My First Build

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A little introduction to myself and some research on different ways to buy/build a projector (Hopefully this helps someone out there).


(bckgrnd on myself... Skip this part if you dont care)

I have been a laser show groupie for a long time.
Started back in HI in 1995-98 in the small Underground Techno music scene. With a man known as Hollywood Doc and his "Water Cooled Green Laser". I used to spend hours with a Joystick and a Commodore 64 making single line drawings...for his shows.. Not to mention the hours spent on 40ft ladders in warehouse adjusting mirrors... LOL

Anyway fast forward a 10+ years spread over ME,HI,WA,MD,WV....
During this time I was a Professional BEDROOM DJ
Spinning Acid Techno (Breaks, House, Minimal, Goa_attic (my own spelling/creation)
I spin records that contain what I like to call:
That one ACIDIC Sound/Tone/Harmonic.... that can invoke a 3 axis hearing spacial fractal ..

I have spent approximately past 2 months researching various DIY laser show/projector projects. Everything from the Hard Drive Laser Show, spirographs usings fans, building your own galvo's as well as the Stereo Galvometers. I even entertained the idea I could use R/C Micro Stepper motors... (Didn't get to far on that one)

ok.. enough rambling about me...


Below is a list of prices for different types of projectors (Stayed away from Certified $$ since this is going to be for my own entertainment):


First up is Completed Store Bought Systems:

Laser DMX Stage Show RGB (NO PC CONTROL)

405nm 120mW
532nm 70mW
650nm 120mW
www.ebay.com (310mW RGB) Total Price: $325.00


290mW DMX Disco (NO PC CONTROL)

405nm 100mW
532nm 40Mw
650nm 150mW
Play modes: sound control, AUTO and DMX512 (7 channels)
Scanner: N1.8 high precision stepper motor
Model Number:Reke-08RPG
Total Without Shipping: US$ 235 - US$ 250


560mW RGP Seven Color (PC CONTROL)

405nm 200mw
532nm 60mW
650nm 300mW
Play mode (s): sound active, AUTO, DMX512 (12 channels), ILDA PC
Scanner: high speed optical scanner 10K
Model Number:Reke-97RGP
Total Without Shipping: US$ 480 - US$ 550

Next Up is DIY prices (Addendum: I have found and ordered quite a few different diodes from other places so this list will change once I settle on final output)
DIY _ PRICES_PARTIAL ASSEMBLY COMPONENT STYLE:

1. PT-ITRUST USD50/pc Controller Card to PC.
2. LCD-DMX : USD50/pc Screen for box Mount for use without PC.
3. SP20K: USD88/set X Y Scanners.
www.spacelas.com Total: w/o shipping $188.00
(I noticed alot of other online places selling these with a different brand name on them - as far as I have been able to figure out. Spacelas is the originator. Please correct me if I am misguided)
(Take a few minutes and EMAIL: SAM tell him Lenny sent ya. I must have sent over 100 emails over a month period before I even ordered. LOL

405nm 120mW $99.00
532nm 60mW $69.00
650nm 150mW $45.00
www.O-Like.com Total: w/o shipping $213.00


Build it Myself: TOTAL Without Shipping: $401.00 For RGV
Build it Myself: TOTAL Without Shipping: $287.00 For Violet 120mW
Build it Myself: TOTAL Without Shipping: $257.00 For Green 60mW
Build it Myself: TOTAL Without Shipping: $233.00 For Red 150mW

(+60USD) for beam combiners.... added to the RGV.

Updated Diode Purchases:


70mW+ 532nm Green High Power Laser Diode Module Glass


250mW+ 405nm High Power Blue-Violet Laser Diode Module

300mW+ 650nm Red High Power burn Laser Diode Module Kit


I have also ordered some diodes from www.modwerx.com as well as a few O'like modules.




I am more inclined to buying/supporting the parts/component builders on here...



Feel free to toss me some advice.. Tell me to STFU
Anyway any input is appreciated...

The GOAL/OBJECTIVE:

A PC/AUTO(Sound Sensitive(Currently being met by my purchase of the PT-ITRUST although some funky voltages have been recorded so far) Laser Show RGB (the RGB is a longterm goal) (for now RGV will suffice)

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It has been super busy at work the past few months.

However was finally able to tackle what was a storage room and convert it into my "HIDEAWAY/LAB/STUDIO"

The clutter has been cleaned up (LOL) Please forgive crappy pic quality (was takin with cell phone... I never think of taking new better pics)

2140.jpg2139.jpg2144.jpg



2142.jpg

So I have ordered NORMS mini RGB Driver board. He is also building me one of his 2.0 DACS.

I am using the 20kpps Scanners above from www.SPACELAS.COM. Excellent customer support. Tell SAM I sent ya.


Talkin with James over at LASERBOY about a sound card DAC.

I have ordered diodes from many different places over the past 5 weeks.


-www.modwerx.com is excellent.
-Susie at o-like.com is excellent.
-RKCSTR Drivers and Dummy load are nice.
-DrLava's FLEXMODS are very nice.

Here is the Scanners unpacked.. the L shape aluminum brackets are not included... I was at work...

Unpacking Scanners


Temp set up at work .... for functional testing.

2145.jpg2143.jpg2144.jpg
I took some scope shots of the PT-ITRUST but lost them.

I will be taking a bunch more now that I have a USB Controlled DMX Interface from Velleman.

Going to set up data recording points on X and Y as well as Red, Green, Blue and Instensity channels and slowly run through all the programs.

I think I there may be a voltage loop.. but I am going to investigate more...


