Im building a scanner, may need help

[TTerbo]

Hello guys and gals (if their are any?)
im TTerbo from laserpointerforums.com
i recently decided to build a scanner and Things and goninanbl00d recomended i join here,
ok lets get down to business
i have chosen to use these nice and cheap galvos http://cgi.ebay.com/Galvo-scanning-s...item43a3164cc6
but then i have to find a DAC...
or i could use these cheapies http://cgi.ebay.com/20Kpps-HightSpee...item33615283f0 and not use a DAC for a while because it has a DMX player board so it would have a few preset scanning patterns.
i currently only have $180 to spend and i have a green laser sorted

ill keep you updated with what i buy
or if you have any sudgestions please post here

[dnar]

Hi TTerbo, nice to see you again.

300EVIL has a nice AUDIOLASE board you can use with a $10 Delextreme sound card. he just had a bunch of board done so your in luck too. Spend a little extra (if he's offering) and get one built and calibrated. Or just the kit if you wish to save a few $$$.

As EVIL was kind enough to supply my audiolase with a sound card, the USB sound card I bought from DX for this project is surplus to my requirements. You can have it if you like, no cost.

Check here: http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...up-Buy-Edition.

If your after a good high side analog modulation driver that will do up to 4A with full safety and protection features, drlava's Flexmod P3 is highly recommended (I use them). http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...r-Diode-Driver

I may even be able to spare one if you need one quickly.

Welcome to PL. You are in the right place for projector information, the knowledge these guys have and share is not found anywhere else (that I am aware of).

Wayne (Perth).

[goninanbl00d]

Hi TTerbo, nice to see you again.

300EVIL has a nice AUDIOLASE board you can use with a $10 Delextreme sound card. he just had a bunch of board done so your in luck too. Spend a little extra (if he's offering) and get one built and calibrated. Or just the kit if you wish to save a few $$$.

As EVIL was kind enough to supply my audiolase with a sound card, the USB sound card I bought from DX for this project is surplus to my requirements. You can have it if you like, no cost.

Check here: http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...up-Buy-Edition.

If your after a good high side analog modulation driver that will do up to 4A with full safety and protection features, drlava's Flexmod P3 is highly recommended (I use them). http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...r-Diode-Driver

I may even be able to spare one if you need one quickly.

Welcome to PL. You are in the right place for projector information, the knowledge these guys have and share is not found anywhere else (that I am aware of).

Wayne (Perth).

And *we* meet again too, I see

Yeah, 300EVIL makes a nice SCD kit. Although SCDs don't perform as well as a proper hardware DAC, it's certainly a cut above what the DMX board can provide.

Yes, you can have a scanner with only a DMX board, but you'll only be limited to beamshows, with TTL modulation.

SCDs are a great way to get a cheap DAC. If you can make room for it in your budget, then get one.

Also, I'd advise against the TriLights analog labby. Although it'd probably be overspec (none of these have turned up at or underspec yet), it has terrible analog mod performance (more akin to stepped TTL than true analog). Nor do you need so much power at first.

Anyway, we've given him the safety talk, and he seems to be learning too.

[TTerbo]

ok this is going to be my current set up

http://cgi.ebay.com/Galvo-scanning-s...item43a3164cc6

sound card dac will be http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15746 and a correctional amp from eudaimonium,

and a 50mW green 100mW red with TTL

[goninanbl00d]

ok this is going to be my current set up

http://cgi.ebay.com/Galvo-scanning-s...item43a3164cc6

sound card dacwill be http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15746 and a correctional amp from eudaimonium,

and a 50mW green 100mW red with TTL

Don't forget, you're gonna need some software. The DAC won't work magic by itself :P

LFI player is one of the better free programs out there, but has a very steep learning curve. It all takes practice.

[TTerbo]

Yah im also learning arduino coding...and i have 7 weeks of holidays

[dnar]

I know this is a little more $$$, but do consider getting 30k scanners if your at all seroius or want to do reasonable graphics as well.

http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...light=spacelas

[mixedgas]

Tterbo, remind me on Monday when I'm not jammed for time, to upload you Lissajous.exe to the FTP.

It is freeware, works with the sound card dac, or any stereo sound card, and since the signals are symmetric, you do not need to DC couple things at first. It will let you do lissajous and spirograph patterns right out of the barn. It has 10 presets, so once you choose your patterns, you can mouse click through a simple show to the music. Use it to get started, and then you can put more money into a sound card dac and bet better off, without the DMX board, which is a one trick pony.

If your going arduino, which is very slow for laser effects, get a couple of Microchip MCP4921.

Btw, a bit of terminology change from LPF, scanners are the galvos here, and a projector is what you are trying to build.

Steve

[TTerbo]

ah cool thanks man,
i will be ordering my Scanners tomorrow so i could start to build this projector in my 7week holidays
the easiest part of this is getting the case, im going to either go to my friends work, get the metal and build one or buy one from local shop
cheers

[goninanbl00d]

Tterbo, remind me on Monday when I'm not jammed for time, to upload you Lissajous.exe to the FTP.

It is freeware, works with the sound card dac, or any stereo sound card, and since the signals are symmetric, you do not need to DC couple things at first. It will let you do lissajous and spirograph patterns right out of the barn. It has 10 presets, so once you choose your patterns, you can mouse click through a simple show to the music. Use it to get started, and then you can put more money into a sound card dac and bet better off, without the DMX board, which is a one trick pony.

If your going arduino, which is very slow for laser effects, get a couple of Microchip MCP4921.

Btw, a bit of terminology change from LPF, scanners are the galvos here, and a projector is what you are trying to build.

Steve

So lissajous.exe will work without a correctional amp? In that case it's probably more useful than the DMX board anyway.

Most times the DMX boards are pretty shocking- they're good for basic beamshows, and that's it. Nothing else. They don't support analog, and the beamshows they can put out are pretty crappy. The only thing going for them is sound control, and even then, there are better options.

I only suggested it to him because I thought it'd work in his budget, in case he couldn't get a DAC. In that case, the SCD is a better idea.