Norm's Homemade Laser Show
My email:  legato@videotron.ca

Last update:
August 24, 2008

You are Laserist #

Latest news:

New releases!!!
 

NLS 1.6.6
(small update August 24, 2008)

featuring cool "Audio Events"

to sync playback to music in real-time

MambaBlack support

for FrameStreamer Express
Tested up to version 1.90
 

See download section below

Other news...

- We're still having a few cases of the "FTD2XX.DLL not found" error.
Not sure what causes this, but investigating actively.

- I have registered my company on July 25, 2008 in the province of Quebec.

The name is "Coretechs Engineering".  You will see this name here and there.

- My website will soon reach the 100,000th visitor.  Thanks for showing interest and continued support.

- Fully recovered from my motorcycle accident in June :))  Bike is being repaired.

USB DAC:  FSX 1.1

Go see eKits4All on eBay for the listings.

FrameStreamer Express 1.1
 

Specs:

- 2X 8bits channels for X/Y
- Scan rate adjustable from 1KPPS to 30KPPS
- X/Y have preset size and centering adjustments on PCB, and possibility to add external size pots (not included)
- Blanking output for single laser systems
- 8 TTL outputs:  3 for RGB and 5 generic, i.e. user-configurable.  Note that presently, only RGB are functional
- All outputs can be configured as single-ended or balanced (complementary) outputs
- ILDA standard connector at output
- Self-powered by USB port
- Firmware upgradeable
- NLS now has very low CPU usage:  5% typically vs. >50% using LPT port DAC (based on a P4  2.7GHz)
- Compact design.  PCB size is 4.55" X 3.25" (11.55cm X 8.26cm)
- MambaBlack drivers now available (new Aug 22, 2008)
- Eventual support of other SW like HE-Laserscan, etc.

Base price for a basic kit, unbalanced outputs, no box, unassembled:
See eBay for pricing.

Options:

- Balanced outputs for long wires:  Add $10USD per channel, ILDA cable not included.
(BTW, you can use those parallel port cables as ILDA cables.  Yes, those used with the LPT DAC!)
- Cool transparent cover box available:  Add $15USD
- Fully built and tested PCB (not boxed):  Add $40 USD

NLS 1.6.6 now features the cool "Audio Events" control mode.

Read the release notes here for more details.
 

Click image to see larger screen capture.

See download section at bottom of page.

See latest RGB projection results below:

Assembled galvo kit
SOLD-OUT AND DISCONTINUED :(
A new version will be available this summer...

With lots of patience, careful building and tuning, the NLS Kit can do up to 16KPPS at 16 degrees.

To see the details, go here.

Hi to all laserist friends.

August 24, 2008:  Did a few bug-fixes in NLS 1.6.6 and added the Debounce Time value to Audio Event window.  This allows specifying the minimum time required between two beats.  Prevents overreacting and helps following the music more smoothly, depending on the style.

August 22, 2008:  Just completed the new version of NLS 1.6.5 and MambaBlack drivers for FSX.  Go see the download section further down.  NLS has a new feature called "Audio Events".  It is a mode of operation that controls the ILD files playback.  It allows the creation of a list of ILD files and pre-loading them in memory, ready to be played within a few milliseconds.  Why this?  To follow the beat of music.  To do this quickly, you can't afford waiting until the file is loaded to start playing.  In the same dialog, an audio interface listens to the default recording device (typically a microphone), and upon a peak, will play each file in sequence, or randomly.  Another way you can use this feature is to leave out the ILD list and simply use the currently loaded ILD file and upon each event, jump around randomly within that file.  Gives very nice effects!  The algorithm is far from being perfect, but does a pretty good job in most cases.  There are a few parameters you can fine tune to get optimal results.  In the settings, I added the invert blanking and color remapping features to support RGY systems that otherwise couldn't see blue portions of images.
 

June 24, 2008:  Happy national holiday to all Quebecers!!!   Not a very happy weekend for me though :(  Had a scary motorcycle accident Saturday night on my GSXR-750.  I was very lucky to be riding at low speed (50KM/h) when a car in front of me used compression to brake and turned to the right.  I had no chance, unable to see his brake lights go on.  I jammed the brakes too hard in a reflex, and my front wheel slipped.  I was brutally thrown down on the pavement, breaking my right clavicle (aka collar bone).  After a few hours in the hospital, I was sent back home.

May 24, 2008:  I have released a new version of the USB DAC:  the FrameStreamer Express 1.1, aka FSX 1.1.  The only changes I made was removing the useless pots for TTL output level, and dropped the support for my legacy LPT DAC.  Not surprisingly, almost no one seemed interested in a two-board approach.  I am still working on the installer and a few small fixes on the firmware upgrade process.  It works pretty well now.  BTW, I wish to take a moment to sincerely thank my trusty collaborator in the U.S.: Christopher Favreau for his invaluable contribution regarding the microcontroller firmware and NLS integration.  Thumbs up dude!   On other news, I had fun updating my personal page, showing off pics of my cool toy from last year:  GSX-R 750.

