Techno Vision / Camera Location System

[jim_vv]

Greetings, All

A sign guy that I cut for asked me if I had the capability of camera location on my router. He sent me a video of what he was talking about:
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jh5g8S16xk&feature=email)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jh5g8S16xk&feature=email

I told him that although I don’t have the location camera and software which Techno CNC utilizes in the video, I think I can achieve the same result. I told him that I would need him to incorporate markers in the X and Y axis within his vector drawings and print the same markers onto his media from which I can then reference during set-up.


Has anyone done this, or does anyone have any ideas on how to achieve this with a fairly high level of accuracy?


Being able to cut the shapes after the printed media has been applied would make his job a lot easier and may provide he and I with many more opportunities.


I spoke with Gordon at ShopBot to see if this may be in the works and to confirm that he was O.K. with me posting the video. He did say that this was something that ShopBot is considering and that posting this may stir up some healthy discussion.


Kind regards,


JIM

[myxpykalix]

I have been "working on" (translation=thinking about) something like this for awhile. My application was not so much for being able to cut something out but for ease of being able to set my X,Y.

My idea was to take a set of lasers and make a + pattern within a cutout circle.
Then i wanted to mount some type of "eye" to the carriage that could recognize the laser + then center on that + then offset the carriage so that the bit is centered over the +

The issues i had trouble resolving was was kind of "device" like a photoelectric cell or camera could recognize the +. It would involve programming which i can't do.

The idea was to take the lasers drop it over your + on the material and let the camera find the + then offset it the distance between the camera located on the carriage and the center of the bit.:eek:

[feinddj]

I have been asked if I could do this for a sign shop. I happen to have the laser from Widget works and that worked well for aligning. It a bit of trial and error but I don't have to buy anything new. The shop next to me goes further. they have an overlay system on their waterjets for cutting stone. It shows a pic of the bed and you can align the drawing to the material for best grain/etc.

David

[bruce_taylor]

Thats some cool technology be interesting to see where it goes in the future,
I would like to be able to do it! Will be watching eagerly for your progress...

[dana_swift]

Jim, the SB's can do that technically but not practically.

The underlying technology is the affine transform, what the camera does is get some number of correlation points, then the cut file is automatically re-computed to correct for rotation, and scale errors in X and Y.

What is possible- is to do the camera correlation, then automatically run an external program that re-processes the SBP file with updated coordinates after deriving the necessary affine correction matrix, that file is then cut as a sub-file.

That is the exact kind of capability is what I have been adding to my bot "toolbox", but the ability to develop the necessary software is non-trivial, and you would have to develop the specifics yourself. Its like the early days of any technology. In the future this will be standard operating procedure, and clearly if you can do it yourself, or want another brand of machine- its available today.

D

[myxpykalix]

The underlying technology is the affine transform, what the camera does is get some number of correlation points, then the cut file is automatically re-computed to correct for rotation, and scale errors in X and Y.

What is possible- is to do the camera correlation, then automatically run an external program that re-processes the SBP file with updated coordinates after deriving the necessary affine correction matrix, that file is then cut as a sub-file

Dana,
WHUUUT?:confused: :D This is the issues i was running into, i couldn't do the programming. Although what i was thinking about isn't as complicated as what was shown.

[Rob Gunn]

OK, that is cool but it looks expensive and a lot of software and hardware to invest in. I don't want to sound like a party-poper but we are basically doing the same thing but in revers application. We print the object onto film on our HP printer leaving a boarder around the object. Then we cut the panel separate on the ShopBot (with the same vector file). Then we apply the film to the panel (being careful to line it up correctly) and then simply trim off the extra boarder around the edge with a razor knife. I know this is low tech but it works for us.:D

[waynelocke]

I cut some 4' X 8' sintra with a vinyl overlay with a number of parts on it. I incorporated 3 crosshairs into the graphic and lined it up with a vee bit. I lined up the first hole then did a va command and set the router location to the crosshair. I put a small temporary screw in the crosshair and moved the router to the next crosshair position and adjusted the piece and then checked it on the next crosshair. All of the parts were lined up perfectly.

Not very high tech.

[cabnet636]

i have cut for a local sign shop using waynes method

[Brady Watson]

i have cut for a local sign shop using waynes method

Yup...X2 - V-bit and crosshairs get you close enough for sign work.

-B

[KPAK]

Most manufacturers add this system to their routers, etc.

http://www.icutvision.com/

I do not know if it is available for individual purchase.