Anyone else got a PM20?

This may be yet another question aimed at the UK members, I'm not sure if these were ever exported.

Recently coaxed an old PM20 (Universal Lasers Galaxy) back in to life.

They use a 15 pin D-type connector for the output, though sadly the one on mine was removed at some point, so I've had to decode the wiring for the scanner outputs.

If anybody out there has one or has worked on one, do they know if they actually have a blanking output?

I can't locate a manual for the PM20, I have a PM22 manual (and a PM22) which uses pin 15 for blanking, but in the PM21 manual I found, Pin 15 isn't used, and there is no pin labelled for blanking in the pinout, this may be the same for the PM20.

If anyone knows anything about these old fellas (I've been told it could be over 20 years old!) I'd be very grateful, it's a really fun bit of kit, and otherwise works perfectly! :)

No blanking on those good old boy's, just a shutter. I think this was for a PM20 or PM21 - but I'm pretty sure they are the same as the 21 was just a face-lifted 20. I don't have a manual for either model, sorry.. but here's a pinout I had in my laserdocs archive if it helps.

1=Ground
2=Shutter
3=Y+
4=Y-
5=X+
6=X-
7=Data+
8=Data-
9=Red
10=Green
11=Blue
12=Servo A
13=Servo B
14=Not Connected
15=Not Connected

Further info from Sir Yag:

Code wise, I have 9, 11, 10, 12 as a "clear" command to empty the scene banks, you may have to do this if the internal backup battery (little varta memopak thing) has gone flat and it's got corrupted. Worth leaving it plugged in for a bit if that's the case and giving it a charge.

I have code 1, 4, 2, 5 to use and edit.

If you want to add text, you'll need a PC XT keyboard. When editing, the "F1" key accesses text entry.

All above............................

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by p1t8ull

Oops, that lost some format :o

Second try:

1=Ground
2=Shutter
3=Y+
4=Y-
5=X+
6=X-
7=Data+
8=Data-
9=Red
10=Green
11=Blue
12=Servo A
13=Servo B
14=Not Connected
15=Not Connected

---

Ah! I thought that might be the case, I won't probe for a blanking signal then! :) Thanks for that!

I might try and locate the shutter signal and interface that to my blanking, that'll then give me control over the beam from the panel, and let me use that rather funky sounding "flash" function! :)

Thanks again for your time! :)

Hi Yag

I have one also .... im a stickler for backup .... so i have the PM20 in a rack with my mamba .... so if the PC crashes and i have to reboot ... i switch over to the PM20 which keeps it all going

Just a word of warning it takes ages to set up all the presets with different frames and effects and sequences .... but once they are in its a great live console BUT make sure you power it up every couple of weeks as the shows are stored in static Ram and is batterybacked by a small nicad ( 3.6v oval type with three legs ) and i left mine for 2 months and lost everything .... you also need to change out the nicad every couple of years as they leak and damage the pcb ..... ive had to repair the tracks on mine a couple of times .....

i was thinking of getting an Avatar Console from medialas as thats the nearest thing to the PM20 series ..... but then i thought i might go for the pangolin with a live console .... then i looked at my bank ballance .... so i think i will keep the PM20 a bit longer :D


all the best .... Karl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Banthai

Hi Yag

I have one also .... im a stickler for backup .... so i have the PM20 in a rack with my mamba .... so if the PC crashes and i have to reboot ... i switch over to the PM20 which keeps it all going

Just a word of warning it takes ages to set up all the presets with different frames and effects and sequences .... but once they are in its a great live console BUT make sure you power it up every couple of weeks as the shows are stored in static Ram and is batterybacked by a small nicad ( 3.6v oval type with three legs ) and i left mine for 2 months and lost everything .... you also need to change out the nicad every couple of years as they leak and damage the pcb ..... ive had to repair the tracks on mine a couple of times .....

i was thinking of getting an Avatar Console from medialas as thats the nearest thing to the PM20 series ..... but then i thought i might go for the pangolin with a live console .... then i looked at my bank ballance .... so i think i will keep the PM20 a bit longer :D


all the best .... Karl

---

PC? Crash? Never! :)

That's a pretty good use for them, despite all the trauma this one has suffered, it's still rock solid!

The battery seems ok at the moment, but I will keep an eye on it, and probably replace it before I load up the memory proper, thanks for the tip!

