Datronik Club laser

[satje]

Hello everybody,

I recently got me a Datronik Club laser base.
There's a HeNe unit and a Argon (ilt5400) both working with only 100 hours on the meter.

Also there's a optical bank with a PCAOM chrystal (but no driver)
The actuators (11) are going to a pcb and from there to a DB25 connector.

Now is my question, is this ILDA? i am afraid it is not.
When connecting the possitive lead on this connector to another pin, the actuator switches.

Also there is no scanset, i have to buy one...

How can i hook up this system via ILDA and DMX and how to connect the PCAOM driver? (i can buy one for a good price)

I hope to get some good advice to make this system working.

Regards,
Ferry

[-bart-]

Are you sure there is a pcaom in there ?
Can you post some detailed pictures ?
With some skill, you can easily convert this one to dmx in it's present condition.

Add an ilda port only if you want to go graphics.

[mixedgas]

Yes, thats a pcaom at the end of the rail. Right where the blue heatshrink is around the yellow and orange wires.

Be careful with the Siemans hene, they missalign easy if the internal locks are not set,

Steve

[satje]

Be careful with the Siemans hene, they missalign easy if the internal locks are not set

Can you explain me the how and what on this?
I'm allready trying to allign both lasers and it is a pain in the behind.

And yes i want to have ILDA but got no clue how to achieve this (the part between a ilda controller and the lasers, scanners, actuators and PCAOM)

[buffo]

Hello Satje, welcome to PhotonLexicon.

It would be helpful if you would fill out your profile information. That way people would know where you are located, and it's more likely that you'll be able to get together with someone local to you who could offer assistance.

What are your plans for this projector? Do you have any laser show software and / or a controller that you plan to use with it? Because it's possible that this projector pre-dates the current ILDA standard, especially if it was being used with one of the older Pangolin QM-32 controllers. (The pinout on those controllers are different from the modern ILDA connector.)

Adam

[satje]

Hello Satje, welcome to PhotonLexicon.

It would be helpful if you would fill out your profile information. That way people would know where you are located, and it's more likely that you'll be able to get together with someone local to you who could offer assistance.

What are your plans for this projector? Do you have any laser show software and / or a controller that you plan to use with it? Because it's possible that this projector pre-dates the current ILDA standard, especially if it was being used with one of the older Pangolin QM-32 controllers. (The pinout on those controllers are different from the modern ILDA connector.)

Adam

Oops... Profile is done now.

As i wrote earlier, i don't have a scanset yet.
I'm considering a DT40Pro from Jian and is if i'm not wrong fully ilda compatible.

The PCAOM Modulator is from Neos type: 48062-2.5-.55
and i can buy a 6ch driver 0-5 V, TTL signal.

Further i want to steer my optical bench, i have it working (hardwired) 0V is off, 5V is on.

Can the optical bench also be wired to ilda or do i need a dmx decoder and controller ?

About the lasers i am not sure, if i plug in the mains i need to give two wires 12V DC
This engages the powerboard relais wich turns on the HeNe laser and the optical bench.
To turn on the Argon laser i have to short two wires and it starts up with a delay.

I want to try the Laserboy DAC and / or I-Show.

Hope you guys can give me good advice.

[buffo]

I'm considering a DT40Pro from Jian and is if i'm not wrong fully ilda compatible.

If a projector is said to be "ILDA-compatible", that simply means that it has a DB-25 input connector that is wired according to the ILDA standard. It means that you can connect that projector to any ILDA-compatible controller and the controller will be able to run the projector.

However, "ILDA compatible" has nothing to do with the scanners themselves. The inputs to the scanner amps always have to be wired manually, no matter which set you buy. The ILDA standard only defines which signals are to be sent on which pins of a standard DB-25 connector.

