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Rod-Wan
05-23-2006, 11:05 PM
Anyone know of a way to get custom sound boards with you own specific sabre ignition/hum/extinguish

http://images1.fotki.com/v317/photos/9/917943/3581808/jotorsig-vi.jpg?22436
http://images17.fotki.com/v308/photos/9/917943/3581808/Animation4-vi.gif?225169http://images16.fotki.com/v316/photos/9/917943/3581808/rwdsig-vi.jpg?48097
http://images17.fotki.com/v308/photos/9/917943/3581808/quotesig-vi.jpg?50056

GFORCE13
05-24-2006, 12:51 AM
I wish it seems like we have just all been using the Hasbro ones.

<center>
" I am a Jedi like my Father before me"
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c237/G-FORCE13/th_DCP_1240.jpg
</center>

Rod-Wan
05-24-2006, 01:29 AM
hmmm

http://images1.fotki.com/v317/photos/9/917943/3581808/jotorsig-vi.jpg?22436
http://images17.fotki.com/v308/photos/9/917943/3581808/Animation4-vi.gif?225169http://images16.fotki.com/v316/photos/9/917943/3581808/rwdsig-vi.jpg?48097
http://images17.fotki.com/v308/photos/9/917943/3581808/quotesig-vi.jpg?50056

xwingband
05-24-2006, 06:09 AM
Buy one that does custom stuff?

Hyperdyne's bluetooth board does that but it's currently tied to his system. Erv makes one that runs off an SD card to make all the sounds custom, but that's not available in the US. Either is expensive.

Otherwise, it's build your own which takes a lot more electronics know how than most of us have.

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6703/xwing8az.gif</center>

Luke-SkyMarcher
05-28-2006, 07:44 PM
This is exactly somthing I am trying to do. Like x-wing said, it would take a lot of know-how which is why I posted about it to see how other people thought it might be done.

You'll find I'm full of suprises. -Luke, ESB, Anakin, AOTC

LDS_Trooper
05-29-2006, 12:49 AM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Rod-Wan

hmmm<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Why does it bother me so much when a person's post is less than 1/10th the size of their signature(s)? Might be that every board/forum I've run or helped run had rules against such posts and its left me skewed and bitter... I dunno..

but to see four consanants and then more than 200 pixels deep of signature(s) and animations as well... drives me to drink Jawa Juice it does...

ok there's my http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/LDS_Trooper/emotions/twocents.gif keep the change.

"Do you know how to use that thing?"
"Yes. The pointy end goes into the other man."
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/LDS_Trooper/emotions/fence.gif

Rod-Wan
06-02-2006, 02:27 AM
Well, if that is the way you feel. I ask you this, are you sugesting that I remained uninvolved in disscusions, don't coment on things and refuse to share wisdome unless I know for a fact that what I'm writing with reach at least 3 sentances in length? I mean come on, if you saw me writing one word posts on a consistant basis or doing things that were obvious indicators that I was just trying to up my # of posts than I would expect to hear something about it. However nither of these things are happening. The only possible other solution would be for me to change my signature....*shudder* Well safice to say that wont be happening. I'm not telling you to shut your face however, just keying you in on my perspective of what you said, as you are not able to vocally influence the text you are writing and nither am I. I Appreciate you making a comment on the subject and will endevor to not write one liners if it offends people. I seriously thought that I would get a more, positive response from people, that's okay you don't have to like it, or even respect it.... But if you don't than you can "suck on wax fruit"-Batty:Furn Gully
-All foolishness aside this is not an aggresive post nor is it ment to be taken as anything other than insite. I'm not under the impression that someone has a problem with me, I'm just acting crazy as normal ;)

http://images1.fotki.com/v317/photos/9/917943/3581808/jotorsig-vi.jpg?22436
http://images17.fotki.com/v308/photos/9/917943/3581808/Animation4-vi.gif?225169http://images16.fotki.com/v316/photos/9/917943/3581808/rwdsig-vi.jpg?48097
http://images17.fotki.com/v308/photos/9/917943/3581808/quotesig-vi.jpg?50056

Pirate King
06-02-2006, 04:08 AM
both Do-Clo and xwing have giant sigs, too. his just moves.

{<font color="black">[[[</font id="black">(((<font color="red">o</font id="red">))<font color="gold">EE</font id="gold">[/<font color="blue">==============</font id="blue">

Firebird21
06-02-2006, 10:51 AM
I don't like big sigs because they take up too much room and usually look gaudy.

I especially don't like moving sigs because they slow everything down. It's one thing to post .gif's once and awhile, but when you post one every time you post, that can really bog down the system. Especially when they’re that size. And once one person does it, more will follow suit, and before you know it, it takes 5min. to open up a topic because everyone's sig has an animated .gif in it.

I would have to say that, out of respect for those that do not have high-speed internet, please refrain from putting animated .gif’s in your sig.
As for the size of the sig, I don’t like big ones, but that’s only my opinion, and I won’t ask you to change it just because I don’t like it, that’s just stupid.

And I also don't like staring at people's personal photos all the time ether... We gave James a hard time about that too. If you must be seen, there’s a “Mug Shots” topic for that, you just need to have a mug in it too.[:p] But again, that's my opinion.


As for the size of the post… I couldn’t care any less.


Have you read your Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577) today?
FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552)
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_sabre.gif http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/auto/car-smiley-032.gif Official Designated TCSS Jester! http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrinjackbox.gif

xwingband
06-02-2006, 01:51 PM
I don't care about sig size that much I don't think Rod's is too big. The .gif is distracting though, lol.[:o)]

"hmmm"'s are usually accompanied by a thought or question which is why it is somewhat bothersome. We can only reply to the post you "hmmm"'ed too because you didn't add much. (that has to be the weirdest logic right there...)

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
Before posting did you check the Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577)?.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6703/xwing8az.gif</center>

Firebird21
06-02-2006, 02:59 PM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by xwingband

(that has to be the weirdest logic right there...)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">



Hmmm...






http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_bunny.gif

Have you read your Thread Index (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=577) today?
FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552)
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_sabre.gif http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/auto/car-smiley-032.gif Official Designated TCSS Jester! http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrinjackbox.gif

WeirdoTransvestite
06-02-2006, 03:27 PM
Brain overloading....please reboot system.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Asuka Langley Soryu: I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll kill you.
-End of Evangelion

Gott weiss ich will kein Engel sein
-Rammstein
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a15/WeirdoTransvestite/LaughingManROTATE.gif

Ambo
06-02-2006, 05:02 PM
*takes index finger and bounces it off of Wierdo's forehead* done......

<center>http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/AmboAW/Dislex0.gif</center>

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein

Rod-Wan
06-03-2006, 03:23 AM
Well how about a compromise? I've changed the Gif to only play 5 times then stop, I realize that this isn't anywhere near "removing" the gif, however you realize I could be being a gundark about all this and tell you to stuff it. All in all I may cut it down more in the furture but I feel this is fair for now. Thoughts?

http://images1.fotki.com/v317/photos/9/917943/3581808/jotorsig-vi.jpg?22436
http://images16.fotki.com/v316/photos/9/917943/3581808/Animation5-vi.gif?225169http://images16.fotki.com/v316/photos/9/917943/3581808/rwdsig-vi.jpg?48097
http://images17.fotki.com/v308/photos/9/917943/3581808/quotesig-vi.jpg?50056

SaberSentinel
06-03-2006, 07:28 AM
My computer has a 56k modem and is as slow as a slug on salt. Even so, Rod-Wan's sig plays just fine. It also inspired me to spend several hours trying to learn how to do that. Whacked myself a bunch of times, but I got it.

Speak softly and carry a big lightsaber.
Old Jedi never die; they just fade away.

James
10-15-2006, 03:20 PM
Anyone interested in making our own sound boards? I know Chuber is - we've chatted 'bout it.
For those who are, but think... "I don't even know where to begin." or "I'd
like to but I don't know much about electronics."
Let's try to put our heads together - who knows, we might get lucky!
Maybe someone will be kind enough to give us a wiring diagram!
(If you're thinking "not likely" I'd be tempted to say you're wrong.)

(Let me first say, I have not yet built a sinlge saber ;-( and I don't know
much about electronics either. But I do have an open mind and a great
imagination).

Here's what I've found so far....
www.scary-terry.com/dsr/dsr.htm -- Terry makes Halloween things and adds sound to them. This link gives some easy to understand information on the ISD25XX sound chips. He also shows some schematics - one that we can use to download sounds from the computer to the sound chip ( www.scary-terry.com/dsr/2560recadv.htm)
There are other places that have some good info - seems model railroaders and laser tag people like the isd chips too!

check out www.winbond-usa.com/products/isd_products/chipcorder/applicationinfo/apin09.pdf
This pdf is titled "Ciruit Examples for ISD1000A and ISD2500 Products."
If you look at page 3 they have a circuit called "Chip Enable Initiated Looping." Not a lot of parts to it! Page 4 has a couple paragraphs (easy to read) that eplain how it works...which is
turn the circuit on
the chip looks at the address pins
plays the sound at that address
and repeats this until you turn it off.
This is most of our playback board! Cooool
The circuit uses DIP switches to select the address - we will use 'event' switches ( switches that close when an event occurs - like swing, hit and lock) for ours.
Just a couple things we need to keep in mind - according to ISD's "Basic Addressing" document - page 5 concerns us.
1. We can only use the addresses 0 to 599 ( not a problem)
2. Every 5 seconds of sound takes up 50 'spaces' ( 1 sec = 10 'spaces').
( Most of our sounds last, at most, 1.5 seconds??)
So we use 2 swing switches, one ht switch, and one lock switch
swing switches go to pins 5 and 6 (A4 and A5)
hit goes to pin 7 and lock to pin 8
(hum can go at 0 )
on and off - somewhere else (I was thinking of using a PIC chip for blade effects and sending signals for the on/off sounds)

now for the sensors -
www.comus-intl.com/comus_vibration.asp -click "movement/vibration datasheets. www.comus-intl.com/comus_shock.asp as well as /low_cost_non_mercury_switch.asp
or check out www.mdius.com. click 'actice switch' then 'motion&shock' and'tilt&tipover.'
you might also check out
www.aeroconsystems.com/electronics/switch-acceleration2.htm
www.select-controls.com/accel.htm
www.inertiaswitch.com/overview.html

ideas, comments???

check out http://devices.sapp.org/component/flex - shows how we might use a variable resistor type sensor in our projects
(i don't think this flex sensor will help us, but...)
check out
www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=gen_purpose_strain_SG&Nav=pree02
I was thinking we could wrap one around the blade (use heat shrink to keep it snug against the blade (actually, the blade holder) and when we lock blades, our blade bends, resistance changes giving us enough to have a lock signal.

