Technoroam Lasershow
Last Update: 23.11.2007
This site contains some informations related to my homebuilt
lasershow. Until now I have built two simple projectors where
G120D galvos with my own amplifiers (see below) are used as scanning system. First projector uses Viasho VB-150
150mW 532nm laserhead, second one has Medialas DPGL 50 A 50mW 532nm laserhead.
As controller I'm using slightly modified ChaN's LDP2, which plays
frames from standard SD Card.
LDP2 can be controlled via keyboard, RS232 (using any terminal program
like HyperTerminal),
or via DMX input.
New member of my small laser family is Moncha 2.0 package by Showtacle Ltd.
Moncha 2.0 is complete solution for live performace (includes USB DAC + Windows based software ).
Without USB DAC is software working as demoversion. Check it, it's worth it :-)
1.
G120D Scanner Amplifier (composed
from various links from internet)
Single axis driver for G120D galvos.
Schematics: G120Amp_SCH.pdf
See also my topic on www.laserfreak.net forum.
Finished Driver
PCB Top
PCB Bottom
Here are the test pictures (Power Supply = +/- 20VDC):
A) ILDA Test Pattern at 15Kpps @ 40° optical (+/- 20°)
B) ILDA Test Pattern at 20Kpps @ 20° optical (+/- 10°)
C) ILDA Test Pattern at 24Kpps @ 8° optical (+/- 4°)
Full step response (Power Supply = +/- 20VDC):
The G120Amp is adjusted so that position detector produces Vpos
= +/-5V @ +/- 20° ( = 40° optical, maximum possible scan
angle of G120).
Input signal was square wave (50/50) f = 50Hz with amlitude of 10V
connected to Vin+ input ( Vin- was grounded ). G120Amp is
adjusted
so this signal produces maximum possible scan angle.
Whole G120Amp was tunned so ILDA Test Pattern runs correctly at 15Kpps @ 40° optical (+/- 20°) (see test pictures section A).
Command:
Response:
Adjustment procedures:
You can look here for some details about how to adjust (tune) the amp.
Closer look on setup where all tunings have been done:
I bought my first pair of G120D in July 2005. They worked, but
their condition was not very well (torsion bar was several times
replaced, bearings not I think).
I was able to get maximum 15Kpps @ 40° optical, 18Kpps @ 20°
optical. When scanning angle was decreased there was no improvement in
scanning speed.
Price was few hundred EUR for one pair !
In May 2007 I met one guy on eBay who was selling General Scanning galvos which looked like G120. Starting price for one piece was 35 USD,
which was unbelievable ! This guy offered 46 pieces !!! I was not
100% sure, that it is G120, beacuse General Scanning produced also
custom made galvos.
Nevertheless I bought 4 pieces of galvos for 140USD. Transaction was
smooth, galvos arrived without problems. One think I had to do was to
replace
connectors, because my G120Amp has Sub D connector, and my new galvos had connectors which will fit to MiniSAX driver.
Then I connected new galvos to my G120Amps, carefuly tested and tunned
as required. The rest you can see on test pictures. Now I think my new
galvos
are G120 with thermal blanket (orange stripe on galvo). They are
working perfectly. I didn't make any changes to my amps. All results
were achieved
because my new galvos are in very good condition (they are "used but
well cared for" as it was stated on eBay). One remark: After I won 4
pieces, these guy
still had 24 pieces available. He will be for sure re-listing them. His name is "finalphase2".
2.
Laser Display Controller 2 (designed
by ChaN http://elm-chan.org/works/vlp/report_e.html)
Schematics with my modifications: LDP2_SCH.pdf
Most important for me is added DMX input. It uses USART1. I found useful DMX routines on http://www.qsl.net/n5tle/.
Original code http://www.qsl.net/n5tle/dmx2avc.asm was written for PIC16F876 microcontroller.
I only adapted it for AVR microcontrollers.
Also symetrical (balanced) output for X & Y channels added.
Beacuse of some hardware modifications (I/O port
connections), also orginal ChaN's code needed to be changed.
It's now working perfectly :-)
Frames or animations are stored on SD Card in Chan's own file format. ILDA files can be easily
converted to this format. It supports only one color and TTL modulation.
3. Projector 1
This was my first attempt to built laser projector. In the beginning it was equipped with G124 open loop galvos manufactured
by General Scanning . Lot of pictures of the first version are available here . Based on the information at LaserFX.com ,
using amps called Accelerator124, these open loop galvos can reach 12Kpps.
As it was stated above, I was able to get true closed loop galvos called G120D. G120D was industry standard many years ago.
But today still fast enough for me :-)
So one pair of G124 including amps is now ready for shipment if somebody is interested. It could be a decent start for
any beginner in this area. Contact me if you would like to have them. Closer look on what you can get is here .
Some photos after improvements:
Comments will come soon.
Schematics: Scanner Amplifier , Power Supply , Power Entry Module , Control Board , Projector 1 Wiring .
4. Projector 2
Preliminary version:
More photos of finished projector2 and some comments will come soon.
Schematics: Scanner Amplifier , Power Supply , Control Board , Projector 2 Wiring .
5. Links
http://elm-chan.org/works/vlp/report_e.html
http://www.laserfx.com/Backstage.LaserFX.com/Systems/Pinouts26.html
http://aart.vslcatena.nl/galvodriver.php
http://www.oelsa.de/laser/
http://www.meos.com/Photonics%20experiments%20finished%20pages/laser%20scanner.html
http://www.laserfx.com/Backstage.LaserFX.com/Systems/SystemsScanning.html
http://www.pangolin.com/ILDAtest.html
http://www.laserfreak.net
http://www.laserfreak.net/forum/index.php?c=15
http://www.laserfreak.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37470&sid=6266b2013b0d337b5707ff62c6d93513
http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/index.php
http://www.dmx512-online.com/
http://www.showtacle.com/
6. Disclaimer
Any information provided on this site
is not guaranteed in any way. All informations here are provided
for
educational purposes only, USE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK ! If you blow up your galvos, home,
computer, or anything else -- it's not my fault, use good judgement and play nice.
7. Contact
Questions
? Just send me an e-mail.
www.technoroam.sk/lasershow
