article it shows how to remove the glue and refocus the camera:

http://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/inf … worksheet/

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
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7 Reply by james76

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Re: Camera Focus

Thanks, I will have a go at the weekend. Did you notice an improvement in scan quality?

8 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Camera Focus

very cool! thanks Pirvan. (from IR camera experience I know IR light does still attract moths etc lol)

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

9 Reply by carl_m1968

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Re: Camera Focus

n2ri wrote:

very cool! thanks Pirvan. (from IR camera experience I know IR light does still attract moths etc lol)


Thats why they often fly into open flames
To them its just a bright IR source

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10 Reply by pirvan

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Re: Camera Focus

james76 wrote:

Thanks, I will have a go at the weekend. Did you notice an improvement in scan quality?

You won't see any difference, or much of a difference if you scan in low res.  In medium res you'll begin to see more detail, and in high res (5MP) it's a world of difference.

Bu there is a gotcha:   The camera will also begin to pick up more stray noise, because it now sees the smallest of details including reflections, so lighting becomes critical.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
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11 Reply by pirvan

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Re: Camera Focus

n2ri wrote:

from IR camera experience I know IR light does still attract moths etc lol

Sorry, I don't follow.

There's no IR camera on this.  The camera is straight RGB, and the software does the filtering internally.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
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12 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Camera Focus

I was referring to the link you posted about using one in Bird house. they said it wont attract bugs ;^)

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

13 Reply by pirvan

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Re: Camera Focus

Oh, sorry.  I didn't even pay attention to the rest of the article,  I only posted the link for the camera focusing instructions.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
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AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

14 Reply by james76

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Re: Camera Focus

pirvan wrote:

Bu there is a gotcha:   The camera will also begin to pick up more stray noise, because it now sees the smallest of details including reflections, so lighting becomes critical.

Hi Pirvan,

Just modified camera and is picking up more detail - I did have noise issues which was fixed by switching desk lamp off - was not a problem before modification to camera so definitely more sensitive now it is in focus.

First 5MB scan is showing a double scan but I noticed I have one sharp laser and one which is not so sharp - do you think this could be causing the problem?

15 Reply by pirvan

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Re: Camera Focus

james76 wrote:

First 5MB scan is showing a double scan but I noticed I have one sharp laser and one which is not so sharp - do you think this could be causing the problem?

About the double scan.  Did you do the auto calibration?  That should re-align the 2 scans and eliminate most if not all of the double scan.

Perform a physical calibration to get the laser as near perfect as possible., then do an auto-calibration, then a test.  Take a look at the little cross-hairs on the test image, they should be nearly aligned.  Even with auto-calibration it's extremely hard to get everything perfect, but they should be very close.  Then try scanning again. 

As for the laser not being sharp, I'm not sure how that could happen.  Put a flat vertical piece just slightly in front of the turntable center and turn both lasers on.  Is one laser line thicker than the other at the same distance?

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
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AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
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16 Reply by james76

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Re: Camera Focus

pirvan wrote:

Is one laser line thicker than the other at the same distance?

Yes one is definitely thicker http://soliforum.com/i/?Kp8ZJKR.jpg

I will try some recalibration - just concerned as one laser is not as sharp

17 Reply by james76

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Re: Camera Focus

Have moved calibration item back from centre so you can see both lasers in image above - when centred they are lined up.

18 Reply by pirvan

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Re: Camera Focus

Interesting. 

I don't think these types of lasers can be focused.  Yes they have a lens, but I'm sure it's glued.

This is something that I think Uriah needs to look at.

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19 Reply by n2ri

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Re: Camera Focus

both look thick for lasers

Solidoodle 2 with Deluxe kit cover & glass bed with heater. and 2nd board SD2 used not 3rd and alum platform not installed yet still wood. also need cooling fan installed to board. use Repetier Host couple vers. Slic3r also have all free ware STL programs

20 Reply by pirvan

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Re: Camera Focus

The line on the right is fine, but the left one is too thick.  Actually the left line is from the right laser.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
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21 Reply by james76

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Re: Camera Focus

Hopefully Uriah will comment soon - I have also sent him a message via Kickstarter.  I did a scan using the right with the camera modifications and the quality was good but some gaps where it could not see (which is normal).  When using both I get a lot of artefacts.

22 Reply by hairu526

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Re: Camera Focus

Hi james76.

The thickness of the lasers can vary some but contrary to popular belief the quality of the scan is driven more by the distribution of energy within the laser than how thick it is.  In single laser modeit should be the right (thicker) laser that is currently giving you your results.  Can you post a picture of the artefacts you are seeing when using both lasers?  It could be something as simple as a calibration issue.

Uriah

23 Reply by james76

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Re: Camera Focus

Hi Uriah,

I have attached a file https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/747 … 728354.ply.  The thickness of the lasers is quite different - looks more different than the screenshot.  It is difficult to calibrate as I line up the thickest laser and then put the other one down the centre of this - I then judge the fade off of the thicker laser to decide if I have them centred.

When an item is being scanned you can see the thicker line of the laser hitting the surface compared to the other laser.

James

24 Reply by hairu526

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Re: Camera Focus

The ground plane height (on the settings page) needs to be set higher to get rid of the points on the ground.  The "double shell" effect is likely due to camera or laser miscalibration or an non-level turntable.  The stray points around the beak should be cleaned up in post processing.

25 Reply by james76

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Re: Camera Focus

When I try with a single laser I do not get any issues, I have raised the ground plane but have not tried a new scan yet (ground is fairly easy to clean in meshlab.  So the do you think the differences in laser thickness are not affecting the performance?