A Webcam As A Tool???

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An article I read recently was about mounting a webcam to a milling machine to precisely align the bit with the workpiece.  I never really thought about their capabilities, but you can use a webcam for inspecting things, finding dropped parts, etc. when attached to a laptop. Many webcams have a small camera mounted on a large bracket or clip. You can remove the camera and mount it on a stick for poking around in obscure areas. Mount it at an angle and you can see around corners. Heck, you could even tape on a couple of LED lights, if needed. I'm sure you could do a lot more with some creative thinking...America Needs AMERICA'S Oil!!!"Global warming is the greatest scam in history ...There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril."--John Coleman, Founder of The Weather Channel
Reply:I have used my digi-cam as an inspection tool. Couldnt get my head in but could reach the camera in. Did some welding that way too.....
Reply:A simple CCD camera attached to a 19" TV would be a lot faster to set up and a lot less $$Me!
Reply:Originally Posted by steve45An article I read recently was about mounting a webcam to a milling machine to precisely align the bit with the workpiece.  I never really thought about their capabilities, but you can use a webcam for inspecting things, finding dropped parts, etc. when attached to a laptop. Many webcams have a small camera mounted on a large bracket or clip. You can remove the camera and mount it on a stick for poking around in obscure areas. Mount it at an angle and you can see around corners. Heck, you could even tape on a couple of LED lights, if needed. I'm sure you could do a lot more with some creative thinking...
Reply:Originally Posted by Tailshaft56Digital Machinist?  LOLI thought of that article when I read your subject line.
Reply:Web cams are nice and dirt cheap.   They can be easily modified for a number of uses.   One of he big advantages of a web cam though is that if you have a PC you can edit and record to your hearts content.   Provided of course if you have the software and PC.With modern lighting through LED's you can peer into the darkest of places using one cable.   This would require modifying a camera with a set of LED's driven off the USB power line.Dave
Reply:I used a webcam one time to retrieve a big Gould Vertical Lineshaft Pump that had broken off of it's motor and fell 200 feet down a 400 foot well, in Ridgewood NJ.We put it inside a piece of metal pipe, sealed up the wire holes with silicone and glued a piece of glass on the front. I taped lights on the sides of it and got lots of wire and away we went.Why didn't I use a regular commercial camera? I didn't want to destroy the good camera. the webcam was sacrificial. And it did get mashed. But it was fun fishing with a 25 ton crane while watching a monitor.Everybody thought we were crazy, until I pulled the first section of that 200 foot long 8 inch pump up out of the well.Last edited by joethemechanic; 02-26-2008 at 09:13 AM.Joewww.CummingsHauling.com
Reply:look what I found guys http://www.ridgid.com/ASSETS/2BCFBD8...hoto_R2_3C.jpg
Reply:you can buy a spy cam on ebay for $20 comes with a reciever runs on a 9v battery and the cam runs on another 9v battery. its about the size of a penney has a focus lens. I have one have even sent it in the intake before to look at a burnt valve.
Reply:sounds like a cool idea might have to give it a tryYancy,2 Lincoln sticksMiller 210 W/ Spool gun Miller Bobcat 225G Pluscentury 220V Mig
Reply:I've bought one of these for inspection: it's water proof and has some tolerance for heat and cold temps.http://www.21best.com/21_best/electr...for_sale_.htmlAWS CWI Hypertherm 850 plasmaLincoln LN-25Lincoln SAE 400Miller Big 40D28' X 36' X 14' Shop_____________________________________Tools are not the the skill but simply tools!