USB camera with labview base development system

[TestEng12]

Hello, I purchased the base development Labview 2018 SP1 and NXG. I'm trying to connect a USB camera and have just a basic picture imported into labview to determine the size of an object. I don't see how to acquire an image within Labview. Seems like a pretty basic function, do I need some sort of add on? I want to acquire a picture from a USB camera and then make a basic decision like is the item there or not.

Thanks,

[Gregory]

Well, it will depend on which camera you have. Like I told you in your other thread, if you get something like a Basler camera or another brand that conforms to the USB3 Vision standard, then you can use NI's Vision Acquisition Software. It costs ~$450. If you have a Thorlabs camera, it comes with their own Thorcam API which is much less user friendly, but free (although their cameras cost quite a bit more to pay for their "free" software).

[Bob_Schor · Accepted solution]

To do what you want, you need two additional modules:  the Vision Acquisition Software (which provides the interface to USB Cameras) and the Vision Development Module (which provides functions to manipulate Images).  I know that the VAS does not come with the Base System, and suspect that the VDM is also an "addon".  Contact NI for more details.

Bob Schor

[TestEng12]

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@Bob_Schor wrote:

To do what you want, you need two additional modules:  the Vision Acquisition Software (which provides the interface to USB Cameras) and the Vision Development Module (which provides functions to manipulate Images).  I know that the VAS does not come with the Base System, and suspect that the VDM is also an "addon".  Contact NI for more details.

Bob Schor

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Ok, thanks that answers my question. It seems everything is an additional cost or yearly fee. Not a complaint about your answer, the answer was clear and helpful. To me I would assume doing something so basic would be included.

@geregory, Yes I'm looking at the vision alternative to the color sensor in my other thread. I ordered a sensor from sparkfun but I have doubts it will work or work reasonably easy. Thought I would plug in a dynoscope that I have and play around with the vision but it seems not to be. I contacted NI but they have a long response time.

Thanks

[Gregory]

I'm not familiar with a dynoscope. The first thing that comes up is "Dino-lite microscope", is that what you have? If so, it looks like their SDK supports LabVIEW:

https://www.dino-lite.com/download06.php