I guess this looks like a good place to start! Feasibility wise at least.
First statement of fact. I am a newbie to Arduino. I have had a couple of UNO's for almost a year but have had too little spare time to tinker so am starting this topic with very little idea of how to proceed.
I bought an 800mw (total) RGB laser module that includes the driver board with analog modulation inputs. I don't know what the specifications are regarding those inputs except to say they are supposed to be max 5 volts. With nothing connected each laser seems full power and I have a white beam.
I have been reading on several areas using Arduino as well as just NE555 timers to create PWM signals. I also came across a simple circuit to convert PWM to an analog signal.
Now to my first then eventual goals using the Arduino.
1. Simple control by way of potentiometer of the brightness of each of the lasers in order to mix into any color of the rainbow.
This first would be so I can just tune the color of the laser beam by dialing the brightness of each individual laser diode. I found code to use Arduino to generate PWM out puts but I don't have a clue about how to go about this by way of manual potentiometers.
2. Second stage of my project would be to incorporate the output control of each color along with driving two galvo's to make a complete light show driven by computer.
I have found a number of free ware programs to drive galvos etc. for a light show but none specifically address an Arduino interface.
Being new to Arduino I guess what I am looking for here is some guidance to know how many "tasks" Arduino can manage to accomplish at one time ( multiplexing? ) Is it reasonable to think a UNO can control three laser diodes at once? Could it also manage two galvos for twirling the mirrors?
I know that due to persistence of vision, light can be switched sequentially fast enough to appear to be "always on" to the human eye which might suggest to me that an Arduino could multiplex the output control by switching between the diodes at a fast enough rate that it looks uniform even if it is really managing only one color at a time.
So I think I have laid out my goals. Does anyone have any experience doing this? Any input on how to approach this project is most appreciated from anyone with the patience to prod an old man along.
( Image is the W500 module but physically is nearly identical to the w800 I have other than output power )
