Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

DIY laser "scanner" (music visualizer)

Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
878
Points
0
This is my second version of a music visualizer I posted some months ago. This one uses two "galvos" (actually the front part of GGW sleds) and a DIY 22W amp (seen in the back).

Vid:


Here's some pics and more info.


The amp; the "galvos" are connected in parallel to the speakers.
img1709l.jpg

img1706.jpg


The laser (green 50mW)
img1705l.jpg


The "galvos", with FS mirrors, and a close up of the connections (if somebody wants to make one).
img1708th.jpg

img1707.jpg


The whole set up.
img1704y.jpg



This is a very basic set up, all you need is an amplified output, two sled front assemblies (the thing with the magnets and lens), some mirrors (FS, if possible), a laser, and some sort of support (all the wood here comes from an orange crate!). The mirror assemblies here tilt according to the audio input; if you want to build one with sleds other than GGW, you will need to find the right two connections (test them with a 3V battery).

Hope you like it!
 
Last edited:





Trevor

0
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
4,386
Points
113
It looks really good; I've been wanting to build something like this for a while.

This should help! +1

-Trevor
 
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
7
Points
3
You can get a similar effect by stretching a piece of latex (a cut up latex glove works well) over a large speaker (like a woofer) and gluing a mirror a bit off-center. The latex doesn't just move up and down, it has some waves that travel around in it that cause the mirror to move in complex ways. The biggest issue with using the latex method is that the projected effect is often fairly small unless there is a lot of power coming through the speaker. You can get somewhat larger projections by putting the latex over the port in a subwoofer, but it might move so much that it makes noise or throws the mirror off.
 
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
878
Points
0
Ya, I've seen the subwoofer tricks, but I prefer this method since the output is clearer and more controllable, also the system is a little but more similar to the one used by real scanners.

Once I tried using some audio editing software to create a soundtrack (not really music, since it sounded really weird) that gave me a controlled output, not one that followed the music.

The results were actually not that bad. But sadly I never filmed it and I think I lost the audio file.
 
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
6,309
Points
83
Great idea using those. How big is the display area and at what distance?

HMike
 

Benm

0
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,896
Points
113
I dont find the visual effect that impressive really.

Perhaps it would look better if you scanned the x direction with a continous sweep while scanning the y direction with audio based deflection. That would result in a scope-like image of the audio signal, though quite unstable unless you somehow trigger the x direction sweep.

Also, what would the result be if you drive this contraption like true galvos? Like getting LFI to output patterns, but omit galvos, corrections amps and all, but just run the output through the speakers with the mirrors on them? I doubt the performace would be inetersting compared to the real thing in terms of performance, but on the other hand you could render some intersting projections despite all that.

Since you have the hardware set up already, just give that a go - it might be a mess, or an interesting result, and wouldnt cost a cent to find out ;)
 
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
7
Points
3
Funny you should mention using a sweep for the x direction to make something scope-like... I'm actually typing up a post on doing exactly that. It should be done in a few minutes!

UPDATE: The thread is up! Check it out! (it's in the laser shows category)
 
Last edited:

Benm

0
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
7,896
Points
113
I dont see it yet, but it sounds interesting :)

I'm curious what these homebrew scanners can actually do. If you need any help on rigging a trigger circuit for the x part i'd be happy to give some clues.
 
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
878
Points
0
I tried putting together a sweep for the y axis once. But I ever complete the project because I wasn't able to get enough oscillation. Maybe I'll try another day...
 

HIMNL9

0
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
5,318
Points
0
May i give you a suggestion ?

Use old plastic membrane loudspeakers ..... i got some from non-working "porter" boxes (citophones) ..... being made for work in external ambients, almost all of them have plastic cones, instead paper cones .....

Draw a regular serie of rays on the cone, and cut/melt away part of it, lefting only some strips for keep aligned the inside bobine (this enlight it a bit, and also made it less loudy when it work :p)

Take a strip of thin FS mirror, long enough for go from the external armor of the loudspeaker to the central dome, in corrispondence of the bobine ..... using silicone, glue one end on the armor, and one on the top of the dome ..... when the silicone is dried, you have a very efficent mirror, that can be hooked on a little amplifier .....

I used tihis system in the past, with very high efficence ;)

Then you can do the "sweep" part with a motor and some mirrors glued on the motor pin, as the ones for the "liquid sky" effects ..... or use a motor and a mirror like the one for the spyro, keeping it inclinated for get an ellipse, instead a circle, and you get a sort of "crown" modulated from the music .....
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Messages
158
Points
0
i would actually create a continous frequency for the x axis and then input the music to the y axis. this is actually new to me i love it when people put together something that nobody tried before good job. this gives me alot of inspiration for more laser projects :gj:
 
Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Messages
158
Points
0
o yeah and for the oscilation try a 555 timer or in conjuction with a flip flop circuit thats what im using right now to build and hdd arm scanner that way you can play with the frequency just like a 3 or 4 mirror spiro.
 
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
878
Points
0
That's exactly what a tried. But the oscillation wasn't big enough. Only half the power of the y axis.

I'm thinking about using an arduino for the x axis...
 
Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Messages
158
Points
0
oh so you did try a 555 timer? im just waiting on a freind or when my dad buys a new ban saw blade so i can cut my hdd's down to size so i can mount them and once i do ill have to start playing around with it. did you set each disk lens holder mabob as left and right speakers like both ground to negative and then each one acting as a different speaker channel? and when you say the oscillition wasnt big enough do you mean not high enough of a frequency?
 




Top