camera for hollowing system

[Hugh]

Back a number of years ago, I purchased a Trent Bosch hollowing setup. I made my own camera part though. At the time, I purchased two small cameras. Worked just fine all these years. But, today, my camera went on the fritz. I found my second camera and am back in business.
But, I want to purchase a backup camera. They no longer make the camera that I used in 2018 to now.
So.....the question to those who have made their own camera set up ........What kind of camera are you using and where did you get it? Cost?
Thanks for any help.
Hugh

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Last year I bought one of these endoscope cameras on Amazon. Not exactly this one, but I can’t find the precise camera. I connect it to an old iPad which was gathering dust. Turned a cylinder to fit it into, then insert in the laser aperture in the Bosch hollowing rig. It works fine and was very inexpensive, but the reality is that I prefer the laser to the camera setup.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

I just found this picture of it in action. It’s a bit busy, but you should be able to see the idea.

 

[Richard Coers]

I use an inspection camera I purchased from Ebay.

but the reality is that I prefer the laser to the camera setup.

Explain why you like to adjust the position of the laser to where you are cutting, compared to knowing where the entire cutter is at all times with a camera?

 

[Lou Jacobs]

With the laser I’m watching the work. With the camera I’m watching a screen above the work. Among other things it allows me to watch the tool shaft in the opening at the same time instead of having to totally shift my sight line.

 

[Bill Blasic]

Lou echos my thoughts. I also tried video and disliked it for the wires and screen. With my laser I only adjust it 3 times. One when I put the straight tool in, Two when I put the hook tool in and 3 when I put the straight tool back in for finish. I'm always looking at the piece and have no worries about wires or screens tangling or falling.

 

[john lucas]

Depending on the shape if your vessel and how accurate your wall thickness needs to be you may have to adjust the laser quite a few times. To be really accurate the laser needs to be perpendicular to the wall and the cutter.
With the video system you draw a circle around the cutter indicating the wall thickness. Then you never need to touch it. I find it much faster and more accurate.
Camera lens choice can be a problem. Wide angle cameras like the endoscopy have to be very close to the work to be accurate. If you are using a steady rest thexarm holding Camera may be too high. With a mildly telescopic lens the piece is larger on the screen so its easier to be dead on with respect to wall thickness. This is really necessary if you do piercing. I find even 1mm difference in wall thickness really makes controlling the piercing tool difficult.

 

[Ricc Havens]

The link below is the one I have. While it may not be the exact that Trent uses wiith his system, it looks and works well for me. It looks extremely close (when you take it off the mounting bracket shown in the amazon listing) like camera on his system when I was at his place a couple years ago for a 3-day hands-on in his shop.

I have been using this camera for two years now without any issues.

Amazon.com