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 Post subject: Video Camera Setup to Speed up Cutting
PostPosted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 6:38 pm 
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Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:39 am
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Location: So. Cal.
Hi everyone,

I just recently started cutting again after an approx 15 yr hiatus and then had to have cataract surgery on both eyes.

My close up vision is fairly good but not like it was so I am trying to devise a live camera feed to a computer monitor to quickly see detail of the cutting progress to save time.

I had a setup many years ago of a cheap camera for security systems with a 10x loupe fastened to the front and hooked to a small tv and it gave good enough definition with good lighting when I pointed the camera at the pavilion.

I would prefer not to spend over $200 on the setup. I wondered if anyone has come up with anything else that would be an improvement on this setup. Thanks for any tips or advice.

Randy

P.S. I did search but found only cameras for taking gem photos.


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 Post subject: Re: Video Camera Setup to Speed up Cutting
PostPosted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:06 pm 
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Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:31 pm
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Location: North Carolina
A good option for this might be an industrial zoom lens coupled with a c-mount camera. These basically fit a similar niche to a stereo microscope, but only have one light path and no eyepieces, just a port for a camera.

If you want to couple the camera to a computer, you can get a 5mp USB c-mount camera for 50 bucks here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9TCZLV?
There are also plenty of generic hdmi ones that can go directly to a screen as well.

I recently picked one of the USB ones in the link above to go on one of my zoom lenses. It seems quite reasonable for the price.

Industrial c mount lenses are also available direct from China (no idea what the quality is like), or used units from Navitar, Computar, Unitron, Kyowa or a number of other brands are easily found on eBay at good prices.

You probably don't need a full focus mount for your application. One solution would be to pick up a chemistry ring stand with a clamp to hold the lens.

Many of these might be overkill for what you need, both optically and magnification-wise (a typical zoom range is from 0.7x-4.5x, equivalent of 7-45x on a stereo microscope, though a camera sensor smaller than a 1" will only see the center of the image). But they are really cool, and should easily fit within your budget. There are plenty of fixed magnification options too, but being able to zoom is always nice.

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 Post subject: Re: Video Camera Setup to Speed up Cutting
PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:52 am 
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Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Try a USB microscope, there are ones that are adjustable from 5x-500x for relatively cheap. You can buy them with mounts and I'd attach it to a swing arm for ease of use.

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 Post subject: Re: Video Camera Setup to Speed up Cutting
PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 1:48 am 
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Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:39 am
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Thanks to both Stephen and Lucas for the great ideas. I am not familiar with the USB microscopes but will be checking into them.

Randy


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 Post subject: Re: Video Camera Setup to Speed up Cutting
PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 12:36 pm 
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An all-in-one like Lucas suggested is actually a better suggestion for this usecase. Same basic principle but much less setup or scroucing for materials than a higher end system would need.

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