Webcam For My Beam Scale

[sfldiver]

I realize similar posts exists, but I haven't seen one in a while and I thought I post it for the benefit of those using a beam scale and considering connecting a webcam for easier and more precise measurements.

A few months ago, I picked up a cheap webcam on Ebay. The webcam literally cost me $4.85 w/ free shipping. I went to Home Depot and bought a few supplies (<$15.00) to create a platform to permanently position my RCBS M500 scale and the webcam. My results far exceeded my expectations, and I now have a great setup to use in conjunction with my RCBS Chargemaster that allows me to literally see the measurements on my beam scale from across the room. I'm currently awaiting my vintage Lyman M-5 scale to be tuned by SPARKER, so I'll be modifying my setup, hopefully this week. However, I thought I'd post a few pics of my setup, for the benefit of those that might be considering using a webcam along with their beam scales, but hadn't pulled the trigger because they thought it was complicated and weren't sure of what kind of results it would yield:

 

[justinp61]

Can you post a link to the camera auction?

 

[jrb572]

That is a nice set up. Just another FYI. Everyone well almost everyone has a smart phone. I use my IPhone with mag light pro and a old Serria 100 count ammo box. Works great.

 

[crash]

nifty idea .

 

[rockable]

I've got to do this. I'm getting tired of bending over and arching my neck back to read my scale.

 

[Mark W]

I recently made a similar setup with a camera that I picked up off of Amazon. I would rank it as the number one improvement that I've ever made to my reloading process.

 

[hoz53]

I realize similar posts exists, but I haven't seen one in a while and I thought I post it for the benefit of those using a beam scale and considering connecting a webcam for easier and more precise measurements.

A few months ago, I picked up a cheap webcam on Ebay. The webcam literally cost me $4.85 w/ free shipping. I went to Home Depot and bought a few supplies (<$15.00) to create a platform to permanently position my RCBS M500 scale and the webcam. My results far exceeded my expectations, and I now have a great setup to use in conjunction with my RCBS Chargemaster that allows me to literally see the measurements on my beam scale from across the room. I'm currently awaiting my vintage Lyman M-5 scale to be tuned by SPARKER, so I'll be modifying my setup, hopefully this week. However, I thought I'd post a few pics of my setup, for the benefit of those that might be considering using a webcam along with their beam scales, but hadn't pulled the trigger because they thought it was complicated and weren't sure of what kind of results it would yield:View attachment 991229 View attachment 991230 View attachment 991231 View attachment 991232

So any webcam will work for this? Since you are viewing on your own monitor instead of sending the pic to another PC I wondererd? Thanks great set up.

 

[sfldiver]

Can you post a link to the camera auction?

Yep, here's the link to the Ebay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/401051782564?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[sfldiver]

I've got to do this. I'm getting tired of bending over and arching my neck back to read my scale.

I hear you rockable! I used to place the scale on top of a stereo speaker mounted on the coffee table - the scale would be perfectly at eye level when seated. However, this eliminated the need to drag the speaker over each time I'm reloading and I don't have to squint anymore to read the scale.

 

[sfldiver]

So any webcam will work for this? Since you are viewing on your own monitor instead of sending the pic to another PC I wondererd? Thanks great set up.

Yep, any webcam should work. You just need to find the software within your computer to view the webcam through. My computer came pre-loaded with a program called CyberLink YouCam which works great.

 

[justinp61]

Yep, here's the link to the Ebay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/401051782564?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Thanks.

 

[1066]

Yep, any webcam should work. You just need to find the software within your computer to view the webcam through. My computer came pre-loaded with a program called CyberLink YouCam which works great.

Excellent job - This is particularly relevant when using the new RCBS M500 scale. Because of the ambidextrous beam, the zero pointer is some way away from the face of the beam, this can easily lead to parallax errors when reading.

Virtually any $5 webcam will work, just need to make sure it has a manual focus lens which will need to be unscrewed a little to focus down to just a couple of inches.

For a PC without webcam support (windows 7) you can use: (Free program)

http://www.sharpcap.co.uk/
or
http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=video

These little cameras also work well on an android tablet with a free app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vaultmicro.camerafi

The android tablets are available for as little as $30 - you can see the system in action here:

I've been using a camera system for around six years now, as originally seen on the accurate shooter forum back in 2010:
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/04/forum-member-rigs-video-display-for-balance-beam-scale/

and the smartphone system here:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/monitor-balance-beam-with-magnified-image-on-smartphone/

 

[stacy]

I've got to do this. I'm getting tired of bending over and arching my neck back to read my scale.

FORSURE ME TO!!!!!!!!!

 

[hoz53]

Yep, any webcam should work. You just need to find the software within your computer to view the webcam through. My computer came pre-loaded with a program called CyberLink YouCam which works great.

Thanks sfl-- I need to do this.

 

[justinp61]

Yep, here's the link to the Ebay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/401051782564?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I used my camera today for the first time, this is great. No more sore neck trying to read my scales. Thanks again.

 

[dickn52]

Don't ask me how I know. Make absolutely sure your center of camera lens is the same height as the needle and mark.

 

[justinp61]

Don't ask me how I know. Make absolutely sure your center of camera lens is the same height as the needle and mark.

Did that, the center of the camera was 1" lower than the indicator mark on my scale so I made a little riser.

 

[Brians356]

These little cameras also work well on an android tablet with a free app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vaultmicro.camerafi

You seem to know all the variations on this theme. Kudos!

I would like to use a cheap web cam (such as the OPs) but don't want my laptop on the loading bench. I do have a Samsung Galaxy J3 smart phone. How can I feed the web cam output into the J3 phone to use it as the display? (I don't want to mount the J3 itself as the camera, as suggested in your list of options.)
-

 

[1066]

You seem to know all the variations on this theme. Kudos!

I would like to use a cheap web cam (such as the OPs) but don't want my laptop on the loading bench. I do have a Samsung Galaxy J3 smart phone. How can I feed the web cam output into the J3 phone to use it as the display? (I don't want to mount the J3 itself as the camera, as suggested in your list of options.)
-

I think you can do that with out too much trouble Brian.

You will need a camera like this: HERE or HERE

You will also need an OTG cable to connect the camera to the phone: HERE or HERE

You will need to download a free app like Camerafi or scope cam: HERE or HERE

Although the camera is as cheap as chips it works well - most of the small cameras will work with an android tablet or phone and the camerafi app, unfortunately not all types will. but you will need one with a manual focus to get down to a couple of inches.

Hope that helps.

 

[Brians356]

...
You will also need an OTG cable to connect the camera to the phone: HERE or HERE
...
Hope that helps.

Sure does thanks.

The J3 phone only has one Micro USB charging port, which probably supports OTG as well, but then I can't run the phone off external power, and with the camera also drawing power it doesn't bode well for running over an extended loading session, but I won't know about the battery drain curve until I try it. There are "octopus" USB hubs out there, but one I looked at could only be run in either OTG or USB mode, switchable.

There are WiFi capable cameras, for a 10x more $$$, probably one could display to my phone via a web interface or something.

PS

I do have one of those plastic prisms on a stand designed for this purpose, and it works well to a point - you still need to get your eyeball in the proper location (just not level with the scale) and the optical clarity of the prism is less than ideal.
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