Clouded camera lens?

[jeleser]

The black rotating piece that adjusts the focus on the camera for our robot was recently broken and wouldn't attach. We superglued it back on, and a bit of residue was lining the outer edge of the lens. Somebody saw this and tried to clean it (I'm assuming by wiping it with a cloth), and the residue was spread across the camera lens. We tested the camera and it's virtually useless unless we can clean the lens. We tried rubbing alcohol, and have yet to test the image, but the lens looks too covered with the residue for that to have worked. Somebody recommended trying Goo-gone, is there any potential for that to damage the lens?

Our camera broke too!

[WileyB-J]

little bit of gasoline on a q-tip might work

[BornaE]

Originally Posted by WileyB-J

little bit of gasoline on a q-tip might work

Bad idea.


super glue is dissolved by acetone/aka nail polish remover.

you can use that to clean off.

not that not all nail polish removers are acetone(no odor ones are not acetone)

hope this helps.

[MrForbes]

Whatever you use to clean the glue off might dissolve the plastic parts.

Is the lens a standard small security camera lens? if so you might find a new one pretty reasonable...might take several days to get it though.

http://www.supercircuits.com/Camera-Lenses/

[team 3311]

Nail polish remover should work fine. Just aplie it with a qtip to reduce the chance of spreding it on place where you don't want it

[Ether]

Originally Posted by squirrel

Whatever you use to clean the glue off might dissolve the plastic parts.

Acetone dissolves many plastics.

[WileyB-J]

Aha, im not talking about an arsonists amount of gasoline, but just a dab on the end of a qtip should work. (unless you're shaking like a hooker in church)

[Ether]

From wikipedia:

Acetone, which is commonly found in nail polish remover, is a widely available solvent capable of softening cured cyanoacrylate. Nitromethane is also an excellent solvent. Dimethyl sulfoxide can be used as solvent too. Methylene chloride is the most effective solvent, but is toxic. Gamma-butyrolactone is also effective at removing cured cyanoacrylate, and has low toxicity.

Methylene Chloride is found in many paint-stripping products. Read the label to find out.

[jeleser]

Originally Posted by Ether

From wikipedia:



Methylene Chloride is found in many paint-stripping products. Read the label to find out.

I'll be sure to check our bottle of nail polish remover when we get back on Monday. Thank you all for the suggestions, I think that if the nail polish remover doesn't have Methylene Chloride we'll go ahead and try that.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guys, the lens in the camera is a hard plastic material and acetone or other solvent is just going to make things worse. The lens does screw into the mounting that is attached to the pickup as I remember. I have seen lenses for sale that would fit this. However, you must replace with an identical part to remain legal.

[Greg McKaskle]

You can purchase lenses from companies such as Edmunds Optics. But I'd suggest finding a team with a fried camera and salvaging the lens. You may want to put some Teflon tape on the threads to keep the lens from vibrating within the housing.

Greg McKaskle

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

...you must replace with an identical part to remain legal.

Why is that? I don't think the camera is covered under the rule that prevents modification of motors or control system components. It isn't even necessarily a KoP part.

[J.Warsoff]

try using glasses cleaner (liquid solution and soft cloth). Worse comes to worst, just replace the lens.

[techhelpbb]

I've never actually tried this...

However, have you considered the chemicals used to 'polish headlights' and remove the haze and yellow from them?

There's a possibility you'll be able to buff off the damage with that.

However, if there's a coating on there...like they use on eyeglass lenses you'll ruin it doing this.

Best of luck...