This is all, for the moment, just some thoughts I'm having but I think it may work. If someone else has ideas or whatever, let's pull together and mike it happen!
;-)

erv
10-18-2006, 12:04 PM
funny, I've started adding a blade lockup detection to my soundboard about two months ago. The sensor (which is not a strain gauge) is attached, I get good variation of the analog data when pressing the blade, I just need 2 hours to find in my daily schedule to finish the programming. This will be added on my luxeon retrofit vader ep V.
Erv'

erv
10-30-2006, 12:56 PM
Yes ! I've finished my blade lockup detector and implemented it in my luxeon saber.
I've tried several strategies, and ended with a single sensor, so the detection is unidirectional, but still a good start. It will detect the blade pressing on something hard. The sensor is placed between the blade mount and the hilt, I've machined an area to double sided tape the sensor. Continous pressure variations are digitized and analized by my soundboard, and if the pressure is above a certain level, during a minimum time, the sound board will play a special sound and trigger the light clash effect of my dimmer to display high energy perturbation. The delay is there to avoid the lockup to be triggered when only a clash or a swing is done, but actually this could almost not happend in my algorithm cause the blade pressure is taken in count only when the hilt is not in motion, analysing the other sensors of the sound module. This is just a security for the moment, and this delay is of course adjustable. Right now, it's about 150 ms. It looks longer in the video, but this is because I must reach the threshold of the detection with a single hand, with the cam in my other hand, and maintain the pressure, it will look definitly more natural within a fight context.
I've made the sound really quickly, and my digital camera is not the best thing to demo, but you'll get the idea. You might also hear some echo in the clash detection, that's on purpose, I've setup my sound module using the SD card to get this result, which makes more "sound events" when the blade is shocked hard (it ondulates and since the detection is sentitive enough in this setup, clash sounds might be triggered several times).
Also, the automatic gain control of the camera tries to mute my sound board (too loud ?? 8) ) cause I'm saturating the internal mike, that's why the clash sounds are a bit soften and get a lower volume.
Enjoy !
http://www.plecterlabs.com/Media/VaderEp5_LockupSensor.avi

supertrogdor
10-30-2006, 02:17 PM
truely amazing Erv, you have thoroughly outdone yourself on this module

james3
10-30-2006, 05:01 PM
Rock On Erv!!!! Way cool.

Lord Maul
10-30-2006, 05:10 PM
dude!!!!!! :shock:
that thing is sweet!!!!
great job erv

Darth_Dadderall
10-30-2006, 08:20 PM
Okay, Erv. No fair holding out on us, now. How long before these go on sale? Now I've got a massive hankering for a lockup sensor.

xwingband
10-30-2006, 08:37 PM
Sweet... is this a mod to existing modules or something else? Me likee. :)

GFORCE13
10-30-2006, 11:22 PM
Awesome work Erv count me in for a couple as well. 8)

erv
10-31-2006, 05:27 AM
Hi ! thanks for the feedback :D
Be sure I don't want to keep you away from this. Xwing, you're right, that's a mod of my sound module, simply added a resistor and took a free input of the microcontroller to hook up the sensor. Then, it's "simply" a new firmware. BtW, when I'll release something mass produce (new within a week or two, I hope), there will be an option for buying a programming cable so that new features of the module can be uploaded inside (not to say for fixing minor bugs as well :roll: ).
Now, about this very sensor system, the sensor itself is classic technology, hookup to the board is really simply, the only problem is reliability. It work for me now, but relies on mechanical properties and design of the hilt and blade mount. I might indicate how to do it, but final implementation will be done by the customer, since it's really different from just shoving a pack of module inside the hilt. It will probably require machining and trimming.
I'm continuing my experiments, and be sure that if it's possible to do properly, my module and firmware will have this option !
Erv'

Jakim Fett
11-02-2006, 01:19 PM
About the custom sound, I love the idea. I am currently in the process of building custom lightsabers for some friends (we dress up and fight...) and needed a sound board. I built the blades like MR does, with a bunch of LEDs rinning up the blade. I used 3/8 polycarbonate for the blades, and they look nice, but without sound they are kind of cheesy...
I am planning on using the ISD 25xx chip (maybe the 2560) for the sound board. This is great!

james3
11-02-2006, 02:33 PM
I have to jump in to ask two questions here.

I love the idea, I am all for trying everything and anything but...

Will that board fit in sabers? I could not seem to find dimensions. It could be just cause I am blind.

What will be used to trigger the motion sounds?

Long story short, you don't want to do it a way that may cause problems.

Darth_Dadderall
11-02-2006, 04:25 PM
james: You've never been to Erv's website before, have you? You should go. It would stop these kinds of questions from making you look like a total padawan. I know you're not.

james3
11-02-2006, 05:36 PM
You talkin to me DD?

xwingband
11-02-2006, 06:04 PM
james: You've never been to Erv's website before, have you? You should go. It would stop these kinds of questions from making you look like a total padawan. I know you're not.

He was talking about the chip the other guy is planning to use not Erv. :P

987654321a
11-02-2006, 06:20 PM
erv. you are my master! i want that sound board. even more, that vader!!

xwingband
11-02-2006, 07:01 PM
lol, have the clams for it? :P I think not.

james3
11-02-2006, 07:18 PM
I admit I got used to being called james on here all the time so I just really was not sure if this was for me or the other guy. If me then...

What xwing said, I am very familiar with Erv's work and have dreamed often of being able to get his snitz. I posted the question reguarding the "other" james as well as the other fella Jakim Fett as to what the specs were on that little board setup using those components. looking at the pics in the first post I am not totally sure they would fit our snitz.
The other issue is how to make the sound work. If y'all do know all the details in the aftermarket sound card world feel free to PM or email one of us but it has no place in here.

Did not mean to cause confusion.

Darth_Dadderall
11-02-2006, 07:37 PM
My bad. I apologize, James.

james3
11-02-2006, 08:08 PM
No worries bud. 8)

You reading to that little one yet? They really dig it.

Darth_Dadderall
11-03-2006, 05:29 AM
^_^ It's on my agenda to start this month, actually. Y'know, now that s/he has ears. What do you think? Cat in the Hat or the Little Jedi that Could (kick some serious butt)?

james3
11-03-2006, 07:08 AM
EVERYTHING!!!!

Kids books, tech manuals, Sports mags, novels, Crutchfield catologs. If you can think of it read it. No joke, they just want to hear your voice so if you get real excited about something your reading the little one will respond.

Darth_Dadderall
11-03-2006, 08:52 AM
Alright, we're snitzing this thread. Erv, do you have a Sith sound suite?

xwingband
11-03-2006, 09:14 AM
Alright, we're snitzing this thread. Erv, do you have a Sith sound suite?

huh, all of erv's sounds are completely customizable by you. The sound files are all on an SD card. You could have it make a "doink!" noise at every clash if you wanted. :mrgreen:

james3
11-03-2006, 11:14 AM
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_roflmfao.gif

That just gave me a vision of Dath Vader hitting his lightsaber and hearing the Law and Order "doink-doink".

erv
11-03-2006, 11:24 AM
héhé, lol
yep, I've also been asked to make a "farm sound suite" :lol:
reminds me the lyrics of this song on Gun's n roses album "spaghetti incident"... mmmm... yep... "down on the farm"... I can perfectly see myselft saying to Vader "Are you born in a f$*%g barn, or what ?" :wink:
lots of fun with those customizable sounds and SD card !
My new board is almost ready, I'm deep into the upgrade onboard luxeon current regulator : I want to have it compatible with power voltage up to 10V so that 7.2 V li-ion packs work as well. Current regulation and servoing works in real time now, with sound playback etc, but I still have a little heating problem on the output stage of the dimmer, must work it out.
Cool feature for the sound playback + ignition /retractation effect : the duration will be automatically adapted to the ignition or retractation sound for perfect adequation !
news soon
Erv'

james3
11-03-2006, 11:45 AM
Good deal Erv. I look forward to your progress.

Jonitus
11-03-2006, 03:12 PM
Erv, I hope when your new soundboard is ready that you have many, many, many of them made up, for I can see you getting inundated with orders for your stuff! Heck, I'm gonna auction a kidney on eBay to get some of your stuff!

Darth_Dadderall
11-03-2006, 05:13 PM
Oooh we are excited, yes.
Xwing: I knew they were customizable, but on his website it shows downloads for only two voices, the Ani and the ROTJ Luke.
Also: I might have a breakthrough in the 5w Lux puzzle. See other post in appropriate thread.

Jakim Fett
11-03-2006, 10:19 PM
I was wondering whether the ISD25xx series can play several different sounds, as in "power up" "idle hum" "clash1" "clash2" "lock" "power down", or if the chip can store/play one continuous sound.

erv
11-05-2006, 04:17 PM
good news, gentlemen,
I worked out my electronic question, tried many solutions, then ended up the initial one with another part, a few cents more expensive, but I won't see the difference in wholesale price. Caracteristics are much better, and I now have the ignition power up ramp of the luxeon correlated with the length of the sound whatever the battery state is, between 3.5V (average forward voltage of luxeon LEDs) and 10V. Not to say that with this power supply voltage, powering a lux V is of course possible (but the design of the dimmer won't accept 1.5A, just a bit under).
Of course, even if the luxeon current control is on 10 bits, a very long power on/off sound (more than 3 sec) and/or very low batteries will for sure change/alter a bit the ramp shape and resolution (smoothness), but sound and light a perfectly in harmony. I still have to try with shorter and longer sounds, and with red leds as well : I've tried with white, which are similar to cyan and blue in the behavior, but reddish have a lower forward voltage.
Then next step is adding all new parameters in the sd card, current, from a few mA to 1.4 A, if the self can handle it, energy shimmering effect style and depth etc..
Third step will be adding a feedback motor (thank to the e-reminder person who remembered I said I would include this as well in a future design, it was out of my mind). I have a little motor from corbin bought a year ago, I'll add an interface to drive it. Basically, it will follow light changing, during shimmering effect and clash effect.
I should have this programmed in a day or two, then I'll contact the compagny to get a quote for bulk manufacturing :D
This new design is using 0603 SMD's packages, very small and cost effective. SD card and speaker are now on the same side, making wiring easier, luxeon on the front side, just perfect to hot melt glue the module on the battery pack.
Activation will be done with a latching switch, since experience have shown and highlighted that a permanent switch is much more reliable than a push button which could be activated by mistake.
The module will be provided without the switch, since too many choices are possible, sliding, lever, rocker, push on push off. A simple single pole will do the job. Provided with a 29mm OD speaker. Not hifi, I confess it, but nice volume with the appropriate resonnant chamber (twice louder than MR, a customer of mine "complained" that his girlfriend argued about the sound volume, and his cat was terrified by the saber :lol: )
For this new board, I think I'll do a sound font contest :D
For the moment, I don't provide too much sound fonts, the one I made are already close enough from the movies and I don't want troubles. However, I have a sith version in progress !
I hope to make a video demo + pics of this new design this week.
Erv'

james3
11-05-2006, 04:28 PM
Holy Snitz Holy Snitz Holy Snitz

I want one!!! YAY!! I want one.

could you run two LEDs off of it?

way cool erv. I want one.