Inside the projector, you need to take the various signals from the ILDA connector and route them to the appropriate devices. For example, the X+, X-, Y+ and Y- signals go to the scanner amps. The shutter signal goes to your shutter driver circuit. And the R+, G+ and B+ signals go to your color control device. In your case, it's a PCAOM, but most solid state projectors have individual lasers for red, green, and blue, so these signals are sent to the modulation inputs for the drivers for each laser.

Here's a link that shows which signals go on which pins. This connector can be found on the outside of the projector, and also on the output of the laser show controller. You use a standard 25-pin parallel cable to connect the two.

The PCAOM Modulator is from Neos type: 48062-2.5-.55
and i can buy a 6ch driver 0-5 V, TTL signal.

A driver which supported analog modulation would be preferable. That projector is capable of producing some *amazing* colors if you can get analog modulation out of that PCAOM. It shouldn't cost too much extra, and it will be well worth it...

Can the optical bench also be wired to ilda or do i need a dmx decoder and controller ?

By "optical bench", I assume you mean the individual actuators that send static beams into the bounce mirrors, right? Those actuators can be controlled via DMX, but they can also be controlled by *some* controllers which have user-programmable TTL outputs. Or you could simply control them manually by wiring them to an external box with some push-button switches...

Personally, I think DMX is probably a more elegant solution, but it's also more expensive. You would need a DMX decoder module inside the projector, plus a driver circuit for the actuators. Some advanced laser show controllers have DMX-out capability built in, but you could always use a DMX lighting board instead. In any event, I'd wait until you get the scanners and PCAOM working correctly first, before you worry about the beam rail portion of the projector.

About the lasers i am not sure, if i plug in the mains i need to give two wires 12V DC
This engages the powerboard relais wich turns on the HeNe laser and the optical bench.
To turn on the Argon laser i have to short two wires and it starts up with a delay.

That sounds like a fairly typical arrangement. In fact, those two control circuits can be used to build an interlock for the projector so that if anything goes wrong, the lasers will shut down automatically. (You can tie them into a remote "kill" switch.) This is recommended for all projectors, and is probably something you'll want to add fairly quickly after you get it working.

I want to try the Laserboy DAC and / or I-Show.

I've heard really bad things about I-show from many people here on the forum. I'd avoid that if you can. On the other hand, the sound card option is very affordable, and there are several people here who can offer you assistance should you decide to try that.

However, I encourage you to meet up with some of our members near you (we have several in your area) and take a look at some of the other controllers available on the market. True, a professional controller does cost more, but it offers more stable operation than other solutions. Also, there are usually more shows available for the commercial controllers than for sound card DACs, for example.

Adam

[satje]

Thanks for the info!

I got loads of other questions but i wil first order the scanset and pcaom driver and start playing with the Laserboy kit.

When i gained sufficient knowledge i will look for a better system.

For the members in my area, pse give a shout if you want to help me out when i got some issues.

Much appriciated

Ferry

[satje]

Please feel free to split this one up in a new thread when needed.

Included a fussy image of my optical bank...

I want to know the best way to allign the Argon and HeNe.
Whatever i do there's always a missallignement.

They come together in the DC Red optical and from there to the PCAOM

Any advise is welcome.

Ferry

[buffo]

It would be helpful to have a better picture of the beam table, but from the image you provided it appears that you have the adjustments you need.

Start by adjusting the two bounce mirrors on the HeNe beam. You need the HeNe beam to hit the dichro (labeled DC red in your pic) so that the red beam overlaps the blue/green beam from the argon right at the face of the dichro. The two dots need to be *exactly* on top of one another. This is your near-field alignment, and it's crucial that this is perfect.

Once you have this alignment correct, then you can use the adjustments on the dichro mount itself to steer the red beam so it's parallel with the blue/green beam from the argon. This is your far-field alignment, and it's easiest to adjust if you can send the beams down a long hallway. (You'll probably need to remove the PCAOM for this part.) You want to make sure that the two beams are perfectly parallel and superimposed one on the other. (That is, overlapping.)

Adam