Review: full colour driver extension for the White Fusion kit by FireMyLaser

[sightfx]

This is a review of the full color driver extension for the White Fusion kit by FireMyLaser

This driver with built in controller was designed to fit around the White Fusion Laser Mixing Kit but it can be used with any RGV or RGB laser setup.

Pros:

• Built and sent with care.
• Easy to hook up. The leads were color coded and themed to make it easy to remember where each one goes.
• Near Plug and Play! .The driver came pre setup with my desired current limits so I didn't have to worry about over driving any of my lasers. Only tweaking for color balance was needed.
• Many effects. 32 effects with options for each effect.
• Simple controls. 2 buttons 1 program button to chance effects and 1 options button to change options.

Wish list:
There weren’t many Cons in relation to the driver itself only some minor things it would be nice to improve on so this is a wish list rather than a Con list. I think you get a ton for the money with the driver as is. Well worth it. I have 5 more on order.

• Mirror speed. It would be nice to have a way to sync the mirror speed to the effect automatically and have the Options button change overall desired effect.
• More grouping. it would be nice if the effects were grouped and the groups selectable by pressing both buttons at the same time to rapidly be able to get to the effect you desire.

The wish list thinking can go on and on but I think these two items speak to the two things I found not to be effortless. Overall it was still very easy to produce some really cool effects in no time. I can’t wait to see if I can sync it with a spiro .

This video was taken with my still camera on record. It doesn’t come close to capturing the clarity, definition, brightness and color of the effects in person. It does give you some idea of what you can expect.



Thanks for bringing this driver/controller to us FML. :gj:



-SightFX

 

[rangedunits]

I was wondering what that kit was for but now im speechless.

 

[HIMNL9]

About synch the mirror with the effects ..... it's difficult to find a motor driver that can be driven so precisely, but if you can change something in the PIC program, you can use the speed of the motor for synch the effects ..... can be done using the 3rd wire of the fan (if you use a 3 wires fan for turn the mirror, ofcourse) ..... or placing a sensor in the way that the fan blades interrupt the beam, giving you a precise timing ..... or also just using a piece of reflective tape on one o the blades (on any part of the mirror holder, if you use a common motor instead a fan), and using one of those IR reflective sensors .....

Can also be done in a lot of other ways, but these ones are the first that come me in mind that do not require a new balancement of the assembly

Ofcourse, this depend from the possibility to "drive" the pic with a sync signal .....

 

[nikokapo]

Added to RT!

 

[FireMyLaser]

Hey nice review!
I don't do PIC programming, so I can't alter any of the programs. I have talked to the programmer and he said that the chip is already using all the memory for the effects, so to add something you have to remove something. He doesn't seem to be very enthusiastic about any custom order either because I have already requested a few very simple things, but no backup.
If anyone here is good with PIC-programming you could give it a go and see what you can come up with.

Oh, it is a very easy way to navigate with the "grouping" you talked about, by just pressing both buttons at the same time (at any time) briefly, you will get to the first program. The buttons you use sound very hard, I suggest using those tiny square 4-pin push buttons on circuit boards.


Good job, cheers!

 

[jeffd]

Hey can you post pics of the driver and modules all hooked up?

 

[sightfx]

Hey nice review!
I don't do PIC programming, so I can't alter any of the programs. I have talked to the programmer and he said that the chip is already using all the memory for the effects, so to add something you have to remove something. He doesn't seem to be very enthusiastic about any custom order either because I have already requested a few very simple things, but no backup.
If anyone here is good with PIC-programming you could give it a go and see what you can come up with.

Oh, it is a very easy way to navigate with the "grouping" you talked about, by just pressing both buttons at the same time (at any time) briefly, you will get to the first program. The buttons you use sound very hard, I suggest using those tiny square 4-pin push buttons on circuit boards.


Good job, cheers!

Yea I do like that it does reset with both buttons at the same time but I was think more along the lines of grouping effects like rainbow effects into 1 group and markers into another and so on. Then the program button changes between Joule, Indie dim, x fade ect….

It's just a wish list though. As it is the driver is awesome already. I will take a crack at pic programming here soon. I know several programming languages already but I haven’t done low level bit code type stuff in a while.

The buttons just have a nice tactual feedback and were close to the camera is all. I like ‘em.

Hey JeffD,

I can when I get back from Denver on Thursday. I'm just about to catch a plan after this post.


Thanks,

Ryan

 

[tommii89]

Hi there. I was thinking about purchasing this over the next month.

If I pay the $135 + $160 for the lasers + driver.

Will this come complete and ready to play with?

Also - What was used in this clip to give the time tunnel effect? Looks like a computer fan, but not sure.

Tom

 

[sightfx]

Hi Tom,

Yea it was a computer fan with a 20ohm pot in series with a 12V power supply.

I assume you’re talking about the White Fusion kit for the $135 with your discount and the rest is for this driver and laser. At that point you will receive the parts and would still need to assemble align and tweak it yourself.


I would like to keep this thread about FireMyLaser’s driver so if you could direct kit questions to the http://laserpointerforums.com/f39/custom-7-color-diy-laser-kit-42013.html#post550054 thread that would be great.

The FireMyLaser driver with built in controller is currently $60 and is well worth the money.

 

[tommii89]

that's the driver I want.

It seems to be the better option..

 

[sightfx]

Hey can you post pics of the driver and modules all hooked up?

Here is a pic of it all put together. All I have left is to hook up a little fan and to mount the buttons.