Request to Open Buddy3D Camera  

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

I am not so sure it's an ESP32Cam inside. The original Buddy3D camera is a Niceboy Guardian PR1; Niceboy is a Czech company who (I believe) applies custom firmware to complete cameras made in China. The Buddy camera for the Core One is said to be the same camera without the pan/tilt mechanics.

Niceboy probably have rights in the firmware, which might stand in the way of making it Open Source even if Prusa wanted to. That does not rule out the possibility that the cameras are indeed based on an ESP32 plus OV2640 camera module. Has anybody taken one of these apart? 

What I am pretty sure about is that this forum is not the right place to get Prusa's attention. You probably stand a better chance posting your request on Reddit... I have seen Prusa occasionally drop an announcement post into one of the "General" forum sections, but I have never seen them respond to anything brought up here by other users. I think this forum is "write only" for them. 😒 

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

+1

RE:

It's quicker, easier,cheaper... to buy a mini camera on aliexpress and put it in. Buying buddycam was a total waste of my money. If  i'd known... i'd get 2 reels of filament for the price...

I installed my own camera in the right corner of the printer. It's cheap full HD camera from aliexpress (in the range of 15-20€). Only downside is that you can't import it in prusalink, but on the other hand personally i monitor my print via Home Assistant, not via Prusalink. And, since you can't integrate buddy camera in HA it's even more money wasted...

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

Yeah, I mounted a Ring camera on top of the enclosure... however, I love the idea that the buddy3d is a refirmwared camera. I'll take Czech firmwared camera over a native Chinese one any day.

I did, eventually, breakdown and Buddy3D camera... due to its integration. What does bug me a little is that it can't do color inside the enclosure... even with the LED lights on full.

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

I'll take Czech firmwared camera over a native Chinese one any day.

Ok, i guess firmware is different, but i doubt these cameras are made anywhere else than in China... EU made camera (made from scratch) wouldn't be in the 40€ price range. And, let's be honest: firmware isn't exactly a rocket science...in fact, it's more like from a camera from sixties... like you say: B/W image, one shot per 10s... it should really be called "buddyPhoto"... today's cameras have (at least) two streams, so it could offer one stream for prusalink purposes and other one as onvif local camera, for example. But, no, you can't even connect to it's IP, since obviously it doesn't have web server running.

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

Adding extra light and waiting few minutes turn it into colored for me, however so many issues in Buddy3D Camera and presa connect like one frame only is limited by connect and cant detect issues automatically add to that no timelapse option too. and over all quality is not what I was expecting for $40 camera in 2025.

Posted by: @protoncek-2

I'll take Czech firmwared camera over a native Chinese one any day.

Ok, i guess firmware is different, but i doubt these cameras are made anywhere else than in China... EU made camera (made from scratch) wouldn't be in the 40€ price range. And, let's be honest: firmware isn't exactly a rocket science...in fact, it's more like from a camera from sixties... like you say: B/W image, one shot per 10s... it should really be called "buddyPhoto"... today's cameras have (at least) two streams, so it could offer one stream for prusalink purposes and other one as onvif local camera, for example. But, no, you can't even connect to it's IP, since obviously it doesn't have web server running.

RE:

I mean: Prusa already uses open source and sharing as their selling points, that's also a big part why I have prusa products. So it seems they forgot put that into the buddy3d. But time will tell if they will get back on track.
Ref : https://www.prusa3d.com/page/open-source-at-prusa-research_236812/

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

I wonder what happens with buddy cam when / if someone have printer offline? I mean, if he/she decides to use it standalone… it becomes (pretty useless) paperweight? Not all of uyers have broadband internet…

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

If you open it up the board suggests its also a Niceboy product, just in a 3d printed case. (I managed to rip off the pcb antenna end, so opened it up to see if I could replace the antenna - which yes, its just a standard uFL antenna and another one worked perfectly, although in fact it was connecting to wifi albeit with a weakened signal).

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

It is a paperweight especially if you only keep "in-house" solutions. I'm still waiting for this as they didn't have the "only via connect or app" statement in the beginning, it's added later, you can see that via the wayback machine. All IOT needs to be open for e-waste, discontinued and self-updating, reasons.

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

Do we know what the technical limitations are that stop us from using the camera without Prusa Connect?

• Is the QR code format known, could we make the QR code ourselves without the app?
• Can the camera connect to WiFi (and stay connected) without reaching the Prusa Connect web service (firewalled)?
• Does RTSP turn on without a connection to Prusa Connect?
• Is it possible to set up a "virtual" printer in Prusa Connect (one that isn't backed by a physical printer), to connect the camera to? Then the actual printer could stay internet-free.

I got one of these cameras as part of the November deal. I'd like to be able to use it, but I don't want it enough to use the rest of Prusa Connect…

RE:

Posted by: @yawkat

Do we know what the technical limitations are that stop us from using the camera without Prusa Connect?

• Is the QR code format known, could we make the QR code ourselves without the app?
• Can the camera connect to WiFi (and stay connected) without reaching the Prusa Connect web service (firewalled)?
• Does RTSP turn on without a connection to Prusa Connect?
• Is it possible to set up a "virtual" printer in Prusa Connect (one that isn't backed by a physical printer), to connect the camera to? Then the actual printer could stay internet-free.

I got one of these cameras as part of the November deal. I'd like to be able to use it, but I don't want it enough to use the rest of Prusa Connect…

You can use the camera without PrusaConnect. I connect to the live video via VLC and I can also use it from OctoPrint with the camera plugin installed. As far as I'm aware, the camera only needs the printer for power via the USB-C cable. 

RE: Request to Open Buddy3D Camera

Posted by: @hyiger

 

Posted by: @yawkat

Do we know what the technical limitations are that stop us from using the camera without Prusa Connect?

• Is the QR code format known, could we make the QR code ourselves without the app?
• Can the camera connect to WiFi (and stay connected) without reaching the Prusa Connect web service (firewalled)?
• Does RTSP turn on without a connection to Prusa Connect?
• Is it possible to set up a "virtual" printer in Prusa Connect (one that isn't backed by a physical printer), to connect the camera to? Then the actual printer could stay internet-free.

I got one of these cameras as part of the November deal. I'd like to be able to use it, but I don't want it enough to use the rest of Prusa Connect…

You can use the camera without PrusaConnect. I connect to the live video via VLC and I can also use it from OctoPrint with the camera plugin installed. As far as I'm aware, the camera only needs the printer for power via the USB-C cable. 

There doesn't seem to be any way to set up the camera without prusa connect though. You need the app to generate the QR code to connect to wifi, and you need at least one printer added to prusa connect to add the camera to.