Anyone know of an open source DMX platform?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$4 Answers
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$Look at the downloads page for a schematic and software/programming examples.
http://www.enttec.com/index.php?main_menu=Products&pn=70303&show=description&name=opendmxusb
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Actually, I don't need to output DMX at all. That's the problem with just using an Arduino, I need to RECEIVE DMX....an end of the line device. I have a board that is essentially a shield for a different proto board, but the code for the arduino is a bit wonky, needs to be tweaked.
I have 13 different DMX LED lights that I already run with the Velleman and Freestyler and I need a strobe for a party coming up. I figured, I have a bunch of 1W LEDs and an Arduino.....I should be able to get a DMX strobe out of this. And if I'm not willing to drop the $150-250 for a strobe right now, I'm sure not going to drop another $60 just to buying something that I already have the parts to build myself.
60$ Assembled DMX dongle and a 3-to-5-pin turnaround is out of your budget? parts alone would be atleast $30, and then ya still gotta build it. The only benefit of this over your Velleman is the openness. What exactly is your application? It seems you need a micro controller that can output dmx, and not just a DMX controller..
This guy has done it: http://blog.wingedvictorydesign.com/2009/03/20/receive-dmx-512-with-an-arduino/
ALTERNATE: If you do have a few $ to throw around >> http://www.amazon.com/Chauvet-Mini-Flash-Strobe-Light/dp/B0002CZVG4
Chauvet Mini Strobes 15$ at guitar-center/etc. kick ass for the price. grab four and run them off a non-dim channel on your dimmer (I have dimmed them before and it wrecks havoc with the electronics).
I know this doesnt solve your problem, but a lot of time, when it come to production work, getting the effect is more important than how you do it.
Anecdotal(-ish) Story:
I spent hours stuffing the flash from a disposable camera into an old fashioned camera prop. While I did manage to get it to work, it wasn't bright enough to compete with stage lighting and also the recharge time on the capacitors was like 15-20 seconds, so it was useless for the one scene that it was needed for. We ended up using a stobe cap on a Source4. I wasted (wasnt really a waste, i learned a lot) a lot of production time on something that we could have been done easier and gotten a better effect.
I actually have a Velleman DMX interface at the moment, but need something that's 3 pin and a little cheaper. Alas, budgets.... thanks for your response though.
The module exposes 28 I/O lines, half of which are analog, 2 of which have high-speed DAC's on them. I will also be releasing code that will do fast, efficient, high-resolution, and *patent-free* LED dimming outputs.
The main project is slated for completion by Fall 2010, so the modules will likely be available sometime this summer. Keep an eye on http://blog.omegacs.net/ for updates.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Looks like between some domain reshuffling I've been doing to organize things, and answers.hackaday's linkification putting the parenthesis in the URL, it's a bit messed up. However, since then I've put up a blog post specific to this module:
http://blog.omegacs.net/2010/05/04/dmx-512-module-in-development/
I'll attach the shot of the mostly-completed PCB artwork here just in case.
The microcontroller runs at a maximum of 3.3V, and each pin can drive 20mA. I've ganged pins together to drive more in the past, but if you need to drive a stepper the intent is for this module to be placed on your own board (as if it were a standard 600mil 40-pin DIP chip itself) and wired up the appropriate drivers. The board should be able to drive 20mA LEDs directly, as long as they're common-anode, since the board can simply turn its current sink on or let the pin float: +5V -> Anode-LED-Cathode -> module.
As far as cost, the Xmega adapter board in the same class, which lacks the USB port, DMX drivers, and the screw connectors, is currently being sold (in preproduction quantities) for $15 assembled. The USB connector is ~$3-4, the 3x screw terminals are ~$1/ea, and the MAX13430 is ~$3.50/ea. That would bring the total to somewhere around $30-35 depending on various other factors.
I'll probably develop a non-USB, single-port version for simpler applications, which should shave most of $10 off the price of the current module.
http://omegacs.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/xmegaa4-dualdmx.png?w=449&h=177
I'd love to check out your project, but it appears your page is down. I have two questions though...
What kind of voltage/current can you output to an end component, such as LED or stepper or servo?
What would we be looking at cost wise? Is it just one board or a system of modules? Is it similar to the Propeller Project?
http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=open+dmx+platform
I recommend the Arduino for entry-level ease and fun factor. I basically went the other direction and use an Arduino and piezo transducers to control a DMX lighting board via MIDI.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I had glossed over this page in the past, but wasn't able to glean what I needed from it. I'm going to give it another look to see what else I need to receive DMX on the arduino. Thanks for your response!
BTW, and if anybody else reads this... I didn't mean to select no answer, i was using my droid to check this out on the train and bumped it accidentally. Sorry folks!