I don't think I'll be buying any of the modern live consoles (my bank balance says no as well!) but these old units really are fun to use, and the PM22 I also have is a very capable unit (the audio triggered effects VU meter, oscilloscope etc. are excellent).

I dont think Ive ever seen one of those over on this side of the pond.

It sounds like a pretty cool unit.. Perhaps one of you kind chaps could snap a few pix so we can see :)

The older PM20 (branded as a Galaxy) :

http://www.hilogic.co.uk/las/25.jpg

the PM21 that superceded it:

http://www.hilogic.co.uk/las/26.jpg

http://www.chamtech.demon.co.uk/PM21.htm

Great unit's for backup controllers and simple shows. No blanking/AOM control or complicated graphics etc. but the PM22 and up have more functions and ability.

The PM22, does have a lot more

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...laser/pm22.jpg

I do feel though that it pushes the boundaries of what you can actually do without a screen (there are two small alphanumeric screens, and they are worked very hard!), the earlier models are a bit more practical, though the midi interface on the PM22 is fun, I've linked it to keyboards and digital drum pads for live playing! :)

heres a picy of mine

http://www.esnips.com/doc/168815ac-0...2fac/laserrig4

notice that they were branded under different names

mine a laser grafix Midas .... chameleon made them for quite a few laser install companys with the installers name on them


all the best ... Karl

Ahh.. Very Cool...
Yep, I have seen of those, just dont remember where tho, coulda been from a lasershow I seen many years ago..

Very cool looking rig and functionable.
I can see why you guys cherish them. If I ever get the opportunity
to grab one , I will.

Thanks for posting the pix guys

I've had a PM20 and PM21, both now sold for software based control. I must say though, they really were great for live playing. They even did simple scrolling text. The modulation of images was really rather ingenious and you could get some excellent tumbles, flip, rotates etc with it, as well as point mode graphics. I do miss mine, some of the effects were awesome, especially if using diffraction gratings with them.
This old video here shows my old 150mw with PM21 control: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/domain_...clublaser2.wmv

Before the PM21 I had a PM20, this had a tendency to crash quite often and would lock up. Initally it had good beat control, but then it stopped working. Instead of a D-type connector the PM20 had a centronics printer connector, which was horrible!

Apparently prior to these 2 there was a PM19 too. This I heard was even more unreliable, but had an ability to produce lissajous and geometric patterns which you could change the frequency of and then save/ store to a button? I've never seen one of these, but would definately like some more info on them or any pictures if anyone has any?
The downside to these was as Banthai said, keeping the program stored, especially fi the backup battery went down. There was never any provision made to back these onto a PC. The PM21 had a lot of extra ports, rs232, serial etc, but these were never supported (I think)
I also had a Laser Systems, Maestro controller with my first ALC68 argon system. This was OK but again nothing like the PM's. Laser system changed to Laser Studio but I can't find anything about them now, are they still around???? They had some cool looking standalone controllers, like the Magnum etc

I'll upload some pics of my old controllers later!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mazfg

They had some cool looking standalone controllers, like the Magnum

---

That reminded me that I had a magnum once, pulled from a club is Bristol along with a broken Coherent purelight. Never got to plug the controller in before selling it on, but it looked like a whacky bit of kit!
Big up-right thing with 2 trackerballs. Very retro!

Aahh, that's right, those track ball things, I remember it now. Apparently they were a nightmare to use?

Can't find my pics of the old lasers at the moment, but found this one I forgot, from a company called "Laser Science", up North somehwere I think. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/domain_...serscience.JPG

Chamtech also do a PM25, which is geared towards DPSS single wavelength lasers.

If you go here I've remembered that I've got some photos of old projects I'd done. In amongst that lot is some pics of the controllers I'd had....Maestro, PM20 & PM21.

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/mazfg

Cool! this is turning in to a retro controller thread! :)

I have to say after finishing resurrecting this PM20, I have refound my love for these old hardware solutions, they're just so playable! :)

The PM22 has some fantastic sound to light functions, I'll have to stick up a video, the old VU meter is great! :)

The Magnum was the first laser controller I ever experienced, I haven't seen one in over 10 years, I remember the two track balls and wasn't the image Eprom fitted in the front panel? Anyone got any pictures?

Now does anyone else still have a Lasertech system?

