I am nuts about DMX and Arduino ! So getting them together is a real challenge and a joy for me !
My latest purchase is ATTiny85's, I have made an Arduino ISP board, and my first project was to get the tiny to spit out DMX signals to 512 channels (just dimming up/down for now), within half an hour I got it all working (although not tweaked) there were no glitches !
I shall post the code soon as its on my other PC
I intend to couple this DMX code with a simplified FFT code so that I can audio process music and convert it to 16 channels of light..Bob
Thanks for posting. My own project is for accepting a DMX signal, and using the data to control a motor. But, I learned that monitoring the DMX line would take a great deal of the Arduino's processing power. So, I think I will instead us a DMX to Serial interface from http://www.chromationsystems.com ($25 kit).
Have you heard of anyone else creating a motor controlled by a DMX signal, and using an Arduino?
Hey Joe, I have written many programs that convert DMX data into light and movement using LEDs and servos and stepper motors, it can be done and is not at all processor hungry. I have used A Arduino Library for sending and receiving DMX many times, its a great library, worth a try... the examples are really good too. Bob
In regards to my own project, when I say "servo motor" I am not referring to the integrated RC Hobby type of system. Rather, I am looking at the type of servo that uses a separate motor and controller. The controllers use feedback from an external potentiometer, or a quadrature encoder. These typically involved a number of parameters that must be set, and can sometimes have fairly complex in terms of what the Arduino is capable of handling. A PID control system, which you might recognize.
My own project (for which I am simply evaluating the feasibility), is to create a Tinkerbell character by suspending a 6" ball of LED's from two cords located in the upper corners of the stage opening. The cords are on a motorized reel, controlled by a DMX signal. I was initially hoping to have a fairly precise positioning system that can be pre-programmed. But, I might simplify it to be just a live joystick control that only controls the speed of the motors.
Can you describe some of your projects that involved motors?