VisiCam

A Java application, that turns a webcam into a VisiCut compatible network camera with marker detection and perspective correction. Uses OpenCV through JavaCV

For detailed information, please have a look at the VisiCam Wiki.

Compile and Run

0. Download JavaCV:

• On Linux: Simply run ./lib/fetch-javacv.sh on the command line in the unzipped VisiCam directory.
• On Windows: Read the instructions in that file (Download and unpack ZIP).

1. Make sure you have apache-ant, java jdk >=6 and openCv installed (see below for OS-specific instructions)
2. Go in the unzipped VisiCam directory and run ant on the command line
3. run java -jar dist/VisiCam.jar on the Command Line or double click on the VisiCam.jar file in finder/explorer

Running on the Raspberry Pi

If you use it on ARM, you need to replace the javacv.jar in the dist/lib folder with the javacv.jar from the lib/javacv-pi folder. It works on ArchLinux (opencv can be installed through pacman). But is VERY SLOW. Any help is appreciated.

TODO: currently broken?

Running on Windows

• Download and install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86) http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=5555 or Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x64) http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=14632

• Download OpenCV from http://sourceforge.net/projects/opencvlibrary/files/opencv-win/2.4.3/OpenCV-2.4.3.exe/download

• Add either the build/vc10/bin folder to PATH or copy all the dlls to the VisiCam folder

Running on Ubuntu

Install the required dependencies with: sudo apt-get install openjdk-8-jdk ant libopencv2.4

You can also have a look at the Dockerfile for a more up-to-date list of all commands.

Usage

The following is a short summary of how to use VisiCut. For more detailed information, have a look at the VisiCam Wiki.

1. Place 4 Markers (Circles within circles) near the corners of you laser-bed. For a first test, almost any configuration is okay, for example like this. Detailed information on how to achieve a professional set-up can be found in the VisiCam Wiki.
2. Place a webcam over the laser-cutter, so that it's image contains all the markers.
3. Connect the webcam to a PC running VisiCam.
4. Go to you webbrowser and enter the VisiCam URL (is shown in the window after starting VisiCam).
5. Click on "Refresh" on the left side to check if the camera is working and the markers are visible.
6. Click on "Show Configuration". Here you can specify the resolutions and more important:
7. For each Marker-Position (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right) select a rectangle on the image, where VisiCam should search the marker
8. Save the configuration with a click on the save-button
9. In VisiCut go to Preferences -> Manage Lasercutters -> Edit and enter the CameraURL, which is <VisiCam URL>/image. If you have the latest version, you can just click "search" and all VisiCam instances in your Network should appear.
10. You should see now the image from the webcam. To calibrate the camera go in Visicut to Options -> Calibrate Camera... and choose a laser setting. Then click on the Send Calibration Page-Button. VisiCut will send a calibration file to your lasercutter. It will cut two crosses (with the choosen settings) at (20%/20%) and (80%/80%) of the laser-bed. In the following dialog, you have to take a picture and move the red reference crosses matching to the ones you did just cut.
11. Be happy with your VisiCam ;)