> Newbie..., BEWARE lol
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CorsairBotis |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 16
Registered on : 04/09/2008
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Hi all,
as you read I am a complete newb to this stuff. I just discovered yesterday that there were other head tracking solutions other than TrackIR. I've spent the whole day learning what I can about FreeTrack but I have ALOT of questions about making a 3 point cap. I know absolutely nothing about electronics, I know everyone is probably thinking "Oh great...  " but I really want to give this a try. So heres all my questions...
will it be cheaper for me to build my own 3 point cap or to buy a pre-built cap such as the one Marcus offers?
There is a window behind and to my right as I sit at my PC that causes some pretty nasty glaring at times, will this cause problems with a 3 point cap?
I'd like to make a 3 point cap that attaches to a baseball cap and can be removed instead of being permanent. Is this possible?
I don't have a webcam at the moment, but I'm looking at the Microsoft VX-1000 because of its price, and feedback on this forum. (More of a statement than a question)
Now for the hard questions... Can someone please tell me or show me exactly what I need to buy and directions on how to put it all together? I know I'm asking a lot but if anyone would nice enough to do this for me I would be eternally gratreful.
Thanks for any and all help! |
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ratoa |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 5
Registered on : 21/07/2008
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Are you located in the States??? I did mine with Radio Shack parts
3 radio shack IR leds
1 100 ohms resistor
1 9 volt battery clip
1 9volt battery holder
1 cheapo Kmart baseball cap
total cost no more than 17 bucks ( I can't recall at the moment)
now do you have a solder Iron?
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CorsairBotis |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 16
Registered on : 04/09/2008
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Yep, I live in the Midwest.
I don't have a soldering iron, but I take it they're pretty cheap at any hardware store.
Does it matter which IR leds?
What about wiring?
Did you use a wire hanger and electrical tape for the structure? Was it permanentally attached to your cap?
Thanks for your help
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Chris0382 |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 18
Registered on : 01/09/2008
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I did the exact same and permanently attached it to a cap. This is a 9V series circuit with (3) RS LEDS and a 100 ohm .25 watt resistor.
You can arrange the LEDS right on the hat to the same dimensions as a 3 point cap. No heavy wire is needed.
All parts are available at RadioShack. RS had only one type of IR LEDS.
-I sanded the LED's flat.
-Used wire from an extra Virginmobile cellphone charger.
-Installed upper LED first 3 inches high 4 inches back from visor LEDS estimated location..
-Used seemstress thread to hold top LED to hat part of cap.
-Used tie wraps to hold 2 front LEDS to visor 5.5 inches apart.
-Wired neatly back to the rear.
-Hold battery on velcro adjustment strap at back with rubber bands.
-Added a Single Throw toggle switch.
-Attach toggle switch to battery with tie wraps.
Used a MS VX-1000 camera.
Removed the IR filter.
Added a Visual Light filter to the front of it via a bottle cap and Floppy Disk film.
The only thing is, you will have to keep the camera fairly close 3ft.
Tinker with the exposures as it seems to change at times.
Enjoy.
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CorsairBotis |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 16
Registered on : 04/09/2008
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Hey guys,
After reading both ratoa's and Chris' post and seeing that both of you have nearly identical setups I decided to browse through RadioShack's website to see what I could find...
This is the only IR LED I could find - http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062565
The Resistor - http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062339&cp=&sr=1&kw=100+ohm&origkw=100+ohm&parentPage=search
I found the 9V snap connectors, but I couldn't find any On/Off switches. And all the AA/AAA holders don't have On/Off switches. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Also, I'm still a little lost on the wiring. I know theres some doorbell wiring laying around the house somewhere, but not sure if it will work for this. Can someone clarify for me?
Again, thanks for all the help guys |
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Chris0382 |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 18
Registered on : 01/09/2008
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Any wiring will practically do as long as its small enough but strong enough so it doesn't break.
Look at the wiring coming from the 9V battery holder and that should be the smallest to use.
