(Under construction)

Which camera, which laser? - that´s the one and first question of a DAVID-starter.

Keep in mind: DAVID´s idea is to offer a “Definitely Affordable Vision Device”. So the right choice depends on your aims.

What do you want to scan? Which accuracy of the resulting mesh is necessary? What means “affordable” for you?

It´s always a good idea to spend as little money as possible to do the first steps: You allready own a webcam? Try it! You allready own a linelaser (maybe in a Spirit-level)? Try it!

Maybe you will not get perfect scans with this hardware, but you will get a feeling for DAVID and you will be proud when you got your first results.

This is the sort of image you are looking for

Generally EVERY camera, that is able to record or stream a video can be used, for DAVID owns two gateways to get the video of the laserline on the object:

1. DAVID can grab the frames of a stored AVI-video with DAVID Video Grabber; So, as long as you´re able to store a video of the cam on your PC, you will be able to use the cam for DAVID. Even an old analog cam may be used, if you record its video on your PC using a TV- or grabber-card.
2. DAVID can catch the frames from a PC-camera (e.g. “webcam”) in live-mode. The one and only requirement is, that the cam has to support WDM Video-Capture-Driver for Windows.

Webcams, are mass produced, offer good, but shurely limited quality for little money. There are some aspects you should keep in mind buying one for DAVID:

General aspects:

• In most cases, DAVID works in lowlight conditions to get a clear contrasted laserline. So the cam should be able to handle this. You need high light sensitivity and as little noise as possible.
• Most webcams are not produced to do their job in such extreme lightconditions, their automatics are often overstrained. You should have the option to switch them off.(Autofocus, shutter- and gain automatics…)
• If you have to switch off the automatics, you have to have the option to set focus, exposure/shutter time and sensitivity/iris by hand.
• In most cases glass optics generate less lens distortions.

Aspects for special purposes:

• Resolution: Higher resolution of the cam´s picture gives more accuracy and details (if your laser line is fine enough), but your framerate will fall. So if your object tends to move (like a vivid object) higher resolutions are limited.
• Framerate: The higher the framerate, the lower is the possible scanning time. But high framerates are only possible at lower resolutions. You will never get the maximum framerate of a cam at its maximum resolution. So if you plan to scan inanimate, unmoving objects the framerate is less important.

( Note: This list is only a sample of used cams in alphabetical order, no ranking!. Please add your cam and your experiences! Use headline H5 to add a new one. The framerates depend also on the used PC-hardware! )

1.3 Megapixel CMOS-Chip

Scanning up to 1600×1200 pixels at 5fps (960×720 at 15fps, 680×480 at 30fps) max framerate: 30fps

Possibility to set focus, exposure and sensitivity by hand; Zeiss-glass optics

ca.:80.- € - 99.- €

680×480 CCD-Chip

Scanning up to 680×480 pixels at 55fps max framerate: 90fps

Possibility to set focus, exposure and sensitivity by hand; Glass optics

ca.: 60.- €

1.3 Megapixel CMOS-Chip

max framerate: 90 fps

not tested yet

ca 80.- €

1.3 Megapixels CMOS-Chip

640×480 : 30 fps

1280×1024 : 12….15 fps

about 30 € - 45 €

More quality for more money.

Focusable red 5mW laser with glass lenses

Focus easy to adjust (that means without a special tool, simply by rotating a part of the housing)

3 V DC @ <50 mA (measured 32 mA)

From DAVID-Laserscanner Shop

Focusable green 5mW laser with glass lenses

Focus easy to adjust

3 V DC @ < 300mA (measured 178mA)

From DAVID-Laserscanner Shop