Do-Clo
11-05-2006, 04:28 PM
Sounds great Erv. I will be looking forward to a Sith version.

xwingband
11-05-2006, 04:38 PM
Yummy! I did tell a person to e-mail you if the were wanting to use a resonator with your stuff... glad that paid off. :)

erv
11-05-2006, 04:52 PM
Yummy! I did tell a person to e-mail you if the were wanting to use a resonator with your stuff... glad that paid off. :)

yep, that's the person in question, good shot xwing !
two leds ? not tried yet, good question... double blade in view ? :wink:
I thinks that it will accept two leds in serie at 10V without a problem, or 2 leds in parallel with a max current of 1.3A, 650 mA per led, just a bit under the usual 750 mA I used to apply to my luxeon III.
I'll test this for you !
Erv'

Firebird21
11-05-2006, 04:52 PM
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_mouthwater.gif


Wow erv, you're picky... You're worried about the Red LED not lighting up as fast as a Green LED? That's like nanoseconds... Impressive tolerances.

That means you take great pride in your work. This sounds like it's going to be the next big thing to hit the saber market since the LUX.

About how much is this puppy going to cost? And are you going to be able to sell it to the USA?


Oh yeah...

Hurry up! I want to finish my Luke Project!

Darth_Dadderall
11-05-2006, 09:04 PM
*gets all excited* Ooooooh boy ohboyohboy. Erv, I'm looking at you HARD for my next project. Don't let me down, bud!

GFORCE13
11-05-2006, 09:27 PM
Erv your design just get's better all the time, since my last saber has a soundless hasbro board, I think I may wait a while to buy one from you instead of just gutting another Hasbro. 8)
Oh and I can tell you people love the Force Resonator(motor), even when the sound died everybody I show it too goes nuts when it vibrates, mine actully reacts to the powerup, power down and of course the Clash and Lock and just idles the rest of the time. 8)

erv
11-05-2006, 09:35 PM
You're worried about the Red LED not lighting up as fast as a Green LED? That's like nanoseconds... Impressive tolerances.


it's not a question of switching time, but ramp up time. Despite my module is doing current servoing, it's driven by PWM and a voltage, and since the luxeon forward voltage is different from colors to colors (the red are specially low), the ramp shape must be adapted to get the same ignition effect for all colors (well, I actually expect my system and program to self adapt).



This sounds like it's going to be the next big thing to hit the saber market since the LUX.
About how much is this puppy going to cost? And are you going to be able to sell it to the USA?


the technology and product already exist from me as 2 separates electronics modules, since Feb 2006. Configuration of the dimmer is recent, and currently done by a momentary button, but overall that's nto really "new". However, for several reasons it was not accessible to US customer, but this very new board will be :D
I cannot give a price, since this board will be manufactured and I haven't got a quote yet, I simply expect lower than my electronic duo package.

Jonitus
11-06-2006, 12:42 AM
Erv, if this new module is everything I imagine it to be by your description, you are going to have a lot of very eager customers here at TCSS, myself included. I've been waiting for the day your new board is done and ready for sale, because my Graflex conversion has been shelved until I can use your parts to complete it for sound.

What a great day for the saber builder!

Firebird21
11-06-2006, 05:29 AM
This is the one with the Lock up sensor on it, right? How does that work? Will it be easily adapted to the MHS?

Can you write out a quick list of all its features and operating specs?

From what I understand it's got:
-Start up and Shut down Sound FX with specifically timed and integrated LED ramping (self adapting)
-Idle hum
-Clash SFX & flash (with shimmering effect?)
-Lock up SFX with sensor (and shimmering effect?)
-Customizable sounds on Programmable "SD" Card
-3-5w LED?


Anything else?


Oh yeah, is the hum going to be constant from Start Up to Shut Down? Unlike the Hasbro's and some Sound Boards I've sampled online were the Idle Hum is stopped by any other effect making a very choppy sound and piss poor realism. Essentially will it sound like the MR S/B, only better. This seems like a dumb question because I'm sure you're just as picky as I am about sound quality and realism as I am just by the posts you've made but I had to ask. You're earlier sound clip sounded good. When's the next one, with video?!?


And this is kind of a blanket statement so please no one take it personally, but the overall cost of adding decent sound to a saber is, I feel, astronomical. I hope that this will change soon with competition and technology costs coming down every day. Again, don’t think I’m picking on anyone particular here, but when a sound board costs more than buying a perfectly good and complete MR FX, there’s something wrong with that logic.

I know there are extenuating circumstances when it comes to prices, like production costs, shipping, bulk rates… but, as a consumer, if I can get a Brand New and Complete saber with all the parts I need for the same or less than just one component, I’d buy the Complete package.

Now some may say that building a saber should not be about the most cost effective means of doing so, but none of us are rich… we are all penny pinchers, and when I see skyrocketing part prices on anything it raises all types of red flags. When my wife finally tallies up the actual build cost for my Luke she’s going to have my balls. I know what I paid for and I’m in no way saying that Tim is overpriced in any way, what I am saying is that this stuff adds up real quick. And it’s kind of discouraging, and looking from a business standpoint, it’s not going to attract very many new customers and limits the amount of sabers current customers can afford to make.


I'll be, umm.... other there....
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_bolt.gif

james3
11-06-2006, 05:40 AM
Erv, thanks for checking on that. Two 3w or 5w if able in series was what I was thinking. I try not to parallel these things if I don't have to. I have been working on doing my own personal staff, so of course I want all the goodies in there. :D

xwingband
11-06-2006, 06:59 AM
This is the one with the Lock up sensor on it, right? How does that work? Will it be easily adapted to the MHS?

Can you write out a quick list of all its features and operating specs?

From what I understand it's got:
-Start up and Shut down Sound FX with specifically timed and integrated LED ramping (self adapting)
-Idle hum
-Clash SFX & flash (with shimmering effect?)
-Lock up SFX with sensor (and shimmering effect?)
-Customizable sounds on Programmable "SD" Card
-3-5w LED?


Anything else?


Oh yeah, is the hum going to be constant from Start Up to Shut Down? Unlike the Hasbro's and some Sound Boards I've sampled online were the Idle Hum is stopped by any other effect making a very choppy sound and piss poor realism. Essentially will it sound like the MR S/B, only better. This seems like a dumb question because I'm sure you're just as picky as I am about sound quality and realism as I am just by the posts you've made but I had to ask. You're earlier sound clip sounded good. When's the next one, with video?!?


And this is kind of a blanket statement so please no one take it personally, but the overall cost of adding decent sound to a saber is, I feel, astronomical. I hope that this will change soon with competition and technology costs coming down every day. Again, don’t think I’m picking on anyone particular here, but when a sound board costs more than buying a perfectly good and complete MR FX, there’s something wrong with that logic.

I know there are extenuating circumstances when it comes to prices, like production costs, shipping, bulk rates… but, as a consumer, if I can get a Brand New and Complete saber with all the parts I need for the same or less than just one component, I’d buy the Complete package.

Now some may say that building a saber should not be about the most cost effective means of doing so, but none of us are rich… we are all penny pinchers, and when I see skyrocketing part prices on anything it raises all types of red flags. When my wife finally tallies up the actual build cost for my Luke she’s going to have my balls. I know what I paid for and I’m in no way saying that Tim is overpriced in any way, what I am saying is that this stuff adds up real quick. And it’s kind of discouraging, and looking from a business standpoint, it’s not going to attract very many new customers and limits the amount of sabers current customers can afford to make.


I'll be, umm.... other there....
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_bolt.gif

It has an idle shimmer too.

For the idle hum... In his current sound document he details how to make the sounds "seamless". By editing the clash sound to have a bit of the idle hum in the beginning and shift over to the clash it will appear "seamless".

Now to the bash. :wink: You yourself listed the immense amounts of features you are getting with it. That's why I never feel bad about get Corbin's board, etc... Add to the fact Luxeons are duelable, you can get a cored look, etc. The added features make it worth it.

Feel better too. It's still cheaper than some systems. :wink: In my mind it's the same bucks, but a TON more BANG! :lol:

Firebird21
11-06-2006, 07:55 AM
...Now to the bash. :wink: You yourself listed the immense amounts of features you are getting with it. That's why I never feel bad about get Corbin's board, etc... Add to the fact Luxeons are duelable, you can get a cored look, etc. The added features make it worth it.

Feel better too. It's still cheaper than some systems. :wink: In my mind it's the same bucks, but a TON more BANG! :lol:

I whole heartedly agree with you that this S/B is worth more than the M/R's, but like I said, it's a blanket statement...

There are S/B's out there, that I will not name, that are not "Seamless" and cost just as much as buying a new MR FX. Others that don't like to talk to foreign technology so you are forced to buy all their stuff to have a properly working saber that totals to be about $200 just for electronics!

Ever since I saw that Tim's MR boards went out of stock this problem has been haunting me. I want decent sound for my saber, but I don't want it to cost just as much as it. That statement does not include those really neat set-ups that are wireless and butter your toast in the morning...


OK, I just found out what's bothering me about the whole thing... I want an Inexpensive, High Quality Sound Board for around $40 or less that doesn’t sound like crap. It doesn't need all the bells and whistles, but I think the typical On/Off, Hum, and Clash SFX should be standard.


I guess it boils down to Can someone fill in the gap between the Hasbro POS and the Top of the Line?

I don't mind paying extra for bells and whistles; I just don't like the fact that that's all there is out there. How many people don't want to be driving around in a Ford Festiva but can't afford to buy the Cadillac?

I can’t wait till erv’s done with his board, and if I can afford it I WILL get one for my MHS Luke, but I don’t feel that my Old School MHS is worthy of it, and the Hasbro is embarrassing!

xwingband
11-06-2006, 08:17 AM
I agree. I think Ultra's may bridge that gap. Probably won't have all the features of Erv's, but at least equal an MR on quality. I still like some of the stuff I can do with a hasbro though, and if I want Erv's can butter my toast in the morning. :lol:

Hopefully this what will come:
-Hasbro's with Corbin's are pretty versatile. I LIKE momentaries. The safety and only on when you press it is only possible with momentaries. Get rid of the clash sound on an Obi and it's pretty passable if mounted right.
-Ultra's middle of the road. Can handle good sound on LuxIII's to V's with very little icing on my cake. Slightly above the MR at least from what I hear because it will hande III's, V's and amperages for Red III's and K2's.
-Erv's can butter my toast. :lol:

It all fits brackets pretty well. $10-30 entry, $40-60 standard, and above $80+ butter my toast goodness. Sort of parallels the resistor, pucks, Corbin's ranges too.

Firebird21
11-06-2006, 08:37 AM
That is a good price range breakdown xwing.

SilentBob501
11-06-2006, 10:28 AM
I especially like the term "butter my toast." I think thats what erv should call his sound board. Buttered Toast!

