QUICK START GUIDE
Motorized Focus Camera
on OctoPi
(5MP SKU: B0176) (8MP SKU: B0182)
INTRODUCTION
Most 3D models take more than a few hours to print, so you
may wish to leave the 3D printer at some point in the printing
process. Using an Arducam camera to monitor 3D printing can
make you pay close attention to your creation. Since most
cameras are not made specifically for the use of 3D printing
software, it is impossible to obtain proper support from the
manufacturer.
Fortunately, Arducam can help you solve all installation and
setup problems. In this manual, we will introduce the method
to use Arducam motorized focus camera modules to monitor
3D printers, which can see much closer than the fixed focus
lens.
Getting started here!
SOFTWARE SETUP
To facilitate copying, please refer to doc page:
https://www.arducam.com/docs/cameras-for-raspberry-pi/
native-raspberry-pi-cameras/how-to-use-arducam-motorized
-focus-camera-with-octopi-to-monitor-3d-printers/
We will keep online up-to-date continuously.
1. Download and install OctoPi
If you have been accomplished OctoPi installation and WiFi
setup, please go to the chapter on How to use the motorized
focus camera.
1.1. Download link: https://octoprint.org/download/
SOFTWARE SETUP
The page also includes basic installation directions as well as
a video describing the installation process.
1.2. Configure WiFi
After you have successfully downloaded the OctoPi image
and “burned” it onto your SD card, you can start to set up
WiFi. More about WiFi setup and troubleshooting refer to this
link: https://community.octoprint.org/t/wifi-setup-and-
troubleshooting/184
2. How to use the motorized focus cam-
era
2.1. Connect to the camera and reboot it
2.2. Detect the camera
2.3. Download and Install Arducam camera focus control
plugin
• Arducam camera focus control plugin
This plugin is to control an Arducam motorized focus camera
using the OctoPrint Control tab.
sudo reboot
vcgencmd get_camera
SOFTWARE SETUP
It utilizes these custom commands from your slicer to adjust
focus while printing: @ARDUCAMFOCUSSET <ABS-FOCUS>
to specify an absolute focus. This command is handy to reset
the focus when starting a new print after a power failure.
Example: @ARDUCAMFOCUSSET 100 will move the focus to
100.
The entire range is 0~1023. Setting 0 corresponds to infinity,
and setting 1023 corresponds to a close focal length of about
5CM.
• Enable I2C Interface
The plugin uses I2C to communicate with the camera. Howev-
er, I2C is not enabled by default. The Arducam Focus plugin
will not function until you enable I2C.
