Need some help to put together a laser scanner

DMX card is NOT a DAC, you can't program it yourself!

It basically gives you some preset images etc, and you can change thru them via DMX, that's it, no customization.

You can't program the images in the DMX cards but you can control them to some extent via the DMX interface. I think you can move them around and size them, select them, etc, etc. That's mainly for discos that just want to randomly cycle through the effects. It would be boring for a laser show. Even so, you still need something to control that DMX card and that means you need a DMX controller hooked up to your PC and that doesn't come with the kit. The EasyLase and RIYA DACs have built in DMX controllers for example. Or you can buy a simple USB-DMX controller for around $60 I think.

The intent of adding DMX to Spaghetti isn't for that sort of thing, though. It could be used that way but I am mainly adding it for controlling lights, fog, and non-laser stuff. However, I do have 2 DMX controlled scanners that I might play around with using DMX. But, Spaghetti also supports multiple ILDA controllers so I can go that way, too.

Spaghetti is currently available without DMX/TTL support. Not sure when I will have a new release out but hopefully I will have a beta out relatively soon. There are some people testing an alpha version but there are still a lot of bugs and missing functionality.

I will probably raise the price of Spaghetti a bit with the new release. However, if you already own a copy you will get the upgrade at no extra cost. That is something to keep in mind for those who are considering buying it later.

Ok so here's my list of parts, following your recommendations :


CW20 scanner kit from laserpic -- $155 CAN with shipping

Spaghetti -- $50 US

Sound card from DX DealExtreme: $20.27 C-Media CM106 USB 2.0 External Sound Card Box with 7.1-Speaker SPDIF Optical Output -- $20 US

Correction amp http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/LaserBoy_Correction_Amp.php -- $43 US with shipping


total 275$ CAN (approximately)

But if I take a pre made DAC card (250$) I end up paying 475$ CAN (again approximately).

And I still need the laser, I was considering this one :

http://o-like.com/b2b_cpinfo.asp?id=966 -- $78 US which brings the total cost with a DIY DAC to 355$ CAN

^Go with whatever your budget will allow. See below...

carmangary said:

Sound cards work but you'll end up spending around $100 for the parts, box, soundcard, etc, and then it will be a pain in the butt to calibrate and configure. Just save an extra $150 or so and get something like a RIYA or EasyLase. It will let you do stuff like TTL and DMX and then you will be able to take advantage of Spaghettis new features that are coming out.

I know probably more than anyone about Spaghetti.

Click to expand...

Or you can build the sound card DAC and send it to me to calibrate.. It's not much of a pain at all if you have a scope.. takes me about 5 minutes. If you pay postage I'll tune it up free of charge. They give VERY good output when tuned right:




Also Gary, when you say I can upgrade to the newest version of spaghetti "at extra cost" just what is that extra cost?

Oops. I meant to say at NO extra cost. What I was trying to say is that if you buy it now or if you have already bought it then you will be able to upgrade for free.

Thanks for pointing out that error! I went back and corrected the message.

Ahh.. Sweet!! Can't wait to see the new features..

When I started this project, I was supposed to pay for the whole scanner, but my father agreed to pay for the DAC, as long as the cost was around 250$, so I would like to know what the price is more exactly.


Also is the laser that I linked in post #19 good for this application? It says that it supports TTL modulation, and I guest that's what i need for a scanner...
If you know of other any 50mW or so laser (for this application), could you please link it to me.

drlava has some RIYA DACs I believe for $250.. You could go with one of those..

That laser you linked to will work fine for a starter laser. O-like sells a 100mW TEC cooled module that will be a little more stable, but you can always upgrade to that later.

Is this what I need : RIYA USB controller RIYA Co Ltd

You will need a baseplate. I got mine from speedymetals.com. It is 21X11.5" and was only 59 dollars. You need to contact them to get a quote.

You will also need a case. I built my own out of wood. Yes wood insulates but i have 10 fans installed and half an inch of aluminum in it. The wood is also half an inch thick.

That green is good. If you have extra money i would go with the 100mW version. It has tec and is very nice. It is on my desk right now.

You will NEED a fog machine. I got mine for 36 dollars on ebay. Ill send you a link if you dont already have one.

Threadjack: What value of pot is on the correction amp? DrLava said they were all the same. I think one of my pots is broken....

I think they're 50k multi-turn.

I thought they were 50k too. Thanks

On my correction amp, I have both 10K and 50K potentiometers (Check my last post), although I think I heard him mention a new revision that may have just 50K pots.

Check ebay for aluminum plates, I got a massive half inch thick plate for my scanner for only around $30

I have some sheet copper, not very thick, but it's a very good heat conductor, and I can easily layer two sheets.

And is the RIYA multi-bus micro good for a scanner?

BuildAbluraylaser said:

I have some sheet copper, not very thick, but it's a very good heat conductor, and I can easily layer two sheets.

And is the RIYA multi-bus micro good for a scanner?

Click to expand...

conductor is the whole purpose of the base plate. thin cooper will flex and then the optics will come out of alignment.

you want something thick and solid that does not flex