Do-Clo
11-06-2006, 11:14 AM
The high end board should not only butter your toast but make coffee also. :)

erv
11-06-2006, 11:17 AM
yep I'm glad ultra is making a board as well, filling the gap is definitly useful ! Be sure I'm having a lot of consideration for any design effort : the fact that I'm interested in making a high end module is due to the fact that I'm an electronic designer, and I initially wanted more in my saber that what already existed. But I perfectly understand that price is also an issue :)
So, Firebird, your right, if you don't need extra features, but better than hasbro or MR, ultra version will be just perfect. I unfortunatly cannot make a 40$ board without kicking out most of my features (changeable sounds, easy setup etc).
About "seamless" aspect, I've been thru this since feb 2006, and that was my first effort cause I really wanted to have sound fx passing from one to another with no noticable gap.
I started by improving sample playback from my module with some on the fly buffering (a bit like ESP on portable CD players) so that looping sounds (hum) and transition (clash => hum, swing => hum) had no clic.
Then I made this simple application (downloadable from my website) so that you can mix your sounds with the hum in a simple way, without spending hours in cubase or logic audio. Name your sound files, start the program, start the hum sound, clic on the different swing and clash sounds, and you get a mix. Edit the resulting sound file to copy and paste mixed sounds, and save them as 22k / 8 bits sounds, there you are. And when you play them back, you can clearly here the hum during the clash or swing, giving the illusion that 2 sounds are played.
About activation method, xwing : my board might function also exactly the way you describe. Using a latching switch (a sliding one, like a MR) you get a permanent activation until you slide the switch off. Using a momentary button, you get the same except that you must maintain the pressure to keep the saber on.

I leave you there, my marmelade code option is still not finished in the firmware :lol: I'm also thinking of a bargraph to choose sugar and cream quantities for the coffee feature :wink:

Dregan
11-06-2006, 11:23 AM
Erv, when these come to market, sign me up for one or two... dozen. *drool*

Just one question - are you going to be able to drive a k2 off of this directly?

Darth_Dadderall
11-06-2006, 11:30 AM
So Erv, what kind of power pack are we talking to drive this thing? 6AA's, a 9V, or what?

james3
11-06-2006, 11:42 AM
I am guessing that would be up to what you are going to run.

Me, I am thinking 9 volts off of 3 Li-Ion rechargeables to spank out some sweet 5 watt blues and greens.

As for the staff thing well that just depends I reckon on what can be done. I have to admit that a 5 watt staff sounds pretty schmokin' :D

I know that the one I did for a buddy of mine friggin' rocked and that was just direct setup.

Firebird21
11-06-2006, 12:16 PM
The standard for that price range would only be the MR FX. Anything more would be considered High End, like your Kitchen Aid :wink:


I unfortunately cannot make a 40$ board without kicking out most of my features (changeable sounds, easy setup etc).

erv, I'm sure that you can make an "Economy" style board for that price range without any of those features. And with your attention to detail and your personable attitude I would guarantee that it would be one of the most sought after Sound Boards out there.

All I'm saying is that you appear to be one of the leading edge electronic designers in the world of Custom Sabers and you shouldn't rule anything out. Nor am I saying that you should halt production of this design, but rather when it is complete you may want to look into it.

erv
11-06-2006, 12:21 PM
power setup ? my new board will actually take less current than the sound + dimmer duo (okay, a few mA less), so the setup I've been using till now is still perfect to me. I use 4 AA 2500 or 2700 mAh battery pack I make. Despites nimh have a lower capacity than li ion, I'm keep those for the moment, since big capacity li ion cells requiere big hilt diameters. A pack of 4 AA "in line" (2+2 side by side, not 4 grouped together) goes in my 35 mm chrome tube, then the soundmodule + dimmer goes on top of this, and speaker just behind. Overall, the full system take about 13 or 14 cm long, resonant chamber included, plenty of space left for a switch and blademount.
I get 2 hours autonomy (@750 mA) with this setup, in continous operation with shimmering working, after that, I go in direct drive, shimmering stop but I get between 1 or 2 hours more of saber with sound, but a bit less bright, of course. We unfortunatly don't have li ion batteries in france yet, and shipping is often prohibiting for the moment. The 4 AA setup I'm using also explains why I initially design a very simple and very small luxeon module (3x2 cm) : it's working only in a limited range of voltage and was target to 4 or 5 AA cells or alkaline batteries.
About K2 ? yes, of course it will drive them. I've use my original dimmer in the obiwan ep I saber I made, it's a blue K2 running at 1A.

ah last thing : the world famous contest is open... "find a name to Plecter Labs Ultimate Luxeon Controller". Well, I don't want to bug this thread, maybe xwing will take my word and create a new topic for this. No kidding, the choosen name finder will win something, dunno what neither when, but you've got my word. In the meanwhile, if you find it funny, email or PM me your proposal :D
Erv'

erv
11-06-2006, 12:29 PM
erv, I'm sure that you can make an "Economy" style board for that price range without any of those features. And with your attention to detail and your personable attitude I would guarantee that it would be one of the most sought after Sound Boards out there.
All I'm saying is that you appear to be one of the leading edge electronic designers in the world of Custom Sabers and you shouldn't rule anything out. Nor am I saying that you should halt production of this design, but rather when it is complete you may want to look into it.

you're right, but in my case, this is just a question of "choice". Not choosing between economy & high end, this is just matter of time, daily job etc. I've started this sound module, now I'm getting into a production of a new one and assembling old modules for customer, I just can't do so many different boards alone, that's why I'm happy that ultra is getting into this too ! :D
But you're right, I' could make a board, just like a MR one, no programmable sounds etc. The only problem is configuration, sensitivity etc. Creating your own saber is also a matter of how you want the saber to behave. If I settle the sensitivity of the saber and threshold parameter, I will end up just like an MR which is motion activated as soon as you move a bit the hilt, just to be sure that it will react in any position / situation, and I'm afraid that people will be desapointed. but of course, if it's $40 compared to $100 then maybe sensitivity is not the main point... dunno, really... I'm too deep into my stuff, and I don't know so well what customers really expect from a sound board :roll:

james3
11-06-2006, 12:33 PM
I like Firebird am all for the "standard" sound board as an option. Good addon option to direct drive, pucks, and Corbin boards and that may be where Ultra's comes in sweet we will have to see.

But Erv's IS THE SNITZ! Let's not forget we are talkin' a DRIVER PLUS SOUND. That is good snitz no matter how you like your bread buttered.

I still think that it is a matter of time and MR will end up selling another large batch of stuff to dealers again. What else are they going to do with it?

james3
11-06-2006, 12:38 PM
....And yeah, I will second bob's nomination of "Buttered Toast"

Firebird21
11-06-2006, 12:53 PM
What, you don't like my Kitchen Aid? lol


erv, as I see it, your sound board is going to be the Cadillac of all Sound Boards! If you don't want to delve into the Mid-range that is perfectly allright with me.

I just hope someone will put one on the market soon. It doesn't even have to run an LED as far as I'm concerned, just as long as it sounds at least as good as the MR.


Keep us updated erv! I think we're all getting gitty over it!
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_crazyjump.gif

BTW: Can you get a video out soon? I'd love to see this thing in all its glory. :D

xwingband
11-06-2006, 01:37 PM
lol, a contest for naming it! I like that. Perhaps we should all go over to his forum www.plecterlabs.com

Have the translator handy. :) We need to let the people on the other side of the pond in on it too.

james3
11-06-2006, 02:54 PM
Not a bad idea.

Just one thing though...

I have a hard enough time typing in English, I have no clue how to type in French! :P

erv
11-06-2006, 02:58 PM
G' idea Xwing, I can for sure host this subject, that's so logical :D
here we go gentlemen, contest is opened
here (http://www.plecterlabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68)

Erv'

erv
11-06-2006, 03:05 PM
don't worry James, like most of my website, the thread was created for both languages. Most of us also read and write english, so feel free to post on my forums !
Erv'

Firebird21
11-06-2006, 03:17 PM
Crap, your videos don't want to play on my 'puter, it's just sound. :evil:

Lord Maul
11-06-2006, 03:35 PM
Holy Snitz :shock:
i'm gone for what, 8 hours and this thread grows 2 pages!
impressive work guys 8)

987654321a
11-06-2006, 04:04 PM
Crap, your videos don't want to play on my 'puter, it's just sound. :evil:

download divx, it will work once you download it.

xwingband
11-06-2006, 04:08 PM
don't worry James, like most of my website, the thread was created for both languages. Most of us also read and write english, so feel free to post on my forums !
Erv'

Yup, most of the french speakers have come over here to see all of the fun we are having so I don't think it's an issue at all.

I use a translator program when I want to read his forum. Sometimes the translations are wonky, but understandable.

james3
11-06-2006, 05:47 PM
WOO HOO!!

Pyle is rambling, Erv has got us hooked up and xwing has once again managed to slip in the wonky. :P

This is good stuff.

Videos? where da videos?

erv
11-07-2006, 01:48 AM
I think he's refering to the small teaser I've made. Check the saber section of the site. There are also videos here and there in the news articles of the front pages, and in the archives. They are all DivX. I also have to think about putting those on youtube as well, also to reduce traffic of my website.
Erv'

james3
11-07-2006, 10:56 AM
Well that is what I get for going straight to the components on your site and not browsing. :oops:

Firebird21
11-07-2006, 01:12 PM
Gee... I really wish I had erv's Sound Board right about now....







http://www.yankeetoys.org/lee/ButteredToast.jpg

ryanlb
11-07-2006, 02:24 PM
http://www.yankeetoys.org/lee/ButteredToast.jpg

Hehe. :lol:

xwingband
11-07-2006, 03:08 PM
Gee... I really wish I had erv's Sound Board right about now....


So why isn't this in the calender thread? :lol:

Firebird21
11-07-2006, 03:10 PM
So why isn't this in the calender thread? :lol:


It will be in 30sec.

james3
11-07-2006, 03:12 PM
:shock:

Firebird! Dude!

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_bow.gif

Firebird21
11-07-2006, 05:49 PM
:shock:

Firebird! Dude!

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_bow.gif

I thought you'd like that... lol

erv
11-08-2006, 12:51 PM
VEEEEEEEEEEEEEERY good ! I love it...
Hey gentlemen, pyjama parties are over, now it's called saber n' toast parties :lol:
concrete news : I went backward on my luxeon driver, added a few transistors, but now, I need a break : I've spent 5 hours on it and still haven't the exact behavior I'd like, that's to say a constant ignition ramp for the led brightness whatever the voltage is between 4 and 10V. Almost done anyway, it's just a tiny detail, I want this ramp to be smooth, perfect, and same duration than the sound while the batt are getting down. Would be simple if electronics, LED and step down converters would be linear, but that's not the case...
So, I went back to my optimization maths books, and I'm putting all of those in equations. But for know, I just have a headache :roll:
I think I'll also export the parameters of the ramp, just in case someone would like to mod it for getting special behavior of the blade. As the rest of my setup, it will be a simple param to change on the SD card. Retractation effect is working perfectly.
Back to the whiteboard, it should be finished by tomorrow. Then I'll have the energy shimmering and clash effect to implement in the firmware (much easier to do), and the new board will be finished !

james3
11-08-2006, 01:02 PM
Oh heck yeah! So this is going to be like in time for the Holidays thing?