The switch I used is P/N 275-0406 a SPST SinglePole Single Throw. Rated at 3a at 125VAC
I used a small sharp scissors to open up the mounting holes so a small tiewrap can go thru them. Be careful not to cut yourself doing this.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062490&cp=
I want to add I just bought a clip-light from Walmart for $4. I use the clip and small post part of the light to clip to the side of my LCD Momitor. Now the Webcam is only 2-3 ft from were I sit and it gets better exposure and resolution.
FPS = 30 Jitter = 0 so far. Keeping fingers crossed.
Sensitivities set around 40 in profile. Max smoothing for Yaw. |
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ratoa |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 5
Registered on : 21/07/2008
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Corsair,
I just disconnect the battery so I don't have a switch on/off set up
also those are the leds that you need, RS have just one type of IR leds
the info on those led in their web site are wrong and like Crish I sanded
mine close to the core,, I don't use a hanger so I can't comment on that
I did use a old computer mic cable for my wiring also my wirng is inside the
cap and a word of advice if you go that way don't bent the visor because
I did that and my botton leds where close together and had lots NAN errors
figured out after 2 weeks lol now it works Fine!!!!!!!!
FSP 29-30
Jitter 0-3
Logitech 4000 cam with no modifications
Edited by ratoa on 05/09/2008 at 00h55. |
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CorsairBotis |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 16
Registered on : 04/09/2008
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Thanks for all the help guys,
I'm heading to RadioShack tomorrow after school to pick up the stuff. I'll search around the house and garage to see what wire is laying around.
On my list I have:
- 3 IR LED
- 100 ohms 1/4w resistor
- 9V snap connector
- Slide switch
- Soldering Iron (already have solder)
Am I missing anything?
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Chris0382 |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 18
Registered on : 01/09/2008
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Small tie wraps
Possible needle and thread
9V Battery
Rubberbands or tape
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CorsairBotis |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 16
Registered on : 04/09/2008
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I've got all that except the small tie wraps.
I found 2,000 feet of 22 AWG ThermoCouple (no idea what that means) orange insulated wire, and also I have about 6 feet of wire that looks exactly like headphone wire that came from an IR receiver for my computer that I've never used. I think I'll ask the guys at RadioShack what they think I should use.
I'm gettin' excited, can't wait for 6dof.  |
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ratoa |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 5
Registered on : 21/07/2008
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You can get small tie wraps @ Autozone also they sell cable for small electronic
repairs there too
FreeTrack is a great program there is no doub on that
I hope they release version 2.2 because some cams like mine can put my cpu
to work in my case from 5 to 15 % but thats I know issue with Logitech cams
Edited by ratoa on 05/09/2008 at 05h54. |
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CorsairBotis |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 16
Registered on : 04/09/2008
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OK I got everything. I had to buy a VX-3000 because Wal*Mart didn't have any VX-1000s.
Any directions out there for the next step? I'm so electronically challenged lol.
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Chris0382 |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 18
Registered on : 01/09/2008
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Yes!! be absolutly careful of removing the IR filter (a very tiny square piece of glass) on the rear of the lense. I don't know why the guy who posted the actual instructions to do this circled some other component instead of the lense in the instructions.
I ended up having to shatter the IR filter as it was attached too firmly to pry off without breaking.
The lense will either screw out or drop out depending on if you screwed out full the focus adjustment or not.
I used a cap from an equate-mylanta bottle from Walmart.
I cut a hole in it turing a sharp knife into the cap. And placed a 3-1/2 floppy media cut to circle on it. I superglued the media to the cap. This is the visual light filter that prohibits visual light (not IR 940nm light) from getting to the lense. The cap fits nicely over the camera lense and stays loosely in place.
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CorsairBotis |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 16
Registered on : 04/09/2008
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I'm going to plug the webcam in first and make sure it works lol.
Do I need to widen the LEDs? If so, do I just use sandpaper and how much do I take off?
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CorsairBotis |
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Class : Apprenti
Posts : 16
Registered on : 04/09/2008
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Good news, I cut a small circle of floppy film and set it inside the webcam's cap. Now I can't see anything unless I point the webcam towards the window then I see purple.
As far as the wiring I go from the 9V connector, to the Slide switch, then to the resistor, then to the first LED, then the second LED and then the third LED, right?
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