Homebrew PCBs

Here's an interesting article that might help you.

http://www.photocritic.org/2005/macro-photography-on-a-budget/

It's not that hard to change the focal length of a webcam, but you'll 
need to increase the amount of light, either with a macro lens, or by 
using better illumination, or, if the cam allows for it, by using a 
longer exposure.



--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "James Newton" 
<jamesmichaelnewton@y...> wrote:
>
> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Alan King <alan@n...> wrote:
> >   But, I do have plans to focus one of my webcams in very close, 
> put it 
> > right next to the bit, and move up and down.  640 pixels from 
1/4" 
> away 
> > and move the bit up and down should detect if there is any off 
> angle a 
> > little better than using a normal visual method, should get it 
> very 
> > close to perfect on one pass.
> 
> 
> If you find a web cam that can do that or figure out how to adapt 
> one, please let me know. I can't get any of the 4 I own to focust 
> closer than about a foot and a half away. I've looked for close up 
> lenses, but all I can find are for the higher end cameras.
> 
> Having the ability to do close up with a web cam is the first step 
> in machine vision automation on the hobby level. The software is 
> becomming available, the only real cost at this point is the high 
> end cameras you have to buy.
>