Interface for dummies 101

[steve-o]

Hi,
I'm looking for a piece of equipment that may or may not exist. I'm one of those people who like to build lasers from the ground-up but don't really know or want to know the intricacies of ILDA cabling/ breakout boxes, pass-thrus, DMX etc.. I would really like to find a single "black-box" solution that I can hookup one cable to my pc ( I think I can load the laser softare :] and the the other end to the galvo amps x y inputs and the 3 laser modulation inputs. In other words, the box would have a usb cable on one end and 5 wires plus a ground on the other. Any such apparatus exists?
Thanks in advance!
Cheers!

[LaNeK779]

i could think of a number of reasons why this does not exist but i don't think i (or you) would want me to start writing

if you water down your requirements a bit and you can tolerate a pair of db25 jacks in between the pc end and the projector end, maybe DZ's breakout board plus the dac of your choice would do the trick nicely steve.

oh, and i think you will need 7 cables and a ground instead of 5 (or are your g120s single ended?)

[steve-o]

Thanks for the response Lanek So DZ's board, a DAC and a db25 cable is what I need? What plugs in to the PC? My new PC has no 25 pin connector that I recall. And yes, I'm running open loop G120s at the moment. :/

-edit- 'Grats on yur 1000th post!

[WookieBoy]

HI Steve.

The DAC would plug in the PC. Usually on a USB port as far as I'm aware.

The DB25 cable will link the DAC to the breakout board which you mount in your projector.

The Breakout board will have the outputs for your galvos and lasers.

Hope that helps

[steve-o]

Thanks Wook. I'm glad they're usb now instead of that stupid old parallel printer port thing. I may have to get with the program now and get me some of this new-fangled stuff.
'ppreciate it !
-S

[LaNeK779]

depending on the dac, you might have an rj45 jack instead of usb. i think this is even better

[steve-o]

Any recommendations for a good dac Lanek?

Uh, congrats (again) on your 1000th post .. ? again ..

[Jem]

Any recommendations for a good dac...

Steve, save up and get yourself an FB3 with Quickshow, you won't be disappointed

Oh, and it's got a nice USB interface

Jem

[Solonar]

You can also just connect the DAC directly to the breakout board. My FB3 is connected directly to DZ's breakout board, no cable is needed if your projector is close enough for the USB cable to reach.

[steve-o]

Sounds good, Jem. I like writing my own waveforms for the galvos though. The main thing is I'd like to experience is the million different colors with the RGB that I'm putting together. Can FB3/ QS do liquid sky (that I write the rate of pan and size myself) and can it handle static beams? I guess I could go to pangolin and look up the details myself and quit being lazy .. heh.

-edit- oops we posted at the same time Solonar. Thanks for that info.

[Jem]

Hi Steve

Yes, and so much more... Just do it (you know you want to)... Resistance is useless

[steve-o]

lol pango will assimilate me ..

[Jem]

lol pango will assimilate me ..

Haha...

Seriously though the FB3/Quickshow setup is an incredibly powerful package that should pretty much cover most things you could ever want.

[steve-o]

Haha...

Seriously though the FB3/Quickshow setup is an incredibly powerful package that should pretty much cover most things you could ever want.

Who sells 'em here? Best prices/ deals? I have some more "wallet draining" to do before I can do this tho.. just curious for now. The fb3 hardware and the quickshow software are 1 package, right? The fb3 oem card has flash mem and the 'boxed' fb3 has to have pc attached to function? After those 2 items are gotten all I need is a dac and a db25 cable? Sorry for all the questions, but gotta get it right the 1st time :]

[Jem]

The FB3 is the DAC, so a DB25 cable should do it, and yes, the FB3 and QS software come as one package

I would drop Pangolin an email directly. Don't forget that an FB3 will also run the new Beyond software

You could mention that you're a member here, not sure whether that will get you points or not

[steve-o]

You could mention that you're a member here, not sure whether that will get you points or not

I'm sure it will
Thanks for the info.
Am I right in assuming that these things cost around $500-600 bucks (usd ) - or more or less .. ?

[Jem]

Steve, look here...

http://www.pangolin.com/products/pricelist-ld2000.htm

The FB3/QS package is currently listed for $595. Don't forget that with Pango stuff you pretty much get free upgrades and technical support for life. There's also a 30 day money back guarantee with their products, so if you really don't like it you have the option of returning it. Believe me, I don't think this will happen

Might also be worth dropping Marc at CT Lasers a PM.

Cheers

Jem

[White-Light]

Steve forget the OEM XE card, its the older design.

You want the FB3-QS package as the newer FB3-QS has a few tricks up its sleeve with Beyond which means that if you don't buy the QS version and ever decide to upgrade to Beyond, you might regret it as you may need both a hardware and software upgrade instead of just a software one. Buying the FB3-QS will future proof you.

[steve-o]

Thanks again for the info you all. It's gonna be a lil' while before I'm dropping anybody an email about buying one. Gotta finish the RGB 1st
Cheers and thanx !!!! This is a great forum and I luv you-all

[LaNeK779]

does the FB3-QS have the flash card playback option?

[Jem]

does the FB3-QS have the flash card playback option?

No, it's self contained in a nice little enclosure, USB port on one end and a DB25 on the other. I think if you want the flash card option you have to go with the OEM version.

[White-Light]

The memory card is of little use. The ability to load one show or 20 mins worth of cues into your projector is something that had a purpose back in its day but is eclipsed more these days by the fact that your pc can hold thousands of cues / shows and send them instantly to the projector anyway. QS literally has thousands of cues with room for thousands more.

TBH I'd value the extra Beyond capabilities of the FB3-QS over the memory card capability any day. If you know you'll never upgrade for definite then you're fine. But I think most people start out only buying one platform with the intention of sticking on it and then inevitably over time get tempted by the greater capabilities of the other.