Easy Centauri Carbon Camera Upgrade

Did you know the camera in the Elegoo Centauri Carbon is basically just a USB webcam? In this video I show how to upgrade the printer’s camera so it can use any standard UVC webcam, while keeping the front USB port available for storage devices. With a simple adapter and USB hub, the printer can support multiple USB devices and opens up a lot more flexibility for camera placement and recording. I also compare the two different stock camera versions that shipped with my printers, record a Benchy with each camera for a side-by-side quality comparison, and demonstrate how the stock cameras can be connected directly to a computer for 720p ~30 FPS recording. Finally, I show a useful trick for capturing the full camera stream from the printer using ffmpeg, which makes it possible to record entire prints instead of relying on the printer’s generated timelapse clips. Supplies Used in This Video (Amazon affiliate links) 5ft USB Extension Cable https://amzn.to/4sz877n JST-XH Connectors https://amzn.to/4sB66I0 USB Hub (3.0 Hub from video is overkill, but I have this one, too) https://amzn.to/4bugmvM UVC Webcam Example (Mine is no longer available, but this should work) https://amzn.to/3OXxaCD Compact UVC Camera Modules (for enclosure mounting) https://amzn.to/47zqCAr (1080p) https://amzn.to/4bbwfpp (720p) ffmpeg Command Examples ffmpeg -i http://PRINTER-IP-ADDRESS:3031/video -c copy print_capture.mkv ffmpeg -i http://PRINTER-IP-ADDRESS:3031/video -c copy print_capture.avi ffmpeg is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. What This Upgrade Allows • Use almost any UVC webcam with the Centauri Carbon • Keep the printer’s front USB port free • Record full-motion video of prints • Easily swap between cameras • Connect the stock camera directly to a computer for testing or recording Printer Used Elegoo Centauri Carbon