Need help making a XY scanner

[cfavreau]

I see what you are asking. You want to build a whole laser show setup...

You just need 3 things.

1) A Projector (contains lasers, power supplies, and scanners (galvos))
2) A DAC (interfaces the computer with your projector)
3) Software

The first question you need to ask is:

What is your budget? For less than $500 you can get all 3 components and not have to do any soldering, drilling, cutting, etc... basically pull it out of the box... plug together ... and go.

The more you spend... the less you have to do yourself (up to a point). Then you can go from there.

I encourage you to look around a little more before spending any money. You really should educate yourself some more so you are familiar with the basic parts of the system. Not only will this help you get exactly what you need it will help you ask the right questions.

Take a look at this: http://www.laserfx.com/Backstage.Las...tGraphics.html it is a bit out of date ...

[FlutterPie]

I see what you are asking. You want to build a whole laser show setup...

You just need 3 things.

1) A Projector (contains lasers, power supplies, and scanners (galvos))
2) A DAC (interfaces the computer with your projector)
3) Software

The first question you need to ask is:

What is your budget? For less than $500 you can get all 3 components and not have to do any soldering, drilling, cutting, etc... basically pull it out of the box... plug together ... and go.

The more you spend... the less you have to do yourself (up to a point). Then you can go from there.

I encourage you to look around a little more before spending any money. You really should educate yourself some more so you are familiar with the basic parts of the system. Not only will this help you get exactly what you need it will help you ask the right questions.

Take a look at this: http://www.laserfx.com/Backstage.Las...tGraphics.html it is a bit out of date ...

I dont think I want a laser projector because I wanted to use like a hand held laser. I see that a lot of people use speakers as galvos but the problem I see with that is when you want it to move to music and you are looking at it on the wall it dosent move more than 6 inches o.O

The one in the video I posted above is moving all over the place and just looks more lively. I know the guy in the video used a BS2 microcontroller but it might be outdated by now. I wish he actually showed his setup.

I also came across this video and this is obviously amazing (and SUPER expensive) I would like to make something SIMILAR I guess but obviously not quite like that because I only plan on having 1 laser and I only expected to spend maybe $300



I will try to stop posting. I know I am annoying.

[cfavreau]

Your'e not annoying... we all had those same questions .. and we all want the answers as quick as we can get them.

You can get away with little stepper motor "galvos"... check out that PDF link above. That system is similar to what you want. You can always substitute a real set of galvos ... like the 20k set for $50 + shipping of course. That might be the best way to go... although the stepper based ones will be almost indestructable. The stepper ones will "probably" have a wider scan angle than the ones made out of speakers.

There are sooo many different ways you can go though ... based on your budget.

The only question then is what is your skill level?

[FlutterPie]

Your'e not annoying... we all had those same questions .. and we all want the answers as quick as we can get them.

You can get away with little stepper motor "galvos"... check out that PDF link above. That system is similar to what you want. You can always substitute a real set of galvos ... like the 20k set for $50 + shipping of course. That might be the best way to go... although the stepper based ones will be almost indestructable. The stepper ones will "probably" have a wider scan angle than the ones made out of speakers.

There are sooo many different ways you can go though ... based on your budget.

The only question then is what is your skill level?

Skill level as in what? Im good with computers and such. Soldering Im no pro but I can do it. I think programming the board will be fun do I dont think that will be too hard.

Since I will probably go with the galvos I linked above (is there a big difference between 20k and 25k?) that not what im confused about. Im just wondering how im going to set it up. So once I get the Galvos what do I do? I know what DAC stands for (and does) but im not sure how to set it up and actually work it. I am also confused as if I actually have to solder wires from the laser to the board so that it will turn the laser on and off automatically. I was just planning on using a handheld.

EDIT: See something like this looks simple yet effective. By looking at his setup it dosent look like it could cost that much but I dont know. This looks like pretty much exactly what I want.

[cfavreau]

In my opinion 20k vs. 25k for you probably will not be a big deal. Save your money put it towards another component.

It all depends on how much you want to DIY. You can source all of the components from that Chinese laser show site.. or all but a DB25 ILDA connector, some wire, and a power cable.., little pieces here and there.

$50 for 20kpps scanners
$20 for 50mW green laser module
$48 for iShow DAC and software (I am going to get beaned for suggesting this)....
+ Shipping

You will need to connect the scanner amplifier boards to the DB25 ILDA connector (just a male DB25 connector) ... you can get the parts from Radio Shack.
You will need an AC power cord for the scanner power supply and DC power supply maybe for the laser module. The web site does not say what it runs off of... it also does not indicate what wires you need for the module... maybe look for a different module ... These extra bits can be scrounged from old PC equipment or bought from Radio Shack or supplier of electrical goods....

Mount everything to a piece of plywood. If you mount it to metal be sure to isolate electrically the Laser as some or most of the laser cases are electrically active and shorting them to ground or +V will destroy them.

The next upgrade would be a better DAC and software.

Similar to this: http://marcansoft.com/blog/openlase/hardware-mark-1/

Here is a post on this forum about wiring: http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...ojector-Wiring

Hope that helps out a bit.

[Photonbeam]

I think iShow is a good suggestion. It's not in the same class as Pangolin but for $48 to start doing simple graphics how can you beat that? Back when I started out in the early '70's, if you had told me that someday you could have laser, closed loop scanners, DAC and software for less than $200 I would have said you were crazy. Amazing! What next?

[Bradfo69]

Nobody has asked yet, so I will... where on this wonderful spinning ball we call Earth do you reside? You'll find there are members all over the world and perhaps one right in your backyard. If you have any interest in lasers at all, there are meets periodically that are a HUGE wealth of information and examples. Absolutely worth whatever it takes to get to one.

(Ya'll know where this is going right? A SELEM plug may be soon to follow.

[FlutterPie]

I am really thankful to everyone that tried to help me. Before I place the order I just want to make sure I am getting the right things and that im not missing anything

Galvos

Laser

Software I think it includes DAC as well?

DB25

AMP Now im not sure if I need this or not. I thought I read some where that I did need one but please let me know.