Ulophot
3-Jan-2023, 21:03
Even though I’m still waiting to finish using Nigel’s Excel macro to even the light out, I’m excited to show this new LED head on my D2, built by a friend up the lane, for those who haven’t seen my other posts.
It uses a 256-LED RGB panel, which I have balanced to yield a Gr. 2 with no filtration or with the No. 2 Ilford filter. It’s designed for this white light application only; it’s all I need in that respect.
The housing of the head and controller are 3D printed. The controller is an Arduino chip running some C++ code -- out of my league. Since the housing is so light-weight, I have hung lead weights from the back of the carriage to counterbalance the strength of the carriage springs.
The computer fan in the top is relatively low RPM, vibrationless, and very quiet indeed. Vents in the sides of the housing top component increase air flow.
The 6”-square panel’s light passes through an 1/8”-thick white acrylic panel 4.5 x 5.5.
The controller is simple but functional. Each knob has two functions. The left sets the exposure time in hundredths of a second. Press/release it and it adjusts R, G, B, and overall intensity (I) individually (successive presses for each, then it returns to exposure time). Press the right knob to turn the light on for focusing. Press again to turn it off. In the off position, turning it adjusts the dry-down percentage from 0% to 15%.
I use a foot switch to activate timed exposure.
It’s not as bright as others have built with single-LED arrays, but it’s sufficient, and I hope to increase the output overall as I balance the light a bit from the way it is being done now. Evenness will also improve a bit whenever I can afford a 150mm lens to replace my 135.
Many mistakes and printing problems along the way added to the cost, but materials to build a replica would probably total less than $160. I was hoping my friend would offer to make some additional ones for interested folks for a modest price, but right now he’s involved with something else for the meantime. I continue to hope that others with the skills and equipment will do something similar. Intrepid has ventured in that direction; perhaps it will inspire others.
234202234203234204234205
It uses a 256-LED RGB panel, which I have balanced to yield a Gr. 2 with no filtration or with the No. 2 Ilford filter. It’s designed for this white light application only; it’s all I need in that respect.
The housing of the head and controller are 3D printed. The controller is an Arduino chip running some C++ code -- out of my league. Since the housing is so light-weight, I have hung lead weights from the back of the carriage to counterbalance the strength of the carriage springs.
The computer fan in the top is relatively low RPM, vibrationless, and very quiet indeed. Vents in the sides of the housing top component increase air flow.
The 6”-square panel’s light passes through an 1/8”-thick white acrylic panel 4.5 x 5.5.
The controller is simple but functional. Each knob has two functions. The left sets the exposure time in hundredths of a second. Press/release it and it adjusts R, G, B, and overall intensity (I) individually (successive presses for each, then it returns to exposure time). Press the right knob to turn the light on for focusing. Press again to turn it off. In the off position, turning it adjusts the dry-down percentage from 0% to 15%.
I use a foot switch to activate timed exposure.
It’s not as bright as others have built with single-LED arrays, but it’s sufficient, and I hope to increase the output overall as I balance the light a bit from the way it is being done now. Evenness will also improve a bit whenever I can afford a 150mm lens to replace my 135.
Many mistakes and printing problems along the way added to the cost, but materials to build a replica would probably total less than $160. I was hoping my friend would offer to make some additional ones for interested folks for a modest price, but right now he’s involved with something else for the meantime. I continue to hope that others with the skills and equipment will do something similar. Intrepid has ventured in that direction; perhaps it will inspire others.
234202234203234204234205