GFORCE13
11-08-2006, 11:16 PM
Oh heck yeah! So this is going to be like in time for the Holidays thing?


Wow that would be great, I know what I am asking Santa for this year. :lol:

Tenric Starkindler
11-08-2006, 11:39 PM
Oh heck yeah! So this is going to be like in time for the Holidays thing?


Wow that would be great, I know what I am asking Santa for this year. :lol:


just buy it and send Santa the bill....!! :lol: :wink:

SaberSentinel
11-09-2006, 09:29 AM
Do you know what the board's final dimensions will be?

erv
11-10-2006, 09:57 AM
Maybe the dimensions will change a little bit, but for now, my prototype is 64x27 mm including the SD card (slightly stinging out of the board so that you can take it).
I might succeed in having it 1 or 2 mm shorter. Width is imposed by the SD card holder (I know, mini and micro SD exist, but no one is wishing for the moment to pay 25 euros more just to get it smaller :lol: )

Some updates : It was worth blackening (don't know if this word is correct...) 2 sheets of paper with calculations. I ended up with an automated dimming curve control using only 2 parameters.
The 2 values are setup in the SD card, and I've just finished trimming 4 sets of parameters to go with the following configurations :
7.4V / 1A
7.4V / 750 mA
5V / 1A
5V / 750 mA

at 7.4 v the ignition ramp stay constant in shape till roughly 5.5V, plenty of autonomy. The dimmer shows a little quick increase of brightness at the end of the ramp when the power supply voltage is < 4.5V, when you get really close to the forward voltage of the LED. This threshold is lower for a red or red orange led.
This did not happen on my previous luxeon driver cause there was no timeline in it : now the system tries to get a nice ignition brightness ramp, synchronized with the duration of the power on sound and constant over a range of supply voltage. The previous version was simply doing a little increment on the brightness control along a fixed duration. Depending where the increment stopped (ie when the desired current was reached) the ramp stopped, hence with a variable duration depending on the batteries state.
LED current was also put as a parameter on the SD card. Remaining tasks are now :
- motor force feedback
- energy shimmering effect to re implement

I'll post a video after that.
Erv'

Firebird21
11-10-2006, 10:01 AM
What's the ID of the ribbed section in millimeters? Anyone? Bueller?

I left my metric micrometer in my other pair of pants :cry:


Edit: Any update on a projected ETA and/or Cost? And, if this is appropriate, (if not ignore me) are you going to offer these threw Tim?

xwingband
11-10-2006, 10:05 AM
25.4mm is an inch... so slightly over an inch. :D

Firebird21
11-10-2006, 10:08 AM
25.4mm is an inch... so slightly over an inch. :D



I knew that...



Well I should have at least.... http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_grr.gif


This is good news. I will have plenty of room in my hilt for it then.

Darth_Dadderall
11-10-2006, 10:31 AM
That will be an important feature; making sure that it fits in the MHS system without problems. I think I shorted my Corbin board like a rank n00b trying to fit it in the ribbed section. >.< Now it's direct drive for me until this job drops. Oh, well. This will give me time to work on my hilt properly. Patience.
We Sith do not do "patience" well.

erv
11-10-2006, 10:46 AM
about cost and availability : this thing will be accessible worldwide, and if can afford a bulk manufacturing with an acceptable end price, I'll probably sell it thru local retailers to minimize shipping cost and improve accessibility :D
I have a simple MHS setup at home : let me check
mmm... ID is about 30 mm, 3 mm smaller than my chromed tube. The module gets in without a problem. However, I tried, but I cannot have my AA pack (2+2) + the luxeon controller on top of it shoved in. Would actually have been the same with my previous design, width did not change. But guess a setup of 2 shorts Li ion will leave enough space at the back of the saber. Topology will then be from pommel to emitter :
- pommel + speaker
- module, SD card accessible
- batteries
- switch
- luxeon

Another topology with 4 AA pack is
- pommel
- module half sitting on the pack : the sd card holder uses only half of the board behind it, so the rest of the board is less thick.
I've tried it, this works as well.

Firebird21
11-10-2006, 10:56 AM
Yay, more good news! http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_party.gif

gstealer
11-10-2006, 11:02 AM
Sounds sweet.

Can't wait for price/ availability

erv
11-11-2006, 08:37 AM
Tim : I was wondering if you've tried an implementation of the sample I sent you in an MHS setup, with AA or Li ion. It would be nice to know if it's doable. That's now or never, after I start the production it will be too late. The new module is actually smaller in length than the old setup. Ah : other good news, I've tested my old setup (electronic duo) and it works at 7.4v :-)
(just for those who were wondering)
Let us know, Tim !
Erv'

erv
11-11-2006, 11:16 AM
mmm, pretty cool, the energy shimmering / candle effect was re implemented and improved within 2 hours :shock:
My saber module is close now to a real time operating system :roll:
Instead of choosing a mode among 7 possibilities, I decided to offer the two shimmering parameter, i.e. speed (rate) and depth, just like on a flanger or chorus guitar effect.
Speed is usable between 0 (static) and 10, but strange effect like a damaged saber can be provided with higher values. Depth is adjustable between 0 and 300, or so.
Just choose the effect you like :D
Back to force feedback motor... but first a little break...
Erv'

SilentBob501
11-11-2006, 11:36 AM
Wow man I have no idea what your talking about, but I like it.

Firebird21
11-11-2006, 11:44 AM
What erv said...



http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_mouthwater.gif



You know... I can test that thing for you too... :mrgreen:

xwingband
11-11-2006, 12:06 PM
lol, yes! I like what I hear too.

Maybe this would explain the shimmer better:
-To get a "damaged" saber effect you could go for a low frequence and increase the depth of it. That'd produce a larger spike of a out of sync saber.
-Slow frequency and low depth would be a slow "heartbeat of the saber"
-etc...

Man... I'm going to need to come up with a hilt for one of these bad boys. :D

Looks like Firebird is going for best Luke "Hero" ROTJ saber... Mayhaps I can shoot for the best V2 ROTJ?

erv
11-11-2006, 12:18 PM
perfect explanation from Xwing!
I'll add that it's difficult to speak about a real "heat beat", since it's not a pulsing effect, but more a specific random variation on the selected LED current. It reminded me the way fake candle lights (small electric bulbs shaped as a flame, I'm sure you've seen this) behave, so I also called it a candle effect. This random variation make the blade more "alive" and it's pretty close to the aspect of the blade in the trilogy.
Low freq, high depth : damaged
high freq, low depth : shy effect, but noticable
low freq, low depth : depends on the value, but look quite unatural, like a bad electric contact on your flashlight that randomly comes back.
more than 10 speeds and 300 depth, it goes to 3000 configurations, lots of fun to explore :wink:

Strydur
11-11-2006, 01:08 PM
There is more than enough room to fit it even inside a ribbed section.

erv
11-11-2006, 02:13 PM
I'm sure you've tested, but have you taken in count the thickness of the module ? If you can do a kind of "simulation", the module fits in a rectangular volume 27x64x10 mm (wxlxh). What should be carefully considered is that the modume must be rear placed in the saber to get the best result for the movement analysis and detection.
Well, in the worst case, when the module cannot be totally on top of a battery pack, it take about 11 cm long for a 4 AA pack + 64 mm = 17.4 cm. I'm sure there are some space left for the luxeon holder.
If it's half sitting, it take then 14.4 cm while the MHS hilt I have has an overall 17.8 cm. Minus the threaded area, it goes down to 14.8cm. Not a lot of space for the speaker, but I guess it's still possible. I'd say that the hilt I've sampled from TCSS is probably a bit short by itself (I just took random parts to make a padawan saber), the total length is 24.5 cm. Shorter than a graflex. So I guess that customers often use an extension for an "adult" saber, and in this case, with at least 1" more, absolutly no problem about fitting my module, and batteries. Generally I make saber that are 26 or 28 cm long minimum, like a graflex (about 10.2").

Firebird21
11-11-2006, 02:47 PM
Looks like Firebird is going for best Luke "Hero" ROTJ saber...



I'm trying too, but I've got the wrong emitter I think, I havn't seen a decent photo of the real thing since I realized this, but I like this one better anyways. So I'm not going to worry too much about it.

james3
11-12-2006, 06:37 AM
I want the Buttered Toast for my personal staff so I have LOTS of ROOM!!!!

"...Oh happy day..."

erv
11-14-2006, 03:20 PM
Hi Folks,
it seems I have some good news : I've tried tonigh the force feedback motor ! I had an idea at work, took 5 minutes to redesign what I've initially though for interfacing the motor... and removed everything. I found a simple and very efficient way to connect the F-feedback motor with just a resistor, and it still follows power on, off, idle, clash etc. Not to say that the vibration remains the same amplitude over the whole range of the batteries voltage :D
So... well.. il will cost virtually nothing to add the motor to my board, just 3 solders to make and an inexpensive 20 to 27 ohm resistor (for corbin's motor, the only one I have for the moment).
I still have to implement the clash effect back on my new board, it should be done in 15' but I've been working for customers.
I asked for the quote of manufacturing my module this morning, I expect to have some news in a few days, and delay as well.
Ah : the "best"... I might be commission with my sabers for a short shooting on a french TV with an actor as obiwan training an olympic sword champion costumed as princess leia. I'm sure it's going to be fun ! :D

james3
11-14-2006, 03:34 PM
That's awesome Erv.
You have got to get that on the site or yourtube as soon as possible when that happens.

As for the Buttered Toast, I can't wait. Your new deal ranks right up their with my long awaited Hyper-Firm E-11!

erv
11-15-2006, 01:51 PM
more good news : clash visual effect is back, took about 1 hour, and motor is following it. It has a lot of inertia, normal for a mechanical device, so it does not reproduces the fast changes of light, but you can feel it anyway.
I have another goodies in preparation : what you guys would think about an additionnal button to trigger a brightness quick change (like a clash but shorter) + playing a blaster blocking sound ??? :wink:
giving Ceasar back his property : this is corbin's idea, at least in the concept, as described as the possible use of the the clash button on his luxeon driver board. But I don't think it's been implemented as a separate function from the clash, with the appropriate sound... :shock:
and TV time is confirmed ! We'll shoot next monday :o
All I now have to do is checking the firmware and test it in real conditions, inside a saber to check the default sensitivity parameters, which normally remains the same as on my sound board. I must also try dumb values just to check it does not bug. Then I'll make another PCB and make a second prototype with what should be the final version of the board, and I hope in the meanwhile I'll have an answer for my bulk manufacturing.
When the second proto is there, I'll make a little video of it.

Dregan
11-15-2006, 02:00 PM
Hey Erv, not to turn the discussion back a page or three, but I have a question about your lockup sensor.

