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Basic Scanner Questions

Jacob32123

Jacob32123

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I am looking at building a scanner, and I am quite confused about a few things

First, I see a lot of people use sound card DACs. AFAIK, A DAC is basically a USB - ILDA converter. If I pick any lasershow software will it work with any DAC?

Second, on feeBay, I see a lot of DACs (ex: "DAC DESTROYER" HAND SOLDERED USB DAC w LINE / HEAD OUT | eBay). This looks like a sound card. Am I even on the right track?

Third, the lasers plug into the galvo drivers I assume. Does it power the laser, or is it TTL based?

Thanks in advance,
Jacob
 
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Cyparagon

Cyparagon

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Re: Basic Scaner Questions

Distinction: A projector is the whole thing. The scanners are the parts that scan the beam.

DAC stands for digital-to-analog converter. You can't just search the internet for "DAC;" this is too broad a definition. The one you linked is just a USB sound card (sound cards ARE DACs) - it won't work for lasers. It needs to have many channels, and needs amplification on the output of each channel.

The lasers plug into a power supply, and the modulation input is coupled with the signal coming from the DAC. The DAC has a minimum of X, Y, R, G, and B outputs. X and Y are for the scanners, and RGB for the respective laser colors.

The scanners are always analog. The lasers can either be TTL or analog.

Software only tends to work on a few DACs. There is no software that works on all DACs, and there are no DACs that work with all software. As far as choosing a DAC, it would help if we knew your budget.
 
Jacob32123

Jacob32123

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Re: Basic Scaner Questions

Cyparagon said:
Distinction: A projector is the whole thing. The scanners are the parts that scan the beam.

DAC stands for digital-to-analog converter. You can't just search the internet for "DAC;" this is too broad a definition. The one you linked is just a USB sound card (sound cards ARE DACs) - it won't work for lasers. It needs to have many channels, and needs amplification on the output of each channel.

The lasers plug into a power supply, and the modulation input is coupled with the signal coming from the DAC. The DAC has a minimum of X, Y, R, G, and B outputs. X and Y are for the scanners, and RGB for the respective laser colors.

The scanners are always analog. The lasers can either be TTL or analog.

Software only tends to work on a few DACs. There is no software that works on all DACs, and there are no DACs that work with all software. As far as choosing a DAC, it would help if we knew your budget.
Click to expand...

That all makes sense. I am trying to keep this <$300 for everything except the lasers. The only DAC I have seen that is in budget is iShow. Any suggestions?


+rep (if I can)
 
Cyparagon

Cyparagon

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Do NOT get ishow. Anyone in the business will tell you it is utterly worthless. Stick with the soundcard DAC tutorial thread hanging around here somewhere.
 
bennett326

bennett326

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well technically the galvos scan the image not project it so its a scanner .....:D

also sound card dacs work with allot of software, spaghetti, LSX, LFI, etc

but FB3 comes with its own DAC

you can build a laserboy carrection amp or you can buy a audiolase DAC there's allot of options as far as sound card dac's go
 
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Cyparagon

Cyparagon

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The industry calls it a projector. If you call them scanners, you won't be talking about the same thing as the rest of the world.

Similarly, if you ask someone where you can find a flash light (but in your mind you're thinking about a xenon flash tube for a camera - after all it is a light that flashes, right?) you won't get the response you want.
 
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