April 25, 2008:  The USB DAC testing is finally completed and works nicely.  I offer two flavors of the kit:  Basic and Custom.  Basic have single-ended outputs, and Custom will be shipped with the number of balanced channels according to your needs.  You can count an extra $10USD for each balanced channel.   See eKits4All seller on eBay for details and pricing.   Note:  For to those of you who bought my legacy LPT port DAC, you may benefit from a discount - contact me for details.

April 10, 2008:  The USB DAC's PCBs are in and they look nice.  I didn't have the chance to test them yet, but I will start next week.  Not much more to say other than it's progressing.  I will have to push back the release date to end of April.

March 22, 2008:  My parallel port DAC kit is sold-out and discontinued.  But the good news is that the USB version design is completed, and the PCB is being reviewed by another designer.  If all goes well, I should send out the boards for manufacturing next week, and should get them in early April, ready to sell.  An unexpected change of design caused a slight delay in my predicted schedule, but rarely any design is done perfect the first time anyways.  On the galvos side, I have made a few progresses, but not much on improving the speed.  It's the quality of the graphics that have improved dramatically.  See image below:

It's true that this is only at 12KPPS, 13 degrees, but even then I never had such a nice ILDA test pattern before.  I can do faster but the amps become quite hot and the quality is not as good.   Small steps and perseverance will get me to 24KPPS @ 40 deg one day!   Now I sold all my kits but one left on eBay as of today.  After that, I will take a break to develop a new version, but it may take easily two months.  I intend to boost the functionalities of NLS a lot too.

Feb 16, 2008:  NLS has been modified a lot recently.  Many bug fixes, some new features too.  Most interesting is the support of colors.  Since it can become very complicated to support all possible systems, I concentrate on simple configurations for the moment.  TTL modulation or red, green and blue (RGB).  I can now load ILD files and display the colors that they may have, but still can't modify or create anything involving palettes.  Note that NLS has not been released yet, so you cannot download an update.  USB DAC is slowly becoming a reality at same time.  I hope it will be ready to ship sometimes in March.  All those who already bought my LPT DAC will still be able to use it by simply plugging it into this converter.  On other news, I am working on improving the performance of the galvo kit.  I already made some progress and have good hope to reach 24KPPS in a near future.  I ordered new custom magnets for the rotor, and will try a different control system, which is a design from my "little genius" and dear cousin Simon :)

Nov 6, 2007:  Long time no see (or update)!  Quite busy indeed.  As some may know, I decided to quit my full time job and start my own business at home.  I will design, sell and support electronic kits on a full-time basis and see how it goes.  So far so good I can say, thanks to all of you who bought my kits already and even sometimes coming back for more.

Here's what's on the timeline for the next few months:
1) develop USB DAC.  Development platform already bought, need to study that and do some tests, write drivers, integrate to NLS, etc.
2) Continue development of NLS, mainly implement Red color and add more Adobe Illustrator import support (like batch import).  Badly need to fix that optimize function.  Improve autotrace result.

Don't forget to go look the new section I added:  Successful Galvo Kit Builders

May 16, 2007:  Finished assembling the complete kit.  Worked very well the first time, believe it or not!  I was almost surprised.   Currently selling on eBay.  Go see that!  Seller:  eKits4All

Unfortunately, I had to disable the Discussion Group.  Too much spammers.  I will have to think about another option, with login and user validation.

April 20, 2007: the PCBs have just came in today!  Here's what they look like:

The two small boards are for the OPD. directly on the galvos.  They look awesome and the quality is simply the best.   They are manufactured by SpeedyPCB.

Here's what I offer:

!!! SOLD-OUT and Discontinued!!!!

Soon to be replaced by another version

GALVO KIT

For $200 USD
The KIT includes these items:

Now, here's the list of WHAT YOU DO NOT GET with this Kit:

1. Power supply (see other kits)

2. Laser

3. DAC board (see my other kits if you need one)

4. Wiring

5. Heat sink

6. Hardware (nuts, bolts, washers, mounting posts, etc.)

7. DB9 male and connectors

8. Hard copy of instructions.  You have to print it yourself if you need one.  I provide the schematics because it has a large format and it's only one double-sided sheet.

If you're interested:

1. Send me an email to let me know, including your shipping address

2. I will calculate the shipping fees based on your address, and tell you what are your options.   NOTE: I use Canada Post's Xpresspost service.  It has tracking number and insurance.  The delivery time is 4 to 7 business days worldwide.

