Post Burning Man cleaning advice?

[norty303]

It is, we decided to put that development budget into more power
Time was not on our side either....

[dnar]

Is this a case of disposable laser projectors? It sounds like it is. If so, why not factor in a quantity of TNT to end the show and the projectors?

[slicklasers]

Compressed air, vinegar on a microfiber towel, and pledge with a microfiber towel to clean the outside...

[norty303]

To be honest, we did consider anything on the lower deck as potentially disposable. It's only about £100 of PSU per projector and $250 of drivers. But let's not resign to the bin just yet.

[Mr.Coffee]

Hell man, you built them for the burn, rebuild them for after the burn. If you can take your components out one at a time, you can give them the individual attention they deserve. Playa dust is alkaline, so making your cleaning fluids slightly acidic will help neutralize that.

However, for optics and the like, I'd recommend the "drop and drag" methanol process. Maybe you can flush them with a squeeze bottle or monoject if you like. I'm not familiar with first contact, but if it's what I think it is, then that would be a good direction to go in as well.

For electronics, I'd decase everything you can and give it a healthy dose of compressed air, followed by a mixture of distilled water and white vinegar (or muriatic acid), followed by more distilled water, followed by isopropyl alcohol, followed by a day in the sun.

the case and bread board I'd just wash once they were free of components.

as for the galvos? Lots of compressed air, and drop-and-drag/first contact for the optics.

Also, the burn is a year off, so you've got plenty of time to seal them up tightly. Might I recommend an oversized case and a hepa filter?

[norty303]

Wow, that would be great, do you think they'll want to pay me to do all these bits of work to enhance their projectors??

I built them for them, they want them cleaning, that's about the limit of what we've discussed so far.

Assuming I have the time and/or inclination for the project too....

[dnar]

I think it's all about managing expectations.

Set your default position first, I would suggest you state the obvious which is that they are extremely dirty, impacting optics but also electronics and scanner bearings.

State your plan for cleaning and the possible negative impacts of each step and component, list your plan B which would be replacement of any component that does not meet minimum requirements post cleaning, thus costs may acrue.

I would also be very clear that the final result will NOT be as new.

You need to set a minimum performance criteria for each component and also the projector as a system.

I would quote this with both fixed price elements and estimated elements dependant on the response to cleaning and testing, as a range of estimated values.

That's really all you can offer before work commences. It is important the client is aware of the best and worse case scenarios.

I am doing similar at the moment for a 92 square meter LED video wall at my local drag strip, less than 500M from the coast. 5616 x 256 pixel RGB panels, and 234 x 200W switch mode power supplies.

[norty303]

Sorry Wayne, I missed the [/sarcasm] tag off my post above....


I 'get' all that, my point was, I don't particularly want a complete rebuild job, nor do they want to pay for one I expect, neither do I think it will require one.

They are what they are, built to both a budget and within tight timescales. They will get a spruce up and a clean out.

[dnar]

Sarcasm. One of lives few remaining pleasures.

[Humphry]

Hey Adam,

Were you on the playa this year? We have a 10,000 people version down here in South Africa.. Always been too scared to bring my lasers but have used modules for various installations.