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Camera Configuration Documentation

Purpose of Alternative Camera Configuration

The stock camera implementation on the Flashforge AD5M (Pro) consumes significant system resources, particularly RAM. Given the printer's limited 128MiB of RAM, this can lead to performance degradation during operation. To address this, the mod provides an optimized camera implementation with reduced RAM usage, achieved through specific patches to mjpg_streamer.

While the stock camera remains available, the mod's camera is optimized for minimal resource consumption, making it the preferred choice for stable printing.

Note

If you choose to use the alternative display implementation (e.g., Feather Screen), the stock camera will not be available, as the stock firmware is completely disabled in this mode. In such cases, the mod's camera is the only option.

If you still want to use stock camera functionality, read the next section.

Using the Stock Camera

If you prefer to use the stock camera functionality, you can skip Steps 1–3 and start directly with Step 4. Configure the camera settings in Fluidd or Mainsail as described, and ensure the stock camera is enabled in the printer's on-screen settings. However, be aware that the stock camera consumes significantly more resources, which may impact overall printer performance and could lead to print failures, such as unexpected print stoppages. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.

Configuring the Mod's Camera

Step 1: Modify Camera Configuration

The camera settings are defined in the camera.conf file, located in Fluidd under Configuration -> mod_data -> camera.conf. Below is the default configuration:

# Resolution width
WIDTH=640

# Resolution height
HEIGHT=480

# Frame per second
FPS=15

# Video device: 'auto' or video<N> (like video0)
VIDEO=auto

# Reduce camera memory usage
# This may be handy if your camera consumes too much memory.
# For example, even for 640x480 resolution, it may uses memory as it 1080p stream.
# Disable it if you experiencing issues with your camera
REDUCE_MEMORY=0

# Image post-processing settings.
# Enable this to use image post-processing
POST_PROCESSING=1

# You can adjust these settings to fine-tune the camera's image quality.
# Visit the settings page at:
# http://printer_ip:8080/control.htm
# After testing, apply the desired values to the configuration fields below.
# Don’t forget to uncomment the parameters by removing the '#'.

# E_BRIGHTNESS=0
# E_CONTRAST=35
# E_GAIN=1
# E_GAMMA=100
# E_HUE=300
# E_SATURATION=42  
# E_SHARPNESS=7
# E_POWER_LINE_FREQUENCY=0
# E_WHITE_BALANCE_TEMPERATURE=4500
# E_BACKLIGHT_COMPENSATION=0
# E_EXPOSURE_AUTO="3"
# E_EXPOSURE_ABSOLUTE=80

You can adjust these parameters to suit your needs. For example, you might want set better resolution or FPS. But be careful since, check actual camera ram usage after that, using MEM macros in Fluidd's console.

Step 2: Disable Stock Camera

To ensure the mod's camera is used, you need to disable the stock camera functionality. Here’s how:

  1. Go to the printer's on-screen settings.
  2. Disable both camera photo and camera video.

This step is crucial to avoid conflicts between the stock and mod camera implementations.

Step 3: Enable Mod's Camera

Once the stock camera is disabled, enable the mod's camera by running the following command in the console:

SET_MOD PARAM="camera" VALUE=1

This command activates the mod's camera implementation.

Step 4: Reload Fluidd

After completing the configuration, reload the Fluidd page. The camera should now be operational, and you should be able to view the stream and take snapshots.

Notes for Mainsail Users

If you’re using Mainsail, the configuration process is nearly identical to Fluidd. Simply follow the steps above, and you’ll be good to go. If you run into any issues, double-check the URLs and ensure the stock camera is disabled.