Class 19: Final Project Presentations

Class 19: May 29, 2013
Assignment: Final project presentation:

"The µPaintDMX Controller"

A device which lets artists, VJs, DJs and Light Designers control LED lights in a live setting

The record-player-like pickup of the device uses an accurate RGB color sensor to pick up colors from templates laid on the surface as a record would be. By moving the pickup arm and the template itself in splended coordinated syncropation - the device sends out the picked colors to any connected DMX controllable RGB lighting fixtures set to channel 1. The device is supplied with 5V DC.

µPaintDMX controller

Design Files

Chassis:
lasercutchassis.svg

3D printed Spindles:
pickupspindle_v01.stl
centerspindle_v01.stl

Level-shifter:
levelshifter_v01_outline.png
levelshifter_v01_traces.png

Modified Barduino:
pinout_i2c_version.jpg
barduino.traces_i2c_version_rot.png
barduino.outside_i2c_version_rot.png

DMX Transceiver:
dxm_transceiver_shield_v01.png
dmx_shield_eaglefiles.zip

Pickup Board:
µdmx_pickup_traces_greyscale.png
mjudmx_pickup_traces_greyscale.png

Non Fab lab inventory items

Color sensor:
http://www.ams.com/eng/Products/Light-Sensors/Color-Sensor/TCS3414

You should also source one of several possible DMX512 transceivers available from most popular electronics components vendors. This version uses the "MAX485 DMX Transceiver"

Bill of Materials from outside a Fablab

1 sheet of 21x14 inches 3 mm thick cast acrylic/PMMA
1 RGB I2C color sensor on breakout board: AMS/TAOS TCS3414
1 DMX512 Transceiver chip: Maxwell MAX485
1 Female 5-pin DIN receptor for chassis montage
1 Male 5-pin to Female 3-pin (standard DMX to cheap "DMX") adaptor cable

Depending on your local Fablab you might also need:
1 small dab of matte black paint to seal the edges of the pickup from conducting stray light to the sensor
1 small amount of glue capable of binding to acrylic
(for letting the ends of the chassis rim meet and stick together)
3 dabs of hot glue to fix the milled PCBs inside the chassis

Post Fab Academy Development

I intent to add a clever form for light fixture adressing - maybe a serial display and a rotary encoder. As well as more than one senser operating simultaneously so that more goups of light fixtures can be controlled.

I will add an overall brightness output controll (linear resistor?)
I will add a blackout-button (which overrides current sensor output and sends "0 brightness" to all fixtures until pressed again)
I will add a RGB LED on the console to show what color is send out

Contact

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the µPaintDMX Controller don't hessitate to contact:

Michael Hviid Nielsen

Further Development


Further development of the µPaintDMX Controller will be announced here:

www.spinnips.com

or here:

www.3dfreelancer.com