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Gerf Derp
(@gerf-derp)
Active Member
BuddyCam alternatives

Does anyone know if you can flash the buddy cam to be a plain RTSP camera? I like that it is built to fit the enclosure perfectly, but I have no use for Prusa Connect and would rather use octoprint.

If not that, what are some good cameras to live in the enclosure? I have a raspicam 2.0 in my Lack enclosure which runs fine even when printing ASA. But the gaps in the acrylic panels allow the ribbon cable to pass through perfectly. I only saw a narrow, round hole for the buddy cam usb cable.

Can you tell I have another six weeks to wait for my delivery but I'm going to spend every day thinking about customizing it anyway?

Posted : 03/02/2025 6:54 pm
emoses
(@emoses)
Active Member
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

I made this mount for the C920 I had sitting around: https://www.printables.com/model/1196763-core-one-camera-mount-for-logitech-c920c930

I had to snake the cable out one of the corners of the frame (there's a picture) because the attached usb-a plug and ferrite core won't fit through any of the existing openings.  A little work with a dremel could probably fix that but I didn't feel like biting into my frame.

Posted : 21/02/2025 7:55 pm
WDLandry
(@wdlandry)
Member
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

I just ordered the buddy cam but getting second thoughts and I also have a spare C920 lying around from all those video's call during COVID!

How did you set up the C920, just straight into a PC. Wondering if I could set up webstream with a Pi Zero as a work around. 

 

Posted by: @emoses

I made this mount for the C920 I had sitting around: https://www.printables.com/model/1196763-core-one-camera-mount-for-logitech-c920c930

I had to snake the cable out one of the corners of the frame (there's a picture) because the attached usb-a plug and ferrite core won't fit through any of the existing openings.  A little work with a dremel could probably fix that but I didn't feel like biting into my frame.

 

Posted : 16/04/2025 9:17 am
fissi0n - K1TDG
(@fissi0n-k1tdg)
Active Member
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

ESP32 Cam is what I have with all my MK4S printers, and I am going to be replacing the worthless Buddy3d camera with one (maybe two?) of these tonight.

https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware-ESP32-Cam

Posted : 23/05/2025 4:42 pm
Gerf Derp
(@gerf-derp)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

Thanks for the input, everyone. Once I got my printer I started hacking ways to get a Raspberry Pi HQ camera in there. At first I just rested it on top of the acrylic which gave me a live, yet shaded and usually obscured, view. Eventually I designed a frame to hold it with magnets on the middle of the left side (see pic). I tested this placement by moving the print head around with the camera in place. I have a long ribbon which feeds out the bottom of the side acrylic panel. I designed and printed a little shim to protect the cable from any vibrations of that panel, also held in place with magnets. I got a 3mm CS lens and got it focused to the hotend. 

On the Pi, I used camera-streamer (like modern octoprint) and I modded the Pi to Prusa Connect Gist to do a curl on the /snapshot url instead of using libcamera-still to avoid "camera in use" problems. This way I can casually look at Prusa Connect or obsessively look at the /stream to watch the print head zooming around. I have the pi mounted to the back because I have the Skadis mod on the left side hallow space.

As always, 80% of my printing is for my printer; but that's the fun of it too.

Posted : 23/05/2025 5:25 pm
Borreltje
(@borreltje)
Active Member
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

I mounted my Raspberry Pi HQ camera on a corner mount with magnets, like the original buddy camera, so it sits in the corner. Got a 3.56mm lens on it and can see the stream with octoprint and make nice Timelapses. the ribbon cable goes out through the corner panels for now, I am still thinking for a better routing solution.

RPI-cam_CoreOne.mp4

HQcamera.png

Posted : 23/05/2025 8:31 pm
Gerf Derp liked
Gerf Derp
(@gerf-derp)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

Can you share a pic of your current cable routing? Your viewing angle is probably better. I see the gantry a lot of the time, but it's enough to know a print is succeeding. 

Here's mine, along with a print view.

Posted by: @borreltje

I mounted my Raspberry Pi HQ camera on a corner mount with magnets, like the original buddy camera, so it sits in the corner. Got a 3.56mm lens on it and can see the stream with octoprint and make nice Timelapses. the ribbon cable goes out through the corner panels for now, I am still thinking for a better routing solution.

RPI-cam_CoreOne.mp4

HQcamera.png

 

Posted : 26/05/2025 6:46 pm
Borreltje
(@borreltje)
Active Member
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

Well, like I said, still looking for a better routing of the cable, for now it is like this.

Mounted Camera

Cable Routing for now

Posted : 26/05/2025 7:00 pm
Gerf Derp
(@gerf-derp)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

The image links are giving me 404s.

Posted : 27/05/2025 1:45 am
Borreltje
(@borreltje)
Active Member
RE:

I fixed that for you. Sorry. The links now show the images.

Posted by: @gerf-derp

The image links are giving me 404s.

 

Posted : 27/05/2025 6:47 am
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

the second link is giving security messages.

regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility.Location Halifax UK

Posted : 27/05/2025 8:27 am
Borreltje
(@borreltje)
Active Member
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

That is strange, both are on the same server. Anyway, I zipped them up for you. This should work.

Posted : 27/05/2025 8:34 am
JoanTabb
(@joantabb)
Veteran Member Moderator
RE: BuddyCam alternatives

Thank you,

regards Joan

I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility.Location Halifax UK

Posted : 27/05/2025 8:39 am
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