From those responses, I don't think I phrased my question well. I am aware the modulation is only 5vpp for the r, g, b channels, yet if you purchase and tune a soundcard amplifier dac based on the instructions here, you are tuning it so the dac setup is capable of a 10vpp sweep on the x and y...
I've been thinking about my build and something is bothering me.
For x and y, I believe I understand why I set the offset to 0v and then play the max wav file and amplify it until I see 5v. This way I can get +5v to -5v and take advantage of the scanner's entire range.
What I don't understand...
Bionic is right. I used the NKA0512SC IC (+/-12v) for mine and I get the full range (+/-5v)
I have the gnd and - pins tied together and the signal line that comes out of the op-amp tied to the + pin. I have to admit, that was the part that confused me the most of everything too... and the ilda...
They were probably making mention that with the stock dual rail power supply IC that is lower in voltage, you may not get the +/-5v swing.
With the recommended alternative power IC, you can get the +/-5v just fine. I just built one and scoped it.
I did just build LaserBoy and launch it. That was quite easy :) Only had to install the lboost-system and lboost-filesystem packages. I'll have to poke around this more
I do use linux but haven't played with the laserboy app. Currently I'm using openlase. Right now I can play mpegs/etc and see them, but I don't have blanking (that channel always reports 0). This is because I'm fighting alsa to act as more than a 2 channel output device... or possibly a volume...
Just wanted to follow up and say I solved the issue. It turns out the showcard had a significant bias to it that I found out by probing. Doh! The showcard setup is fine.
Thanks James. :)
I have another question now too.. I've built up a laserboy amp and have attached the x and y outputs to my scope where I can see simple images.. so it must be working (yay!)
Now I would like to attach it to my spacelas 30K galvo amps. The spacelas galvo amps connectors have a...
Welp, everything came in today and I noticed the 20k galvo driver boards I got have a +/-15v source built into them. How convenient :) ... Right after I bought a nice PS off ebay too (those search terms helped!)
My laser hasn't come in yet, but by a laser pointer I was able to test everything...
I'm not exactly sure how I will put it together yet. I bought the show card primarily for testing reasons, and also with the intention to see their circuit.
I will either:
1. Connect GPIO lines from an embedded linux device to the showcard (hack it).
2. get a cheap usb audio card and hack it to...
This is for the showcard. It expects +/-15v and I was hoping to do this without the 2 ps supply setup to save space :) Honestly I assumed these would be more commonplace than they seem to be now.
Sorry, I should have mentioned this in my last post.
Thanks all, I ended up purchasing one from meierlight. I've also found some great suggestions for safety goggles here which I have picked up.
My next question is where is a good place to find a +/-12 or +/-15v power supply. I can't believe they are this hard to find! And the fact ebay...
Yes, indoor simple graphics with slightly less than optimal lighting.
Thanks for your thoughts. That's actually a bit higher than I thought it would be mW wise, but slower Khz wise :D
What do you think the minimum would be that I could get away with?
Is there a favorite source for lasers...
I intend to make a laser scanner setup using the 20Kpps galvos that can be found off ebay.
I would like to use this setup to draw text and some patterns (circles, squares) on a wall about 25-50ft away (15 degree setup would be more than enough... even 8deg would probably be more than enough)...