Beam Show

[kiyoukan]

I am looking to make the best beam show with the equipment i have.
I have my mind set on stepper motors.
The reason is i have lots of them to spare and a very nice controller for them.
The micro controller i use is off my cnc machine. It can move the motors past there own speed. So i know its fast enough.
This also give me computer control.
I also have a spare 500watt audio amp i could use.
I have found via the godly search button that this might not be a good route.
I would be better off going with

If you want to play with steppers, I recommend you find the smallest stepper you can. There are some that have the diameter of a US Dime. While looking at data sheets, you want to look at the "steps per second" rating. I have seen some small steppers that go up to 6000 steps per second. And lastly, you want the largest "per step" angle that you can get. 1.8 degrees per step is WAY too small.

Afer you have found a suitable, small, stepper, the next thing you should do is build your own amp. The easiest way to do it is to put a constant voltage into one of the coils, and a varying (AC) voltage into the other coil. The constant voltage will serve as what's called a "holding coil" or also known as an electronic spring. The other coil will give you motion.


William Benner

But i have also been told that, that way will fail compared to the use of a real controller.

(http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/bu...tml#post624146)
If you're going that route, you'll need an external amplifier like a stereo or dedicated audio amp. No current software (except some really old one I think for Macintosh computers) use this type of output system. Even then all you're going to be able to draw is some scribbles or lissajous figures.

Commercial stepper units actually step the motors with a stepper motor driver, and a controller to send the step/direction signals. You can make basic shapes and some text this way. Otherwise you really should be looking into some commercial scanners.

Yes i know i am pulling from two different forums but i am trying to do the most and best i can with what i have.

[ElektroFreak]

What's your budget? You could get actual 20k scanners from Spacelas for $88US plus shipping.. That will get you scanning much faster than trying to use steppers etc... I know you have your mind set on them, but even after all that work you won't like the results nearly as much as if you had just bought a cheap galvo set..

[kiyoukan]

My budget at this moment is free.
Depending on how much i get out of this depends if i want to sink more money into this hobby.
I am not looking to do shows just more of sitting on my comp and having fun with it.
The whole headache of bringing it to places and worrying about it hitting someone in the eyes is something i don't want to deal with.
I still have to buy a analog controller for my R G V laser.
Speaking of that whats the cheapest one can pick of a a analog laser driver for 3 lasers?

[ElektroFreak]

the only one I know of is here: http://www.ctrnd.com/NormLaserShow/R...iodeDriver.htm

If you're planning on gauging your interest in the hobby by the performance of a homemade stepper motor system, you might find your interest in the hobby to be short lived.

I'm not trying to discourage your creativity or innovation, but the reality is that galvos are the only real way to go with laser shows, even laser shows that you're just going to use at home. Stepper motors do not perform well in this application, even professionally manufactured ones, and are only used to cut costs at the expense of performance. You could probably find a 10k set of galvos for next to nothing used.

[kiyoukan]

Wow the controller is worth more than most my lasers.
You sure there's no cheaper one? How about a kit?
I know you general pay at least 35$ for just labor so that's why i ask for a kit.
Okay so Who has a set of 10k glavos for sale?
I already have a 5.1 card i can mod into a dac.

[ElektroFreak]

You might be able to buy a kit from that site.. I'd just shoot Norm an email and ask him about it..

Other than that the only option I can think of is the flexmod from drlava.

[kiyoukan]

checked his site that is just a kit.
That seems very pricey for a board and a bag of parts.
Checking forums for free docs on how to make a analog driver.

[soforene]

Dude,
I'm seeing a pattern here.
If you think that $75 is expensive and is more than the value of your lasers then you are definitely in the wrong hobby.

You need to spend thousands, literally thousands to do it properly.

Most laserists will spend more than 75 bucks on cleaning materials for their gear.

You need to find yourself a cheap hobby cus lasers are not it.

[kiyoukan]

I called this post a beam show not a laser show i dont much care for drawings or animations, thus why i would hope to do a beam show for less than 1,000$.
My lasers just clear 70$ (i know i am still new)
unknown price for the drivers i built.
As far as making things go i have my own cnc machine to make boards so for a driver that is just a etched board and parts, 75$ is a bit much maybe 45$. and 75$ for the kit built.
for 65$ i can get one with a micro controller built.
I know a lot of people here are seeking professional grade stuff, i am just seeking pure entertainment from building, learning and watching the nice lights change colors over my head.

[ElektroFreak]

There's nothing wrong with that. Sofo... er.. Herbert is right that laser shows are generally an expensive hobby, but there's a lot that can be done on a tight budget if you build your own lasers or use inexpensive modules. You might not have all the power and stability that more expensive gear offers, but it is very possible to build a single-color or RGY scanner for comparatively little cash.. Stepper motors are just not worth the effort IMO. Doing it for free is not possible, though.