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.

Running on Windows

Exact Requirements

• Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable x64
• Apache Ant 1.9.9
• OpenCV Library 2.4.9
• JavaCV Library 0.8
• Oracle Java JDK 1.7u80 (Login required for downloading)

Howto compile

• Install JDK
• At first add the ant executable to %PATH% environment variable
• Add OpenCV bin directory to %PATH%: <location>\opencv\build\x64\vc10\bin
• Clone VisiCam by git clone https://github.com/t-oster/VisiCam.git to desired destination
• Unzip javacv-0.8-bin.zip to <yourdestination>\VisiCam\lib\javacv-bin\

Then run:

cmd
cd "<yourdestination>\VisiCam\"
set "JAVACMD=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_80\bin\java.exe"
ant clean
ant -verbose

Run VisiCam

cmd
cd "<yourdestination>\VisiCam\"
ant run

You may access the spawned web interface on http://localhost:8080

Notes

You can also refer to the dedicated documentation of FabLab Chemnitz

Running on Ubuntu

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

0. Download JavaCV:

• On Linux: Simply run ./lib/fetch-javacv.sh on the command line in the unzipped VisiCam directory.

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 Fedora

See https://github.com/t-oster/VisiCam/wiki/Fedora-Installation

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?

See also https://github.com/t-oster/VisiCam/wiki/Raspberry-Pi-installation-on-Raspbian

Running with Docker

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 web browser 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 ;)