Laser position detector with Arduino

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi All,

I'm wanting to create my own laser position detector based on an Circuit Cellar article from 2003 by Roger Johnson and Chris Lentz. The article can be found here: Article Link

In the article they provide the circuit diagram. Now I am hoping that I can replace the micro controller they use with an Arduino Nano and connect straight to the MCP3204 using SPI on the Nano. I have attached an image for the proposed changes.

Do you guys think this will work? Or are there further changes required?

Thanks for your help

ProposedCircuit.jpg
ProposedCircuit.jpg986×904 115 KB

2

The only thing you change is the uC. Where's the problem?

3

There isn't a problem, I was asking if it is as easy as just changing the microcontroller.

Thanks

4

Well, try it.

5

What PSD are you going to use? They seem to run from $200 to $$$$$

6

I'm guessing you will have to re-write the software. Have you been able to download it from their FTP server? I just tried (ftp://ftp.circuitcellar.com/pub/Circuit_Cellar/2003/152/) and am stuck on "Connecting...".

7

The site went offline ages ago, but you might have luck with archive.org. Anyway, no rocket science hidden there, just 4x ADC values. Anyway, the cheeper way is to use a camera nowadays.