You mentioned that it's only on one place in the blade holder. Does that mean it's only sensative to one direction of lockup? If so, is it possible to add maybe 2 more switches in parallel which all run back to the same port on the board and then place them at about 120* intervals inside the emitter, allowing for 360* of lockup sense.


Just curious.

erv
11-15-2006, 02:35 PM
No problem getting back to this subject Dregan. You're right, more sensors would help to get a sensitivity in several direction.
Several things to be discussed :
- first, it would be soooooooo simple to use switches :wink: This is not the case for my design, as next point explains
- the blade mount is not supposed to move in the hilt. Neither the blade. What I'm measuring is mechanical stress between the hilt and the blade mount, which is a bending converted into pressure, and analysed as continuous voltage. The "movement" (if we can call it like this) is < 0.5 mm
- Adding more of those sensors is theoritically possible, all in parallel to get a uniform deviation whatever the direction of the bending is. This is actually when I setup the sensor inside the blademount to measure the mechanical stress with the blade. This sensor was 360°, but unfortunaly did not give enough sensitivity. It would have been different with a non detachable blade, it would have worked in this case, with the blade inserted with force to get the proper contact with the sensor.
- making more measurement zones on the blade mount creates weaknesses on it and decrease the contact area with the hilt. You get mechanical stress info because your blade mount is moving, but it's not good at all for a fight !

so for the moment, despite I've shown it's possible (that's also what I wanted to do :roll: ), it's not reliable enough to get a "retail" version of it. I still have to work on this to make it available ! I have another topology for the sensor placement, and this time it could be 360° or close to it.

xwingband
11-15-2006, 04:52 PM
Ooo... I've always wanted to hear about what you do for a living ever since I heard you doing something with a cello bow and some musical conference.

I so remember reading about that technique in the International Trumpet Guild Journal too! They were using it to measure pressure players used while playing throughout their entire range. It was interesting results, which is why it stands out in my memory.

Great to hear all of the little things!

erv
11-15-2006, 10:37 PM
So far I'm doing R&D in a research institute about acoustic and music. This is a place where we try to have reseach and musical creation combined so that research can feed music and conversely (would be so nice if it worked easy :lol: ). We've made a transparent mouthpiece for trumpet to get the pressure at the lips, that kind of design. I'm currently working on variable volume clarinette mouthpiece to make glissendi on it. Foot or computer control (the player must be carefull with his teeth :roll:). I'll be in the States in april at Brown University, close to Providence if I'm right, and maybe in NYC in June or end of may for a conference. But that's enough about me and my work, I would like this thread to turn into a "mug" one :wink:

james3
11-16-2006, 07:32 AM
No worries erv, we actually are interested. Heck right now I think this IS the best topic going.

And a "blaster blocking" button would be VERY cool. :wink:

erv
11-17-2006, 12:54 PM
The blaster thing is up and running ! :twisted:
Triggering the blaster sound is done by simply shorting two wires. You must release the connection to be able to start another blaster sound. A simple momentary button can do it. For now, the blaster sound is unique. Since it's not a recurrent feature in the saber, I'm not going to add more and more blaster sounds, I keep on a single sound. But of course, using a different sound font, you change the whole sound design of the saber, blaster included.
I still have to setup a few things for the manufacturing process, the compagny I've contacted need it to make the quotation. I also must go into a user's manual writing : my board has now 25 parameters with at least 20 the user might act on, and this should be properly documented.
I'll include a "quality oriented" proposal for each parameter, just like Xwing was speaking about the "pulsing effect" a page or 2 backward :
- parameter xx : [description] - [boundaries 1-50] - value of 10 gives this effect. 45 will give this other effect.

erv
11-23-2006, 01:20 AM
More good news,
I've found a clever and simple way to add a low battey indicator on the new module. The good point is that it's current oriented, not voltage oriented. Not as good looking as my bargraph which has a scrolling effect at power up and power down, but very pratical to know that you should recharge the saber. Better : it's independant from the power supply voltage and independent from the LED type/color. It will be a blinking LED when the saber is discharged.
I'm still waiting now for the manufacturing compagny, I'll keep you posted.
Erv'

Firebird21
11-23-2006, 08:00 AM
More good news,
It will fix you a cup of coffee too!


Sweet!


http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_morning.gif

Ryma Mara
11-26-2006, 07:34 PM
man I can't wait for this thing.

vortextwist
11-26-2006, 07:36 PM
man I can't wait for this thing.

erv
11-27-2006, 01:02 PM
whoa... previous post was... impressive...
anyway,
I got the blaster + visual effect working tonight, and I found another trick in conjuction with the force feedback motor to be wired on my new module ! wiring a little LED the same way, in // with the motor, with the appropriate resistor, and you get a power on light on the sabre, with no work !
Not to say that the LED follows the ramp up and retractation effect of the luxeon, and the clash shimmering effect as well,
perfectly coherent since when you hit an object with the blade, the energy variation affects the blade but the "crystal monitoring" light as well, that's the whole saber which is reacting. This allow to have for instance a little LED inserted into a push on push off button for an impressive effect.
I'll add the schematic in the user's manual soon, but first I have to finish writing the latter.
Erv'

jjshumpert
11-27-2006, 01:06 PM
this is all fine and good erv, but quit teasing us man, where is the new toy? WE WANNA PLAY!!!! :D

Firebird21
11-27-2006, 02:04 PM
this is all fine and good erv, but quit teasing us man, where is the new toy? WE WANNA PLAY!!!! :D


Yeah! My toast is getting cold!

http://www.yankeetoys.org/lee/ButteredToast.jpg

erv
11-27-2006, 02:12 PM
this is all fine and good erv, but quit teasing us man, where is the new toy? WE WANNA PLAY!!!! :D

still waiting the quote from the manufacturing compagny, I'm also impatient !
Erv'

jjshumpert
11-27-2006, 04:16 PM
impatient? youve got the prototype, i dont wanna hear your impatient...

all i wanna hear is "hey guys, my chip is ready for sale for the low low price of 56.99! get em while they're hot!!!!" :D

james3
11-27-2006, 06:11 PM
Awesome! I too am excited about some toasty goodness.

So maybe we need to slam the manufacture with emails to tell them to get er done!

I am pretty sure we are all excited.

Jonitus
11-27-2006, 09:39 PM
This custom sound board has me all kinds of excited. My girlfriend (who I am turning into a full-fledged geek with each passing day), made me promise not to do the two Graflex-based sabers UNTIL Erv's new sound board is complete. She's read the thread, and the features advertised have her (and me) salivating at the thought.

erv
11-27-2006, 10:24 PM
mmmm, jonitus, a big responsability, I have,
meditate on the manufacturing process I must :wink:
Seriously, be sure I'm doing all I can to get those boards. I'm still worried about the price they're gonna ask me for manufacturing, but if the price is correct, then I'll start the bulk immediatly. I'm going to write them today to get some news. My plan is to keep this below 100 euros ($128). This would be $32 cheaper than the current pack dimmer + sound module.
It cannot be something like $60 when a luxeon dimmer board is already $40.
Back to breakfast, my toasts are getting cold as well :wink:
cheers,
Erv'

erv
11-30-2006, 02:25 PM
got the manufacturing compagny, quote is being made. I've checked with the engineers who are reviewing my PCB desing, so far things are going well.
Added a nice feature, despite it's not "visible" : some latching switches are normally closed, or some are sometimes better to use in reverse (realease it to activate the saber) but often single pole. I've then added a software configuration to select if you want to activate the saber by closing a switch or opening it.
I've also worked on my low batt indicator :
- flashing will have a "tolerance" threshold, to decide whereas you want it to blink as soon as the desired current is not respected, or if you accept to go lower because the brightness is still acceptable to you. One more parameter on the SD card
- flashing will increase in speed when the batteries continue decreasing.

question : do you think it's better to have the flashing quicker when batt are getting low, or the opposite ? Usually, when you have a radar with sound, the beat is low when you are far from the point, but which point to consider ? dead batteries, or fresh ones ?

now I have so many parameters that I must rewrite my parsing routine to be able to scan a config file larger than 512 bytes ! :twisted:

Erv'

Ryma Mara
11-30-2006, 02:29 PM
tink you could have it as the light is fery dim or not on when the battaries are fresh and when they are low and going to dead the light will et brighter.

Jonitus
11-30-2006, 02:33 PM
I think the low battery indicator would best serve by flashing slowly once the "low battery" threshold has been reached, then progressively get faster as the batteries became more and more depleted.

Are you going to write up a tutorial or instructions of some sort so we're not "flying blind" when it comes to customizing the config files on the SD cards? Also, what format will the sound files need to be in? I have a folder that is about 40MB of .mp3 sounds sampled from movies, etc. of lightsabers. Will I need to convert them to something simple like .wav? 8 bit? 16 bit? 44100khz?

xwingband
11-30-2006, 02:49 PM
I think the low battery indicator would best serve by flashing slowly once the "low battery" threshold has been reached, then progressively get faster as the batteries became more and more depleted.

Are you going to write up a tutorial or instructions of some sort so we're not "flying blind" when it comes to customizing the config files on the SD cards? Also, what format will the sound files need to be in? I have a folder that is about 40MB of .mp3 sounds sampled from movies, etc. of lightsabers. Will I need to convert them to something simple like .wav? 8 bit? 16 bit? 44100khz?

He already does have one... it's at his site under the documentation. Obviously the new features will have to be added, but I assume stuff like the sound editing will be exactly the same.

I agree with your battery idea. Perhaps a solid tone at the lowest threshold. I wonder if I'd ever have a use for all these LED extra's and stuff though.

Firebird21
11-30-2006, 02:59 PM
I wonder if I'd ever have a use for all these LED extra's and stuff though.


Who cares! :D I have a lot of stuff I don't need, but it's cool!

Besides, it's the ultimate customizable driver/SB.

jjshumpert
11-30-2006, 03:26 PM
im with fb, for the ultimate driver/sound who cares if there are a ton of features you never use for a price of 150 bucks, ill pay it for a card that will run any led i throw at it and fit into almost any hilt i can design

Darth_Dadderall
11-30-2006, 04:17 PM
I think your logic is sound, erv, with the flashing LO BATT getting faster the closer you get to dead. Another alternative might be to write a subroutine that uses the speaker as an audible alert, with a "beep" instead of a light. For some reason when I was reading your descrip of the function, all I could think about was a flatlining heart monitor, "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep"

Firebird21
11-30-2006, 04:25 PM
...that uses the speaker as an audible alert, with a "beep" instead of a light. For some reason when I was reading your descrip of the function, all I could think about was a flatlining heart monitor, "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep"



Oh god that sound's annoying... If you do that please make it optional.


Vader, "What's that noise?"
Luke, "Oh, that's just my saber fibrillating..."

xwingband
11-30-2006, 04:35 PM
...that uses the speaker as an audible alert, with a "beep" instead of a light. For some reason when I was reading your descrip of the function, all I could think about was a flatlining heart monitor, "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep"



Oh god that sound's annoying... If you do that please make it optional.


