My system is a Logitech 270 web camera attached to a small windows notebook computer.
I have a couple of pictures below. The camera is mounted to the area of the boring bar where my laser was before. The camera plugs into the USB2 port of the laptop. This laptop is running on windows xp. So I just start up the computer then select "my computer" then find the usb camera in the file tree and select it. The image comes up on the screen and I then move the camera into position the image of the toll bar cutter is near centered in the image.
Next I taped a piece of page protector plastic over the computer screen. Once that's set in place I can trace the outline of the bar and cutting tip. Then its a matter of drawing in a wall thickness and its off tot he races.
It works for me, your mileage may vary. Some are accustomed to the laser and may like that better.
The camera was around $25.00 on amazon. I grabbed the page protect form my wife's desk, the laptop I got it off a friend and it cost me a bar tab at the brewery. So maybe $50 total.
Oh I should point out that I didn't need to build a shelf for the computer. You know the guard that most lathes come with. The one we all remove, well mine is swung open and the laptop sites neatly on it. I am a happy camper.
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