Do you have a list of parts for the reciever unit you designed? I want to start building one this week. I will probably need a schematic of the layout too, I'm not bent towards electronics. Thanks again for everyones good thoughts and advice. There has been so much good help

 

Sorry it took so long to get back with you on this, I was searching for a source for the "critical" part of the setup, but I can not find it anywhere...

It is the cone shaped lens in the drawing... it has polished ends for use specifically for laser optics...





(Drawings are done with the latest Free version of SketchUp, in case anyone is wondering...)

I am trying to see if I can salvage another one....If I can locate some more of the old equipment it came from

B. Morse

 

here is what the prototype looks like now, I actually stumbled on a fluorescent lamp end cover for one of those clear sleeves you can put on the bulbs, and it fits right on the end as if it were meant to be, I will be utilizing the slotted hole on the end to affix a 2 position terminal block so wires can be attached to it easily for triggering....

I used some HUGE heat shrink tubing for the whole thing and even added a switch on the side for the power....







B. Morse

 

I think Im starting to hate you BMorse..

Jealousy is a cruel mistress..

So are cruel mistresses.

Good work..not like we would expect anything less.

 

This guy is really somthing isn't he, the receiver looks like it came right from a special ops gear catalogue. Really nice work

 

This guy is really somthing isn't he, the receiver looks like it came right from a special ops gear catalogue. Really nice work

aw-shucks, you guys!

aw-shucks (ô

sh

ks

)adj. Informal Characterized by a shy, self-effacing, often unsophisticated manner: "He grinned his aw-shucks grin, passed a hand over his face and said, 'Hi ya, guys!'" (William Manchester).

B. Morse

 

Is the optocouple curcuit contained within the housing? Or is it in line and separate? (Maybe you don't need it with your new design?)

 

Is the optocouple curcuit contained within the housing? Or is it in line and separate? (Maybe you don't need it with your new design?)

The whole circuit including the 9 volt power is inside the housing, including the optocoupler.... I had put it together with the intensions of having a minimum of external parts to get it to work, so basically you will just have to run 2 wires from your counter to the target.... I will have some news hopefully today if I find you one of those cone shaped lens.... If by chance I can not find it I might have to try something else so you can build it, unless you just want to purchase mine (for a minimal fee to cover some costs, + shipping )..... I know it kind of defeats the purpose of you building one....

B. Morse

 

Here is the circuit schematic.... (I'm pretty sure it's right although I just had to do it from memory, I will have to double check when I get home tonight)...



B. Morse

 

I actually found a few more units to salvage the assorted lenses from....

So I have all the lenses that you will need for this project..... I can supply this with the 1/8" x 1/8" Solar Cell that I used since I have a couple more on hand (Could save you some shipping from multiple online orders anyway)... or you can order one from here >> http://www.solarbotics.com/products/scpd/

Here is a quick guide on how to assemble the lenses once you get them.... the "RED" lens has a mirrored side to it, this has to be facing inward, and the red side faces out (towards the laser),

the daylight filter just needs to be affixed right onto the red lens without removing the black plastic trim, (I tried with one other prototype to just remove the black bezel and affix it right onto the red lens, but it didn't work as well )....







Also the "main" lens has 2 lenses on it that are fixed, the second internal one is slightly tapered, I pointed this to the top of the assembly, just to minimize stray reflections hitting anyone in the eyes ....



Just PM me to let me know how you want this stuff sent.....

Edit:
Oh yeah, can't forget about this little lens, this goes right onto the solar cell, included in the photo is the solar cell (brand new, never used, bought a few of them to make a solar powered fishing lure that I never finished)....


B. Morse

 

Yeah, December 11th 2012, Im going over BMorses' house. Im sure we could whip some stuff up for a neat end-of-the-world battle. (At least it would look cool)

 

Yeah, December 11th 2012, Im going over BMorses' house. Im sure we could whip some stuff up for a neat end-of-the-world battle. (At least it would look cool)

My "lab" or should I say, my basement where I have everything setup already looks like it has been through a world war already , with the construction I am working on (trying to finish the whole basement, in between all my other projects ....) and some of the "piles" I am sorting through to "organize" it more into categories,(in between other projects also, I keep finding stuff that gets me off track whenever I start going through stuff to categorize )....

B. Morse

 

Some old PVC parts-48 cents, lenses and optics-2 bucks, all the electronics (including 9 volt battery) 10 bucks- you time and skill and knowledge-PRICELESS!! Thanks again for all your help

 

Some old PVC parts-48 cents, lenses and optics-2 bucks, all the electronics (including 9 volt battery) 10 bucks- you time and skill and knowledge-PRICELESS!! Thanks again for all your help

Well it was a good thing I have "surplus" stuff we used in this project, I actually found a source for the lenses, and just for the metalized coated lens (red and gold colored filter lens) are quite costly!! >>http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=3197

and I also found the source for the "critical Lens" in this project, apparently they are referred to as Compound Parabolic Concentrators >> http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productid=3213

Compound Parabolic Concentrators are critical components in solar energy collection, wireless communication, biomedical and defense research, or for any applications requiring condensing of a divergent light source.

So if anyone views this thread, and would like to build their own, this is the lowest cost source I could find for the optic lenses for this project...

B. Morse

 

BMorse-I made a reply in to your last message, and could not find it after I sent it,(It wasn't in my sent Items) hope it got through, thanks

 

BMorse-I made a reply in to your last message, and could not find it after I sent it,(It wasn't in my sent Items) hope it got through, thanks

Got both actually.... thanks...

B. Morse

 

I have another on topic discussion for this trigger and detector. I have downloaded a stopwatch program for my computer that uses the keyboard OR external inputs via com ports (either 9 pin or 25 pin) Its called XNote Stopwatch (freeware) and it works quite well on the computer. Would this trigger be suitable to make this program run?www.xnotestopwatch.com/download.html
what do you think?

Pretty cool application, your trigger can be easily integrated with this considering it just needs a contact closure on the RTS/CTS lines or the DTR/DSR lines.... I will definitely play around with it, I am pretty sure that with just the optocoupler output already in place we could easily interface it to that....


B. Morse

 

Played around a bit with the xnotestopwatch application, was not that hard to interface target with it, all it took was 1 resistor and a DB9 Female connector.... I ended up not having a serial port on the PC I used for my test but it did work with a USB to Serial adapter also..... So if you would like to play around with it, I will throw in the cable I made for the serial port interface when I ship everything out....





I also made a short video and uploaded it for you to check out, response time I believe will not be an issue at all!!

Check out the video here >>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm2NMW628zk

Next up : Wireless trigger connection ..... stay tuned....

B. Morse

 

Sent somthing your way today, hope it arrives quickly

 

Sent somthing your way today, hope it arrives quickly

Looking forward to it ! Thanks!


P.S.
Did you see the post about Xnotestopwatch? and the Vid?
B. Morse