Vader, "What's that noise?"
Luke, "Oh, that's just my saber fibrillating..."

That's what I though of with the LED. It HAS to be annoying or at least attention getting. It's telling you to charge the darn battery. :P

Darth_Dadderall
11-30-2006, 04:38 PM
The really alarming thing would be when you suddenly can't hear it anymore.
*eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :evil:
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee---............. :shock:

james3
11-30-2006, 07:17 PM
Great use of smilies there DD. I can just see one of us doing exactly that.

I am with the group, flash faster as it goes down and if it could be solid at dead even better.

And yeah, I either do the bare bones dualing saber or the MacDaddy give me all the goodies deal. Erv buddy, if it is on there I want to hook it up. This thing is going to be in my staff so I want every bit of toasty goodness that I can get.

ROCK ON!!!

erv
12-01-2006, 01:30 AM
ok then, let's go for the faster blinking while the batteries are depleted. And then static low batt indicator when it's really low.
I've actually though about playing a soundfile from the SD to say "LOW BATT", but of course that's pretty annoying (even it's funny to experiment).
About tutorials and documentations, Xwing has sum it up, as usual. I just would like to add as a general remark that I'm still puzzled about this kind of question while I have the proper section on my website (no offense, but I'm a bit tired of it). There will be a complete manual for this board, I'm finishing writing it in french, then I'll translate it to english. It's currently 20 page long, and it's partly the mix between the luxeon dimmer board manual and the sound module one, plus all the extra and new wiring diagrams.
News soon,
ERv'

Dregan
12-01-2006, 10:41 AM
20 pages? EEP!

erv
12-01-2006, 11:38 AM
yep, almost ! :roll: It includes how-to's for making you own sound and converting them to the right format for the SD card, details all the setup parameters of the config file. Takes some words to explain all this, especially because I prefer giving explanations from the big pictures, not just a short thing.
blinking low batt indicator finished, took me 5 min to get the increasing blinking speed. It does not go static, but ends very fast, enough to really get the idea that it's the real moment to recharge :-)
Erv'

Jonitus
12-01-2006, 12:08 PM
Sorry for the quip about the documentation. I did not mean it as a snide remark. Your site has very good documentation (for that of it in English), and I'm sure your new module will be just as well documented.

As an aside...where did you get the sounds you use in the existing module? The sound files I have sound NOTHING like those, and the majority of them are just pitch and tone differentials of existing sounds.

Back on topic...the low battery indicator sounds like a great feature. I know for certain what my income tax refund is getting spent on!

erv
12-03-2006, 12:34 PM
no problem Jonitus, I did not take it as a nasty remark, this is just how the wolds goes by :lol:
Good news from the week end, I continued working on adding new features on my module, among differents things, cause I'm also making a new saber.
Now I have a blade lockup mode (sound + light) activated by the same button than the blaster blocking one. I decided to have only one extra button, the saber is not a TV remote control... :roll:
So, in the config file, the user select if he wishes to have the button control the blade lockup effect or the blaster blocking effect. Single pressures (+release) of the button trigger the blaster effect, while maintaining down the button in lockup mode will sustain the effect as long as the button is pressed.
I tried to go thru increasing my config file to 1024 bytes, but fragmentation produces stranges things when the file is directly edited on the SD (FAT sucks, but NFTS is not implemented on memory cards). Anyway, I went back to a 512 byte config file (max) and removed a few comments, the file is now about 400 bytes, so, plenty of potential new parameters to be added :wink:
Now I must finish my customer saber to have a real thing in my hand and do hard testing of this new code with different sets of parameters !

JediMcD
12-05-2006, 09:37 AM
Erv I believe I can speak for everyone here when I say YOU ARE THE MAN. This board will be the got to have item when it comes out. It will be like the release of the playstation 3. We all will be waiting in line. I hope it doesn't get violent on the release date. :lol:

This board sounds great. I can't wait to get one to try out. This will open up a lot of options for us. Thanks for your work on it.

james3
12-05-2006, 09:59 AM
This board will be the got to have item when it comes out. It will be like the release of the playstation 3. We all will be waiting in line. I hope it doesn't get violent on the release date.


http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_drunkard.gif

This is more like it for our bunch McD. :wink:

Darth_Dadderall
12-05-2006, 02:45 PM
I'll be the DD (Designated Driver)
Wait.... I AM the DD!
:lol:

jjshumpert
12-05-2006, 02:57 PM
and i will be the designated drunk, runnin around slurrin and takin swings at ppl with a saber... sounds like my idea of a good time :twisted:

Lord Maul
12-05-2006, 04:02 PM
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_drunkard.gif

This is more like it for our bunch McD. :wink:

:cry: i can't drink yet :cry:

james3
12-05-2006, 04:05 PM
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_drunkard.gif

This is more like it for our bunch McD. :wink:

:cry: i can't drink yet :cry:

HAHHAHHAHAHHA!

I have bottles of rum older then you bud. :lol:

Lord Maul
12-05-2006, 04:07 PM
ya don't have to be so mean about it :cry:

james3
12-05-2006, 04:12 PM
Look at it this way, your not losing any brain cells. :wink:

Lord Maul
12-05-2006, 04:13 PM
but if i look at it another way then i realize that i am missin out on a great time

vortextwist
12-05-2006, 04:15 PM
Also depends on which end of it your on. The prayin to the porcelin god side or watching the guy praying to the porcelin god.

Jedi Belinos
12-05-2006, 04:15 PM
the best times i have had around alcohol is when I was the sober one watching everybody else acting stupid.

james3
12-05-2006, 04:18 PM
the best times i have had around alcohol is when I was the sober one watching everybody else acting stupid.

Yep, it is amazing how much of a good time we think we are having.

Darth_Dadderall
12-05-2006, 04:19 PM
That's a big roger-dodger, Belinos. I love being sober around drunk people. It's very very entertaining, and if anyone gets violent, I have full reflexes and coordination to dump them on their drunken ass.

Darth_Dadderall
12-07-2006, 10:42 AM
Okay, now we've successfully derailed this thread...
Erv, any news today? Think these'll be ready by Christmas?
Is Father Noel going to leave buttered toast in my stocking?

jjshumpert
12-07-2006, 10:47 AM
oh yes please, buttered toast for all the good boys and girls in their stockings!

xwingband
12-07-2006, 11:10 AM
I don't know about all of you but my wallet is going to :cry: .

"Santa" doesn't have the presence of mind to buy saber stuff for me so I have to buy it myself hoping they give me the money for christmas. Or I pinch the pennies... I already have three MR's, 2 Corbin boards, half dozen hasbro's, etc... and I need hilts to put them in. :cry:

With Erv's and Ultra's coming I wantee so bad... It's half :cry: and :D so that I'm :?

Darth_Dadderall
12-07-2006, 04:21 PM
So X, you never did say what the deal was with Blue Squadron.

Lord Maul
12-07-2006, 04:26 PM
he needs more applicants before he bothers to update it

Darth_Dadderall
12-07-2006, 04:31 PM
Thanks, Pyle, now go get me a Dr. Pepper.
Xwing? Care to join in?

Lord Maul
12-07-2006, 05:00 PM
location updated :D
and quit callin me private pyle, pvt. pyle, and pyle already :x

darthdan
12-07-2006, 10:45 PM
Maybe I missed something... what does Ultra have coming out?

Ryma Mara
12-07-2006, 10:58 PM
driver board with sound from what I understand.

Dregan
12-08-2006, 09:33 AM
I haven't seen anything other than ruminations on another board, tho. until I see it produced and priced, I still want my Buttered Toast...

xwingband
12-08-2006, 09:53 AM
Ultra is making one, but this has been Erv's thread for a while... so no derailling.

Firebird21
12-08-2006, 01:32 PM
derailling.



Yes?

xwingband
12-08-2006, 01:36 PM
derailling.



Yes?

No. :P

james3
12-08-2006, 01:36 PM
huh?

Firebird21
12-08-2006, 01:56 PM
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_roflmfao.gif



Well that was fun.

james3
12-08-2006, 01:59 PM
Just a little anyway

What
12-08-2006, 02:49 PM
WHAT? :?

vortextwist
12-08-2006, 03:35 PM
So X, you never did say what the deal was with Blue Squadron.

I like blue. :D

Darth_Dadderall
12-08-2006, 03:40 PM
I like A-Wings. Hey, Xwing, sign me up for Blue Squadron.

vortextwist
12-08-2006, 04:00 PM
Me to please, I will get you a Dr. Pepper. :D

Darth_Dadderall
12-08-2006, 04:06 PM
You'll have to fight Pyle for the privilege.

vortextwist
12-08-2006, 04:08 PM
I don't want to take his job away,(god knows he's more than qualified) just want to assist in getting xwing a Dr. Pepper for a favor.

Lord Maul
12-08-2006, 05:20 PM
Me to please, I will get you a Dr. Pepper. :D

BAD BOY!!
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_whipped.gif

I am the unofficial Dr. Pepper fetcher!! NEVER try and steal my buisness :twisted:
if xwing wants a Dr.Pepper then I am the one to get it. NOT YOU!
p.s. i am not really mad, just don't try to steal my buisness from now on

Firebird21
12-08-2006, 05:29 PM
Maul, there's something on your nose...



And it's brown. :lol:

james3
12-08-2006, 05:40 PM
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrinsanta.gif

Maul has certainly earned his spot so I won't give em to much snitz for protectin his turf.

Lord Maul
12-08-2006, 05:54 PM
yay!
james don't dislike/flame/give me crap about everything me anymore!http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_danceball.gif
firebird though, he's somethin else :D

EDIT- fixed my spelling for vortex :D

vortextwist
12-08-2006, 06:33 PM
yay!
james don't dislike/flame/give me crap bought everything me anymore!http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_danceball.gif
firebird though, he's somethin else :D

Man I had to read it like 6 times to figure out what you said. You forgot the (A) and added an (GH) in about.

987654321a
12-08-2006, 06:46 PM
he was tryin to say it in slang

vortextwist
12-08-2006, 06:46 PM
not very good at reading slang when it's spelled wrong.

Darth_Dadderall
12-08-2006, 07:46 PM
Vortex is right. That's not slang, that's just bad spelling.
Bought: Past tense of buy.
'bout: contraction (actually an elidation) of "about."

/Grammar heil.

erv
12-09-2006, 11:37 AM
gosh, I spend 2 days in my garage, and you guys fill up 2 billions of posts in this thread
lol :lol:
ok, some more news. The module can be produced for a reasonnable price. I first will make a prototype done by the compagny, I just can't afford to have 100 boards with a bad oriented polarized capacitor just because someone at the compagny made a mistake in the placement program. The proto itself will take 2 to 3 weeks to be manufactured, I'll start this in the middle of next week. The serie of 100 boards will take 5 weeks. Then I have to finish wiring them, program, test, and ship to a potential retailer / distributer. This takes time, I hope you understand. Actually it's pretty short, cause I started the new board a month and a half ago, I've almost finished translating the manual in english (21 pages) and started a mass manufacturing.

