Recent Posts

1

3D Printers / Re: Lasershark Board SPI or uart connection

« Last post by Macpod on January 27, 2020, 09:27:22 PM »

Hello Benni,

Your question is very similar to one that was just asked (I thought you were the same person)
https://macpod.net/forums/index.php/topic,132.0.html

There is no code to use the SPI or UART port. Those were broken out for those who would like to make their own custom firmware.

The USB Interface is a custom bulk/isochronous interface vs. a serial port for efficiency and safety reasons.

2

3D Printers / Lasershark Board SPI or uart connection

« Last post by bkhh on January 27, 2020, 11:51:43 AM »

hello

 I'm Benni from Germany. I ordered a lasershark board from you in 2019. the board runs under windows and linux with the test file. with the usb driver I don't get a serial port connection. now my question can i directly access the board via the spi or uart port. to use an alternative to creation workshop. greeting benni

3

LaserShark Discussion / Re: Uart as input

« Last post by jpilarski on January 26, 2020, 07:30:55 PM »

Thanks for the info and I figured as much but just thought I'd ask to make sure. I will definitely do as you suggest and incorporate the raspberry pi for any real time interactions with the lasershark.

4

LaserShark Discussion / Re: Uart as input

« Last post by Macpod on January 26, 2020, 04:50:06 PM »

Hi jpilarski,

The LaserShark was designed to be controller via USB only. I broke out the I2C, SPI, and UART pins of the micro-controller for the convenience of those who may want to write their own LaserShark firmware for custom applications. There is no code written to support these.

The textual protocol you reference in software is converted to another binary format before being sent to the LaserShark via USB. I'm using bulk and/or isochronous with a custom interface because:
1. It allows more data to be sent with less overhead compared to modeling the device as a serial port.
2. For safety reasons. Lots of software "poke" at connected serial ports (i.e. Ubuntu's Modem Manager) to see if there are known peripherals attached. If this software inadvertently triggers a valid command this could be dangerous.

Have you considered using a Raspberry Pi to control your LaserShark? You could run the LaserShark host software on it and it isn't very large/expensive.

5

LaserShark Discussion / Uart as input

« Last post by jpilarski on January 26, 2020, 01:33:39 AM »

I would like to use a separate microcontroller which would be running an interactive program and sending commands using the suggested format s=1,1,1,1,1,1. However I don't plan on having the lasershark plugged into a computer. Does the lasershark have to be plugged into usb or does the firmware automatically respond to input over Uart in this format. As an alternate would the debug port be a better option to send commands to the lasershark.

6

OpenLase Discussion / Re: Can't get a normal aspect ratio in projection

« Last post by zhang on April 23, 2019, 07:57:39 PM »

Hi Nelson,

OK. I probably know what is going on, and I will try to adjust them later. Thank you for your reply!

zhang

7

OpenLase Discussion / Re: Can't get a normal aspect ratio in projection

« Last post by Macpod on April 23, 2019, 01:07:29 AM »

./lasershark_jack is receiving data through the JACK audio bus. An openlase application generates samples, these are passed through the JACK bus where other programs can manipulate this data stream then re-send out the modified samples. One of these programs is the output application. The output application allows you to keystone your images so if your project is not perfectly perpendicular to a wall or your galvo amplifiers are tuned for another system (such that the image will appear too wide or tall perspective wise) you can adjust it.

./lasershark_stdin recieves whatever you send into it and transmits it. If you need keystone correction in an application that is fed to lasershark_stdin then you will need to write this into your application's custome code.

8

OpenLase Discussion / Re: Can't get a normal aspect ratio in projection

« Last post by zhang on April 19, 2019, 08:04:46 PM »

Hi Nelson,

Thank you very much for your continued advice!

If you use lasershark_stdin no keystone configuration option is provided.

I'm a little confused about this.

When using the lasershark_stdin_circlemaker through lasershark_stdin(not through the .txt), its aspect ratio is also strange. And when using openlase, ./lasershark_JACK is needed instead of the ./lasershark_stdin, in my opinion. So I still don't know how the problem could happen.

ZHANG

9

OpenLase Discussion / Re: Can't get a normal aspect ratio in projection

« Last post by Macpod on April 15, 2019, 11:56:04 PM »

Hi Zang,

Glad you were able to identify the problem with your galvo setup.

If you use lasershark_stdin no keystone configuration option is provided. If you use OpenLase you can use the JACK audio connection kit to route the output through OpenLase's "output" application. This program will allow you to keystone/etc which sounds to be what you are looking for.

This should all be possible to do in realtime

10

OpenLase Discussion / Can't get a normal aspect ratio in projection

« Last post by zhang on April 15, 2019, 08:53:20 AM »

Hello Nelson,

After a long trip, we finally get the galvos work. But the ratio of the projection seems not to be normal.(also, the projection is upside down but it can be adjusted.)
By the way, the preview in the Simulator is normal, and the laser projector is horizontal.

And also, we want to know if the openlase can do a work like "projecting what the camera is recording" in real-time. Is somebody did like this? There are so few comments about the details of Openlase and I get no idea how to use the "cal" or "invert" of it, so as using openlase in real-time. Hope to get some help! Thank you so much!

ZHANG