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../lasertech.jpg

Those are some really cool old shots..
I dig those PM's !!!
And it was good to see some old G120's in there as well.
I still have mine.
Someday, If I can find them.. Ive got some old pix of my homebrew
controller built about circa 1979 while I was in college.
All built up in old bud boxes and telco rack hardware.
What was really a trip , was trying to remember what switch did what.
rows and rows of switches and pots., and of course LED's.
Dymo tape on everything.
All that for a HeNe too...!!!
Later I did add a Lexel 75 to the mess, made the HeNe look like a toy.
Always wanted more red..badly.
I guess thats why I make em :)

I remember Lasertech from many years ago. Always seemed a little pricey if I remember. I actually went up there once with friend to meet Dave Green and have a demo. We almost bought a 100mW Argon-ion! The basic controller was OK, not too sure about the scanners(speakers) though. I rather like the look of the external effects controller, it looked liked it could do some nice things. Unfortunately he didn't have one at the time to demo.

YAG, can you tell us some more about the ext. effects controller, and can we have a close up of the panel front? Whats the purpose of the laptop with that set-up?

(There's something very satisfying using a desk with lots of buttons and flashing lights on!)

[quote=Yag;23166]Now does anyone else still have a Lasertech system?/quote]

O-M-G! :eek: that's the same setup I had with one of his SP162 laser heads producing 60mW and a pair of speakers as scanners. It was the next step up from a HeNe and a pair of motors. I think I still have one of the speaker amps/joystick module somewhere :p

I think there's quite a few people went for the Lasertech stuff years ago, at that time there just wasn't the choice of controllers, laser suppliers & competition there is now. Yes, it was pretty expensive but it worked.
His speaker scanners had some great features... when you tried using them in a heavy bass environment, they picked up the freqs and made their own patterns. Actually looked pretty cool!

I'll bet anyone that visited him in his attic "demo room" or spoke to him on the phone knows what I mean when I say he liked a chat :D

Happy days tho & I did learn a lot from him :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mazfg

YAG, can you tell us some more about the ext. effects controller, and can we have a close up of the panel front? Whats the purpose of the laptop with that set-up?

---

No worries! The external effects controller was a bit pricey, so I was pleased to pick mine up second hand on ebay, along with a dead Hene lasertech projector (which is now in the loft somewhere, sporting a 100mw DPSS! :) )

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...effectsmod.jpg

This unit does pretty much nothing until you feed it an audio signal, the two yellow knobs adjust the level, and beat delay, a rather handy function to help it pick out bass beats, or catch every second beat etc. Zooms and rotations are both triggered by the audio source.

The red knobs copy the sine wave generators on the original controller, but the fine adjust allows you to "lock" static images more easily.

The green knobs are the zoom section, the top two are switches that set the manner of the zoom ( ANALOGUE=smooth, 2 STATE=bounce between big and small, DIGITAL=stepped) and the axis to which it is applied (X, Y, X and Y and AUTO switches through the 3 options in turn) The DIRECTION knob set whether it zoomed up or down (AUTO alternated this) DECAY set the speed of the zoom, and RANGE how far it went.

The grey knobs control the rotation of the image, either OFF, CONT (continuous rotation) or STEP (on the beat) The sequence knob changed the direction.

I can't remember what the SYSTEM SEQUENCE switch did, but SYSTEM MODE set whether the unit produced Lissajous patterns or circles, or if it took a feed from an external source (The Graphics Module).

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...sculptorgm.jpg

The Laptop was used with a piece of software called Beam Sculptor GM. This was used along with a hardware modification to the Graphics Module, which replaced the EPROM with a memory that could be loaded, via a serial cable, from the software. The software could load ILDA files (max 128 points) and also included a drawing and editing package.

I still have mine, and it all still works! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by p1t8ull

I'll bet anyone that visited him in his attic "demo room" or spoke to him on the phone knows what I mean when I say he liked a chat :D

Happy days tho & I did learn a lot from him :)

---

I had a couple of "long" conversations with him ;), very nice chap though! and extremely helpful to me when I was starting out! :)

I used a PM19 in a club installation for several years. Towards the end, it became terribly un-reliable, but when working well was able to produce some amazing effects.

Shortly after its demize, I purchased a PM25. Serial number 0000. A pre production prototype. A rock solid desk, easy to use and superbly built and reliable.

I still hanker after a 22 though. Both this and the 25 make superb live desks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by QUAZAR

I used a PM19 in a club installation for several years. Towards the end, it became terribly un-reliable, but when working well was able to produce some amazing effects.

Shortly after its demize, I purchased a PM25. Serial number 0000. A pre production prototype. A rock solid desk, easy to use and superbly built and reliable.