Still working on the case design (Scored a very cool case out of the dumpster at work tonight.. Will post pics from home) and thinking about upgrading my scanners.

I have ordered one of Norms FSX 2.0's for DAC 1.
I am hoping to have a sound card Dac for use with LASERBOY.

[ElektroFreak]

Looks like the parts are coming together.. what will you be using for laser sources?

Also, if you are considering building a sound card DAC, there is a detailed tutorial here.. You might be able to find some detailed info to help you out.

[ElektroFreak]

^FIY, the current ratings on the blu-ray and red modules in your links there are "absolute maximum" for use in pointers, where the hours build up very slowly.. and even then they're being oversold. The red diode, for example, is rated from the manufacturer as being a 150mW CW diode. In reality, if you want any kind of decent lifetime in a projector you'll need to run them at 1/2-2/3 of that ebay seller's ratings. I hate it when ebay sellers rate their stuff like that. It's pretty dishonest, since diodes run at those currents are unlikely to last more than a few hundred hours in the best cases. Some don't even make 20 hours.

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Thats what Norm and I talked about..


I am most likely going to run them at 1/2 and double up the diodes..

I have a few sleds sitting here... thinking of dismantling them today for the optics inside..

working 10pm to 10am.. right now.. so I must sleep soon or GF is gonna kill me... LOL

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Anyone have a pinout of a 30mW green from O'like? I just got one in the mail and the driver board is seperated from the diode/housing...

[ElektroFreak]

Here's a datasheet for a standard 808nm 5.6mm pump diode.. pin 2 is positive, and pin 1 is negative.

[ElektroFreak]

^^^CORRECTION ABOVE^^^ Sorry, I have too much going on.. had the wrong pin numbers posted. Corrected pin numbers above..

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^^^CORRECTION ABOVE^^^ Sorry, I have too much going on.. had the wrong pin numbers posted. Corrected pin numbers above..

Ahhh that might be why it didnt work...


I should have refreshed the thread... I am at work now.. will try again in the morning.

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Here are some updates:

Threw this together for New Years.

Green 50mW, Flexmod

Built a Velleham DMX kit controller and used it to run the laser in a garage in the cold.. was fun.

Projector 1.jpgProjector 3.jpgProjector4.jpgProjector2.jpg


Mounts from Pat at Microlaserlabs.com, NORMS new FS2.0 and his RGB Driver board.

:
Microlaserlabs.jpgNorms Package.jpg 0107100129.jpg


First attempt at mounting optic and diode holders.

new plate 3.jpgnew plate.jpgnew plate 2.jpg


GOT MAIL FROM JAMES @ LASERBOY
LASERBOY DAQ.jpg



Got this neat little box as a recycle .... its going to be the housing:

0120100046.jpg0120100048.jpg0120100049.jpg



Few pictures of various design steps:

0120100040.jpg0128100118.jpg0120100024.jpg0120100020.jpg0128100143.jpg0120100012.jpg0128100120.jpg0120100011.jpg


Had some very bad luck with NORMS Driver board. Lost 4 diodes.. 2 red 2 405's....

Over it......

Ordered 2 more flexmods from Dr Lava and new dichros from Marc at ctlasers

Got the dichros.. just waiting for drivers.

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dead or not working diodes.jpg

A quick picture showing all of the diodes that are either dead or just not working due to various reasons I have gone through since I started my laser addiction in October.


The aluminum blocks and plate are part of a second project in the works.. right now

[ElektroFreak]

Looks nice! Where did you get that huge heatsink you're using for a baseplate?

Here are some updates:

Threw this together for New Years.

Green 50mW, Flexmod

Built a Velleham DMX kit controller and used it to run the laser in a garage in the cold.. was fun.

Projector 1.jpgProjector 3.jpgProjector4.jpgProjector2.jpg


Mounts from Pat at Microlaserlabs.com, NORMS new FS2.0 and his RGB Driver board.

:
Microlaserlabs.jpgNorms Package.jpg 0107100129.jpg


First attempt at mounting optic and diode holders.

new plate 3.jpgnew plate.jpgnew plate 2.jpg


GOT MAIL FROM JAMES @ LASERBOY
LASERBOY DAQ.jpg



Got this neat little box as a recycle .... its going to be the housing:

0120100046.jpg0120100048.jpg0120100049.jpg



Few pictures of various design steps:

0120100040.jpg0128100118.jpg0120100024.jpg0120100020.jpg0128100143.jpg0120100012.jpg0128100120.jpg0120100011.jpg


Had some very bad luck with NORMS Driver board. Lost 4 diodes.. 2 red 2 405's....

Over it......

Ordered 2 more flexmods from Dr Lava and new dichros from Marc at ctlasers

Got the dichros.. just waiting for drivers.

[no-esc]

Looks nice! Where did you get that huge heatsink you're using for a baseplate?

3bay... actually.

I have 2 of them. I decided to save the big plates.. for use in this projectors big brother..

So i finally get 2 days off in a row from work for the first time in months.. (due to the blizzard)

and I am stoked to get it running.. I rushed to the mailbox and sadly still no Lava drivers



Tempted to try and trouble shoot norms driver again.. LOL

[gottaluvlasers]

Lookin great Len!!

you got the dichros to cover the mounts ok? Looks like a very clean build. I like!! Now we need some beam shots!

-Marc

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Lookin great Len!!

you got the dichros to cover the mounts ok? Looks like a very clean build. I like!! Now we need some beam shots!

-Marc

Actually looking at a few different options for that task now.

I will update when I have figured out the best solution

Len