Hi everyone, I'm not entirely clear on what I'd need to do with this, so I'd appreciate some input.
I'm interested in putting together a device to translate movement from an X-Y stage control knob (pictured) on a microscope into keystrokes/scrolling motion on a PC (utilising an Arduino).
I haven't got my hands on a microscope stage (that I'm allowed to take apart!) yet, but I'm wondering if there would be any way to implement a similar solution?
Basically I want a stacked control, where each wheel can move, with one controlling the X axis and one the Y axis.
I'm explaining this in an awkward way, but those who have used a microscope before may have a better idea of what I mean.
Essentially I want to emulate microscope controls in order to control applications on a computer. If there is another solution that would achieve the same if not better results, I'd love to hear it.
dougzy:
Hi everyone, I'm not entirely clear on what I'd need to do with this, so I'd appreciate some input.
I'm interested in putting together a device to translate movement from an X-Y stage control knob (pictured) on a microscope into keystrokes/scrolling motion on a PC (utilising an Arduino).
I haven't got my hands on a microscope stage (that I'm allowed to take apart!) yet, but I'm wondering if there would be any way to implement a similar solution?
Basically I want a stacked control, where each wheel can move, with one controlling the X axis and one the Y axis.
I'm explaining this in an awkward way, but those who have used a microscope before may have a better idea of what I mean.
Essentially I want to emulate microscope controls in order to control applications on a computer. If there is another solution that would achieve the same if not better results, I'd love to hear it.
Consider going the other way around.
I have a customer that had a product that added stepper motors to the X-Y of microscope stages and remotely controlled the steps, by hand. They were done because the stepper has much finer control than finger do. We still have the test board, but I don't think we have built any in the last 10 years.
So, this method might be a lot easier to implement.
I have a customer that had a product that added stepper motors to the X-Y of microscope stages and remotely controlled the steps, by hand. They were done because the stepper has much finer control than finger do. We still have the test board, but I don't think we have built any in the last 10 years.
So, this method might be a lot easier to implement.
Paul
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the reply.
Do you mean remote control a stage by means of stepper motors? It's more the control from the X-Y knob that I want to capture, rather than the stage movement itself.
Do you mean remote control a stage by means of stepper motors? It's more the control from the X-Y knob that I want to capture, rather than the stage movement itself.
Adam
Exactly what I meant. You have not designed the mechanism to attach to the stage knobs, have you.
Paul_KD7HB:
So this is not an Arduino question, but a PC software question?
Paul
I want to connect an X-Y stage control to rotary encoders to a PC through an Arduino. The idea is to allow people to control digital microscopy software with traditional microscope controls. The image would be a digital scan, so not captured from the microscope realtime. Ideally I would just fix a stage control to a box, and build a little set of controls.
dougzy:
I want to connect an X-Y stage control to rotary encoders to a PC through an Arduino. The idea is to allow people to control digital microscopy software with traditional microscope controls. The image would be a digital scan, so not captured from the microscope realtime. Ideally I would just fix a stage control to a box, and build a little set of controls.
OK, that is all certainly doable, but I say again, until you get the rotary encoders and the microscope stage done, there is no point in going further. You will need the encoders and the mechanism in order to test your program, not the other way around.
