In this episode of element14 presents, Katie introduces a project to create a camera for monitoring a 3D printer. She begins by explaining the challenges she faced with her previous camera, an action cam, which met an unfortunate end due to water damage in a saltwater pool. Katie expresses the need for a new camera to monitor her 3D printer, which is located inconveniently far from her workshop.
To address this, she opts to build her own camera using a Raspberry Pi 5, taking advantage of its improved camera capabilities. Katie details the components she gathered for the project, including the Pi 5, a touchscreen interface, an active cooler, and a High-Quality camera module with the Wide-Angle lens attachment. She emphasizes the importance of a light touchscreen interface for controlling the camera and mentions the advantages of the Raspberry Pi 5, such as its enhanced camera quality and convenient on/off button.
Katie walks through the process of connecting the components, testing the camera, and programming it to capture time-lapse images. She provides a brief overview of the code and its functionalities, including the ability to set time intervals for image capture. Additionally, she explains how the captured images are synced with Nextcloud for easy access.
As the project progresses, Katie encounters a setback when she realizes the need for a the 3D printer will get its own enclosure, as her husband decides to prioritize it for the winter. This prompts a redesign of the camera case to accommodate the printer enclosure. Katie utilizes OpenSCAD and FreeCAD to design a multi-part case that fits the Raspberry Pi, touchscreen, and camera. She successfully prints the parts and assembles the camera within the 3D printer enclosure, achieving her goal of monitoring and capturing time-lapse footage seamlessly.
Bonus Video:
Episode 642 - Pi5 Time Lapse Camera_Bonus.mp4
Downloads and Links:
- Download Code and Files
- GitHub: https://github.com/hifromkatie/Time-Lapse-Camera_Rpi5
Bill of Material:
| Product Name | Manufacturer | Quantity | Buy Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| RASPBERRY-PI RPI5-8GB-SINGLE | RASPBERRY-PI | 1 | Buy Now |
| RASPBERRY-PI SC1148 SBC, RPI 5-Accessories, Active cooler, For heavy load, Without case | RASPBERRY-PI | 1 | Buy Now |
| RASPBERRY-PI SC1154 Power Supply, USB-C, 5.1 V, 5 A, Black, UK Plug | RASPBERRY-PI | 1 | Buy Now |
| MULTICOMP PRO TS32GUSD420T-MCPMicroSD Card, 32 GB, Raspberry Pi | MULTICOMP PRO | 1 | Buy Now |
| High Quality Camera, IMX477R, All Raspberry Pi Computer Models from Raspberry Pi 1 Model B Onwards | RASPBERRY-PI | 1 | Buy Now |
| RASPBERRY-PI SC0947 12MP, 2.7MM WIDE-ANGLE LENS | RASPBERRY-PI | 1 | Buy Now |
| RASPBERRY-PI SC1129 SBC, RPI 5-Accessories, Adapter cables, Length 300mm, Supports camera | RASPBERRY-PI | 1 | Buy Now |
| MULTICOMP MC002548 3D Printer Filament, 1.75mm Dia, Green, PLA, 1 kg | MULTICOMP | 1 | Buy Now |
| PIMORONI PIM369 High Resolution Display, HyperPixel 4.0, Touchscreen, Raspberry Pi | PIMORONI | 1 | Buy Now |
