System Maintenance Guide
Regular maintenance helps ensure consistent tracking quality, minimizes downtime, and extends the life of your motion capture system. Following a preventative maintenance schedule is typically far more effective than addressing issues after tracking quality deteriorates. We recommend going through a daily or per-use checklist, a brief monthly inspection, and a periodic calibration verification, which collectively can prevent most common system performance issues.
Signs That Maintenance or Recalibration Might Be Required
Increased marker swaps or labeling issues.
Reduced tracking accuracy or coverage.
Cameras that frequently disconnect.
The need for increasingly aggressive tracking settings.
Tracking blind spots that were not previously present.
The average residual has increased considerably.
Daily / Before-Use Checklist
Verify that all cameras are connected and communicating with the software.
Confirm that synchronization devices and network hardware items are functioning normally.
Perform a quick tracking test to ensure that markers are detected and reconstructed correctly.
Check for any unexpected environmental changes that could affect tracking, such as moved equipment, new reflective surfaces, or lighting changes.
Validate system calibration, especially if:
Cameras have been moved.
Truss structures or mounts have been adjusted.
Environmental conditions have changed.
Tracking quality appears reduced.
Average residual has increased significantly.
Review calibration quality metrics and perform recalibration if necessary.
Monthly Inspection
Cameras and Optics
Inspect camera lenses and protective windows for dust, fingerprints, or debris.
Clean optical surfaces with an appropriate microfiber cloth when needed.
Verify that camera mounts remain secure and have not shifted position.
Confirm that camera focus remains sharp throughout the capture volume.
Cables and Network
Inspect Ethernet and synchronization cables for wear, damage, or loose connections.
Verify that all switches, power supplies, and network infrastructure devices are operating correctly.
Confirm that adequate ventilation exists around network equipment and workstations.
Capture Volume Assessment
Walk through the capture area and verify expected tracking coverage.
Identify and remove new sources of occlusion where possible.
Check for reflective objects that could create unwanted marker detections.
Confirm that active and passive markers remain visible to multiple cameras throughout the working volume.
Software and System Updates
Keep computer operating systems, motion capture software, and supporting components up to date according to your organization's validation process.
Test updates in a controlled environment before deployment on production systems when practical.
Maintain backups of calibration files, asset definitions, and important project configurations.
Marker and Asset Maintenance
Inspect markers for damage, contamination, or wear.
Replace worn markers that exhibit inconsistent performance.
Verify that rigid body definitions and skeleton assets continue to solve correctly after significant workflow changes.
Annual Preventive Review
Consider a comprehensive system review that includes:
Camera positioning and coverage analysis.
Calibration validation.
Software review.
Workflow and operator training refresh.
Review of system expansion or optimization opportunities.
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