3. You send me the payment using one of the following method: Cheque, money order, or PayPal (my account ID legato@videotron.ca)

4. Once I got the money, I prepare the kit and send it within a week.

5. I send you an email to tell you that the kit has been shipped and give you the tracking number if applicable.

OTHER KITS AVAILABLE:

I have also built some other kits which are available right now on eBay.  My seller ID is eKits4All.

FrameStreamer Express 1.1  - USB DAC Kit

USB DAC: 2 channels X/Y 8bits, RGB TTL color support and 5 TTL user-defined outputs.

Sold as auctions and BuyNow on eBay.  See eKits4All seller for details and pricing.

SOLD-OUT and Discontinued - Has been replaced by USB version - FrameStreamer Express 1.0 above

LPT port DAC, based on the DAC0832 circuit

Supports red and green blanking as is (aka RGY).  But if you need full RGB support, add $5 for extra parts.  Connects to the parallel port.

$23US + shipping

+/-15V regulated power supply

Regulated +/-15V, at 100mA per side.  Supports both 120VAC and 240VAC.

Even though this kit was developed specifically for the recently discontinued LPT DAC kit, I decided to still offer it.

$25US + shipping

Galvo Kit power supply

Unregulated (important!), +/-18V, at 1.7A per side.  Supports both 120VAC and 240VAC.

$37US + shipping

3A Laser Diode Driver with analog modulation - Revision 1.2

- Can now support up to 3A.

- Small PCB

- Extra pads for 5V output

- Improved component layout, reducing isolating HW costs.

This is what I used to create my mini RGB laser.

$23US + shipping

Bipolar Multiple Outputs Lab Power Supply

This nice lab power supply has seven outputs, and was specifically designed to develop projects using sensitive devices such as laser diodes. Of course, it can be used in any other electronic project requiring bipolar voltages and current of up to 3A per polarity (6A total).

Features:

- Fixed Regulated Outputs: +15V, -15V, +5V, each up to 1.5A.
- Variable Regulated Outputs: 0V to +/-16V, with separate coarse and fine adjustments for positive and negative. Each up to 3A.
- Unregulated Outputs: +20V and -20V, each up to 3A. Fused.
- Special design on adjustable regulators that inverts the nasty effect of dead/dirty pots where traditionally, the voltage would climb to max, and probably destroy the device connected (typically an expensive laser diode!).  But here, if any of the 4 pots becomes worn or dirty, the output will go down to near 0.
- Precision adjustment of zero on variable outputs. These go down to 0V and not 1.2V like most circuits.
- Quality potentiometers
- Dual transformer/bridge/capacitor design to minimize cross-polarity load variations.
- Simple linear design, easy to repair, no exotic or expensive parts.
- 0.10 ohm 1% 2W resistor on each output to allow easy current measurement without (dis)connecting.
- Expansion connector: 20 pins DIP footprint with all signals to monitor voltage and current. This could have many uses, for example to add a flat cable that brings a small measurement panel closer to you, or to a dial with multiple readings.
- 10 X 12 empty solder pads on center portion of PCB to add your own circuit and features. Ex: Crowbar protection, signal generator, power opamp, test tones.
- Supports both 120VAC and 240VAC.
$130US + shipping

*** Get the FREE software here ***

  (screenshot)

Download here:

NLS 1.6.6  (11 MB) - Norm's Laser Show - Full Install

NOTE:  if you have installed a previous version, start this one without removing the old one, and choose "Repair".

NLS166.zip (128K) Small update for those who have installed 1.6.5.  This file contains only the NLS.EXE file, and you should overwrite the existing one.
 

For those who have the FTD2XX.DLL not found error, download and execute this file:

FSXDriversInstall.exe (2.2 MB)

This file is already executed from the main installer, but for some reason it doesn't work on all machines.  Installing manually is a potential workaround that works in several cases.  We're still investigating this problem - sorry for the inconvenience.

FEATURING:

- Audio Events to have playback to follow music

- Color support  (Fixed ILDA standard palette)

- Color remapping, to allow RGY systems to see blue as green for example, and prevent "color holes".

- FrameStreamer Express (USB DAC) support

- Parallel port DAC support

- Auto tracing capability of JPG and BMP files

- Automatic scan speed adjustment per frame (point speed)

- Independent Frame Duration control (frame rate)

- Freeze Frame

- Instant text display

- ILD Playlist, with individual file settings for duration, and scan rate, frame rate

- Screen update while playback

Autotrace Sample (contains a sequence of JPGs to demonstrate how autotrace works)

NEW!!!  July 22, 2008
MambaBlack driver for FSX

Download it here:  FSX4Mamba.zip

Extract the MLD file, and copy it in the same folder as mamba.exe