I still hanker after a 22 though. Both this and the 25 make superb live desks.

---

The PM22 does have some nice features, with the addition of a simple MIDI-SMPTE event box, you can record shows in real time and sync them up to music or video:-

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...aser/smpte.jpg

Hi i had the use of one of these controllers a year or so ago & it didnt have any blanking just straight X & Y outputs.
Hope this helps

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yag

This may be yet another question aimed at the UK members, I'm not sure if these were ever exported.

Recently coaxed an old PM20 (Universal Lasers Galaxy) back in to life.

They use a 15 pin D-type connector for the output, though sadly the one on mine was removed at some point, so I've had to decode the wiring for the scanner outputs.

If anybody out there has one or has worked on one, do they know if they actually have a blanking output?

I can't locate a manual for the PM20, I have a PM22 manual (and a PM22) which uses pin 15 for blanking, but in the PM21 manual I found, Pin 15 isn't used, and there is no pin labelled for blanking in the pinout, this may be the same for the PM20.

If anyone knows anything about these old fellas (I've been told it could be over 20 years old!) I'd be very grateful, it's a really fun bit of kit, and otherwise works perfectly! :)

---

Thanks for the info YAG, always wondered what all those knobs etc were on the ext. effects controller! That software is named the same as "Laser Visuals" Beam sculptor software too!

In case anyone is interested, I know George McDuff, the designer of the PM series desks. His workshop is just across the road from me. Should anyone want any of these desks, I can get a very good price on them.:D

Is there anyone out ther in the south of the uk that can fix the PM 22 as i have 3 to fix and 4 PM 21s.
or do you have a contact I could call in the uk to fix laser equipment, any help would be great thanks simondj

Simon, have you tried contacting Chamsys (Georges current company) to see if they would entertain repair work or seeing if they can recommend someone?

Failing that, I know someone in the Southampton area who used to build some of the early Chamsys wings for George who may have been involved with Chamtech, I can hit him up to see if you like?


P.S. shame about that stop switch, £10 eh ;) :rolleyes:

Thanks for the reply
If you could get intouch with the guy in Southampton that would be great.
I have tried to contact George via lots of diferant people but he wants nothing to do with it any more as i have 2 stealth lasers for repair too. I just need a good sparkie to sort out my laser show. thanks simondj

I've hit him up, I'll let you know when he gets back to me.

Since the only thing in there that contains intellectual property is the EPROM(s), any skilled microprocessor hobbyist can repair those for you. New 80XX series chips are still available from JAMECO in California..

Steve

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yag

No worries! The external effects controller was a bit pricey, so I was pleased to pick mine up second hand on ebay, along with a dead Hene lasertech projector (which is now in the loft somewhere, sporting a 100mw DPSS! :) )

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...effectsmod.jpg

This unit does pretty much nothing until you feed it an audio signal, the two yellow knobs adjust the level, and beat delay, a rather handy function to help it pick out bass beats, or catch every second beat etc. Zooms and rotations are both triggered by the audio source.

The red knobs copy the sine wave generators on the original controller, but the fine adjust allows you to "lock" static images more easily.

The green knobs are the zoom section, the top two are switches that set the manner of the zoom ( ANALOGUE=smooth, 2 STATE=bounce between big and small, DIGITAL=stepped) and the axis to which it is applied (X, Y, X and Y and AUTO switches through the 3 options in turn) The DIRECTION knob set whether it zoomed up or down (AUTO alternated this) DECAY set the speed of the zoom, and RANGE how far it went.

The grey knobs control the rotation of the image, either OFF, CONT (continuous rotation) or STEP (on the beat) The sequence knob changed the direction.

I can't remember what the SYSTEM SEQUENCE switch did, but SYSTEM MODE set whether the unit produced Lissajous patterns or circles, or if it took a feed from an external source (The Graphics Module).

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...sculptorgm.jpg

The Laptop was used with a piece of software called Beam Sculptor GM. This was used along with a hardware modification to the Graphics Module, which replaced the EPROM with a memory that could be loaded, via a serial cable, from the software. The software could load ILDA files (max 128 points) and also included a drawing and editing package.

I still have mine, and it all still works! :)

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WOW WOW and WOW !!!

Do you by any chance still have your lasertech gear ??

Would you consider selling it ?

Please let me know . . .

Also if anyone on here is reading this and has any lasertech bits id love to hear from you !!

Best Regards

Charlotte
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