CNC Reticle Vision, displays reticles on a USB camera image

[kaira3]

Hi everyone,

I also use Centroid Acorn with my CNC router and lathe, enjoying my daily woodworking projects. Recently, I developed an app called "CNC ReticleVision" that overlays a reticle on the video feed from a USB camera. I believe this can be used for precise zero-point setting in CNC operations.

It's not fully complete yet, so the release date is still undecided. However, I hope to release it for a small fee, perhaps the price of a beer.

Is there already something similar or better available that I might not know about? Is the Centroid team planning to develop similar functionality? I tried using an app called CNC Cam, but I found it difficult to adjust the window size, and the image color adjustments and filters were lacking. I believe LinuxCNC and GRBL have similar tools, so I aim to make my app comparable to those.

CNC ReticleVision allows for easy switching between various filters from the sidebar, and adjusting the screen size and zoom is straightforward. The camera feed always stays on top of other windows, and the sidebar hides when another window is focused.

[ShawnM]

Is there already something similar or better available that I might not know about? Is the Centroid team planning to develop similar functionality?

There's a built in function for a crosshair laser to align your part zero visually, works great and its setting are built into the wizard.

[kaira3]

Hi ShawnM,

Thanks for the information! I'm aware of the built-in crosshair laser function, and it's definitely a great feature. However, I've found that for larger CNC routers, using a crosshair laser often requires leaning over the machine, which can be inconvenient. Additionally, the vertical alignment precision of the laser and the material's visibility can vary, affecting its effectiveness. In contrast, an app like CNC ReticleVision offers the advantage of handling everything on-screen, making it easier to achieve higher precision regardless of the material.

I'm curious, have you or anyone else on the forum tried similar software tools like CNC Cam? If so, what were your thoughts? I'm aiming to create something that fills any gaps and provides additional functionality where existing tools might fall short.

Looking forward to more feedback and insights!

[Gary Campbell]

About a decade ago I used a USB microscope with crosshairs as both a diagnostic tool and an alignment tool. It worked well but there were some drawbacks that may or may not be relevant to your product: (same issues apply to a crosshair laser alignment tool)

Focus height was touchy
Cutting dust often covered the lens
Life of the device was shortened by vibration of the cutting head

[kaira3]

Hi Gary,

You’re absolutely right about the challenges with focus height—this is definitely a hassle compared to using a laser. I also agree that dust and vibration can be problematic, but since I'm only developing the software, managing these issues will be up to the users' ingenuity.

Regarding vertical alignment, I’m considering semi-automating this process by placing a marker on the table and using image recognition to align it. However, my skills in this area are still developing, so I’m not sure if I can successfully implement this feature yet.

Thanks for sharing your experience and insights!

[Spartan117]

Regarding vertical alignment, I’m considering semi-automating this process by placing a marker on the table and using image recognition to align it.

Better cut the marker with a tool in the spindle and then setup the offset between the spindle axis and the crosshair at a certain height over the material. This should bring the best accuracy achievable, if you maintain that height later, too.

[ShawnM]

Good luck with this project but it certainly seems like a whole lotta complicated work, maintenance and more electronics to fail than to simply use the crosshair laser. Just my 2¢ but I like to keep things simple.

[carboncymbal]

I think it seems like a great idea to me and I bet it could be easily proven to be more accurate than a cross hair laser. It could possibly be paired with a 3d printed shroud using some simple actuator to cover the lens when not in use.

I’d buy it personally, as I think it has a number of advantages over lasers.

[tblough]

Centering microscopes have been around for almost 100 years.

https://www.titantoolsupply.com/product ... 266/96/cat

This just moves them into the digital age.

[ShawnM]

I think it seems like a great idea to me and I bet it could be easily proven to be more accurate than a cross hair laser. It could possibly be paired with a 3d printed shroud using some simple actuator to cover the lens when not in use.

I’d buy it personally, as I think it has a number of advantages over lasers.

I have no doubt that it could have an "accuracy" advantage only, if setup properly, but that's not really what a crosshair laser is for. The crosshair laser is to get you "close enough" to either the corner of your material, the center of your material or to your WCS 0,0 location. For router users like myself and many of my customers the crosshair laser works perfectly for what it does. It was never really meant to be that accurate. If I want or need accuracy then I pull out my probe and get it exact.

This is not to say that others wont LOVE this feature.

Again, I'm a KISS (keep it simple stupid) kind of guy.