Building a tracker: our current version

We recently have built several new video tracking setups for microfluidic behavior experiments. By using inexpensive optics, LED backlighting, and machine vision cameras, we have reduced costs to under $1000 each.  Here we use off-the-shelf support materials, although some custom machining may be required to attach the camera.

Our current setup:

Parts:

Vendor	Item Description	Catalog #	Qty	Price ea	Total	Notes
Edmund Optics	Ring Mount with 0.75" Inner Diameter (ID)	Stock No. #54-264	2	16.50	33.00
Edmund Optics	Small Platform Base	Stock No. #53-009	1		219.00
Edmund Optics	3/4" Dia Stainless Posts, Vertical Post 24"	Stock No. #52-100	1		60.00
Edmund Optics	3/4" Dia Stainless Posts, Horizontal Arm 18"	Stock No. #39-354	1		55.00
Edmund Optics	Steel Post, 4" Length, 1/4-20 Stud	Stock No. #59-000	4	9.70	38.80
Edmund Optics	90 Degree Angle Mount	Stock No. #39-355	1		49.00
McMaster Carr	Two Conductor Power Cord NEMA 1-15 Plug, SPT-1-Flat, 18/2 AWG, 6' Length	7248K21	1		2.29
McMaster Carr	Heat-resistant Borosilicate Glass Square, 1/4" Thick, 10" X 10"	8476K225	1		16.82
McMaster Carr	Push-in Flexible Rubber Grommet Ms 35489-91, An 931-c3-5, 3/16" Id, 7/16" Od	9307K37	1 pk		4.84
McMaster Carr	18-8 Ss Button Head Socket Cap Screw 8-32 Thread, 5/8" Length	92949A196	1 pk		5.87
McMaster Carr	Standard Rubber Edge Trim 1/4" Opening, 19/32" Inside Depth	8507K32	10 ft		2.49
McMaster Carr	Plastic-Head Thumb Screw Black Rosette Head, 1/4"-20 Thread, 5/8" Length, packs of 10	91185A805	1 pk		11.01
Automate Scientific	Syringe Bracket (holds 8x 35ml and 60ml syringes)	sybrk8	1		48.00
Ebay	Pixelink PL-A741 (or similar)		1		150.00	range 150-300
Ebay	Zoom lens 18-108/2.5 No. 4520988 (or similar)		1		15.00	range 15-75
Ebay	12W Panel SMD LED Ceiling Down Light Bulb Lamp square		1		22.99	range 23-28
Amazon	"3M Gold Privacy Filter-3M GPF19.0W Widescreen Monitor Privacy Screen"		1		74.24	enough for three
Amazon	Dremel 7134 diamond bit, or 3/16" diamond drill bit		1			to drill glass
					808.35	TOTAL

Building the tracker:

1. Assemble 24" vertical post, 18" post, and four 4" steel posts onto small platform base.
2. Drill four 3/16" holes in the 10x10" glass plate and insert grommets.
3. Attach glass plate to steel posts and add optional rubber edge trim.
4. Solder power cord to LED backlight.  Cut privacy filter to fit backlight, 2 pieces at 90 degrees rotation.
5. Screw syringe bracket to ring mount and add thumb screw.
6. Attach zoom lens to camera and mount to 90 degree angle mount.