But in the meanwhile, I'll have a bunch of PCBs to assemble myself by the end of december, so if some of you guys are in a hurry, I can make a few boards as "pre serie" and ship them from here.

I've spend the last 2 days working on a maquette saber, to be sure that once in the hilt, the motion recognition algorithms work well, cause I've changed a few things. I've been pretty scared cause I had some double triggering and false matching. I found out why : my module was analysing... too fast :lol: I've slowed it down a bit, now everything is back to normal.
I hooked up the "manual" auxiliary button for either blade lockup or blaster blocking, it's really discrete on the side of the saber, between the emitter and the block screw. It's recessed so that you have no chance to push it by mistake, and to press it, you just have to push the "pulp" of the finger (dunno the name in english, the "fat part of the finger", just where the finger prints are) and it goes pushing the button. So actually when you are fighting, no one notices that you are pressing something.
I'm finishing the pommel, and I'll post pictures.
Erv'

NOTE : don't remember the exact context, xwing said that it's been "my" thread for a while... well, not mine, just a perfectly appropriate topic to talk about custom sound boards !

xwingband
12-09-2006, 11:48 AM
NOTE : don't remember the exact context, xwing said that it's been "my" thread for a while... well, not mine, just a perfectly appropriate topic to talk about custom sound boards !

Yeah, don't worry about it. I was just thinking Ultra's isn't "custom" yet... he hasn't even nailed down the details of his board in that respect. So talking about it it a little pointless now.

I cam across this on another board... how much of a hassle would increasing the amount of clash sounds be in programming and holding on the card?

erv
12-09-2006, 12:06 PM
I cam across this on another board... how much of a hassle would increasing the amount of clash sounds be in programming and holding on the card?

mmmm... the funny answer would be "size matters" :lol: I often add "small is beautiful and comes in nice packages" :roll:
well, no problem in terms of room on the SD card, plenty of free bytes on it. I just have to check the amount of memory available in the MCU, for handling the FAT record of the file.
how many clash sounds are you thinking of ?
quick check... I've added 4 more clash slots in 5 seconds. Took about 2% more of RAM. Let's state it's perfectly doable ! :wink:
You guys just tell me how many sound slots you'd like. For now, I think that a single blaster & lockup slots is enough, but I'll be happy to have your opinions, even if you haven't seen much about the module.
Erv'

xwingband
12-09-2006, 12:16 PM
Okay, that's awesome. I personally don't think more than four is needed (this was another's question), but it may have it's uses. Perhaps with six slots, two duplicate clashes can be placed so that one sound is more common in the loop of clashes.

Now that idea I kind of like. 8)

Darth_Dadderall
12-09-2006, 02:44 PM
BTW, in English we usually call that the "pad" of the fingertip.

Firebird21
12-09-2006, 08:27 PM
So what do you want for one of the "Prototype" boards? :D

xwingband
12-09-2006, 08:47 PM
So what do you want for one of the "Prototype" boards? :D

Spanish Gold Dublooms

JediMcD
12-11-2006, 02:10 PM
How about first born child. :shock:

Erv it sounds like you are progressing with this very quickly. I appreciate the hard work you are obviously putting into this module. I egerly anticipate the time when I can slide this puppy into a new saber. Keep it up.

Jedi-Loreen
12-11-2006, 04:07 PM
So what do you want for one of the "Prototype" boards? :D

Spanish Gold Dublooms

?

It's "doubloon".

Sorry, some misspellings I have to comment on. :wink:

Lord Maul
12-11-2006, 05:25 PM
like my misspelling of magnates. i still don't spell that right but i don't care one bit :D :twisted:

xwingband
12-11-2006, 07:44 PM
So what do you want for one of the "Prototype" boards? :D

Spanish Gold Dublooms

?

It's "doubloon".

Sorry, some misspellings I have to comment on. :wink:

I knew I had no clue of the correct spelling... I even googled it to check my spelling... blame google. :P

I bet some don't even know the word so I'm not concerned with incorrectly spelling it.

Jakim Fett
12-14-2006, 11:26 AM
I had a question about making a sound circuit using the ISD2560 chip. I know you guys are talking about Erv's board here, but since this is about custom i thought it would apply.

I need to change the address of the chip, reset the chip, and then play the sound. When the sound has finished playing, I need it to go back to playing the "Hum" sound. If someone can help me with this , and then post it here: http://thecustomsa.web133.discountasp.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1765 I would really appreciate it.

erv
12-16-2006, 11:48 AM
hi folks,
unfortunatly, the expected distributor cannot affort to retail my boards in the US, so it lead me to financial impossibility to manufacture the board with an external compagny.
However, I'm pretty used to solder smd's, I've done this for the ton of soud boards I've made so far, so I'm gonna soon order some manufactured PCBs and make them myself, they will be available for sale soon :D

things are going better than I will have imagined about gesture recognition : upgraded my algorithm, and now, I can reasonnably do a swing that ends by a clash with both sounds chained. I've also given some priority laws for blaster blocking and blade lockup so that "parasite" sounds don't polluate interactivity : when you move for instance the hilt to block a blaster ray, you might trigger a swing then cut it with the blaster ray. Now the system is more "intelligent" and sounds are not cutting each other.
I now have to work on a new sound font to release with the board.
Pics of my new saber will follow !

my pics are there
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=39805#39805


Erv'

Lord Maul
12-17-2006, 01:47 PM
AWESOME saber erv!!!!!!!!!
that baby looks sweet. me want vid :wink:

vortextwist
12-17-2006, 01:50 PM
irv, where did you get the anodized thumb screw?

erv
12-17-2006, 02:40 PM
the thumb screw is used for PC case tunning, I cut it a bit with the lathe to shorten it, drilled it to put a M3 threaded rod in it, glued with cyanoacrylate. This to have a tough screw, the initial aluminium screw is not strong enough for blocking a blade, and was too short to reach it inside the blademount.
The red button used for activation was modified to have an aluminium red cap made of the same screw, but it was to heavy and when shocked, the switch produced bad electric contacts making the saber going off then on again, so I went back to the original plastic red cap.
Erv'

jjshumpert
12-18-2006, 08:15 AM
erv, let us know when you get your master boards in and the first wave ready for sale, we're all itchin to see a pricetag on the final product of buttered toast... in fact i wouldnt mind knowing a price in us currency for your prototype boards if your still wanting to sell them

Darth_Dadderall
12-18-2006, 09:32 AM
I second JJ's motion. Also, Erv? I just want you to know that you are my hero. Your pommel has EXACTLY what I want in my own design; speaker grille, LO BATT LED, AND a concealed recharge port.

erv
12-18-2006, 03:26 PM
target price is 100 euros, which comes to $130 (sorry, the € is pretty high these times). 25 euros lower than my previous luxeon dimmer + sound boards duo kit. Same price than other sound boards except that you have a luxeon handling unit included :D
I've upgraded the sound board firmware, now there are 8 clash and 8 swing sound and I'm designing the sound font to put on the SD card !
I should order the pcbs very soon

Darth Adderall, I'm really glad you like this pommel, this is the second I do this way. It actually take in sandwich the craddle that hold battery and electronic and the main tube, so that the single covertec knob screw secures the pommel and the craddle, nothing moves ! It's been a bit of a pain to machine with my limited beginners skills, but fortunatly ended well !

Darth_Dadderall
12-18-2006, 03:30 PM
One, please.

vortextwist
12-18-2006, 03:33 PM
me too! :D

Ryma Mara
12-18-2006, 04:22 PM
^ lol maybe after tim buys that pool que

vortextwist
12-18-2006, 04:23 PM
that's what I'm talking about.

Jedi Ranger
12-18-2006, 10:39 PM
Erv - would a speaker be included? I'm also assuming that the package would include an SD card with sounds pre-loaded?

erv
12-19-2006, 01:35 AM
you assume very well Jedi ranger ! 29mm OD speaker included and wired, and SD card with default configuration and sound font. I'm making a new one to have a plurality of sound for all the slots, not just copy/paste 4 basic sounds. I've made several variations of a bunch of swing and clash sounds, and I'm now purely designing the blade lockup sound. Activation switch will however not be included, there are too many choices and it really depends on the look you want for the saber. Including a default switch is money wasting for the customer I think. But maybe I'll be selling a variety of switches in the future.

I'm not sure to understand what this "pool que" thing is refering to ? I understand what the item is, but I can't see a link with this thread ? any hint?

Erv'

Ryma Mara
12-19-2006, 02:31 AM
Erv I was talking ot my brother vortex and I said to him that tim(a friend) would have to buy his pool que from him inorder to get a slice of your buttered toast.

LordArgyll
12-19-2006, 06:55 AM
Some folks seem to forget that this is a message board and not a chatroom or an IM, and that other people read it too. :roll:

Anyway... I haven't even finished building my first saber and here I am thinking I needs me some buttered toast for the next one. :lol:

erictank
12-19-2006, 10:13 PM
DEFINITELY interested in one of these boards, when available.

erv
12-19-2006, 10:27 PM
I ordered my pcb yesterday, I'll get them on the 12th of january (10 days more of delay due to christmas vacations). I'll soon be taking pre orders!
The sound font is almost finished, I've also upgraded my sound mixing utility software (new version not yet on the website, but will be soon) so that it takes 8 clash, 8 swings and the blaster.
I had another idea about lockup sound to get rid of the "periodicity" you hear since the sound is short while the blade lockup sound should be randomized energy noise. Still working on it, but I can't do much in transportation (I do 300 km by train every day to go to work) cause I'm using a finished saber as developement platform, and I'm not sure the other folks in the train would appreciate luxeon beaming and LS sounds at 7.30AM... :roll:

the board starts to be really stable now (well, it's stable from the beginning actually), I haven't discovered strange behaviors or side effect of re-coding the luxeon driver in the sound board. My last customer saber will be tested by professionnal sword fighters tomorrow so that they get an idea of what the new "interactivity" is, since it's much better than the prototypes they tried a while ago.

Ah, last thing : my module can be turned into wireless just by adding the wireless transmitter to it (the same as Omisabers right now) , it will be transparent. There will be a mode in the SD to activate the wireless thing so a board in the hilt sound, wireless, or both (annoying cause the delay of sound diffusion, even 10 ms gives a bad delay/echo between direct sound and diffused sound). The new combo board will replace the single sound board to be the new version of OmniSabers(tm).

Erv

james3
12-19-2006, 10:37 PM
DROOL!

I want one!!!!!!

Pre-orders when?????

erv
01-03-2007, 05:57 AM
Hi ! And Happy New Year !!
I've just posted on TFN, I appoligize if you read this twice :-)
I'm a few posts late, due to christmas vacations, anyway, I spend a couple of hours to make a little movie of my new board. I've been working with professionnal sword fighters and learnt very important points which made possible to upgrade my motion detection in a terrific way ! I also added some decision trees in the program to give priorities to certain gestures combination and avoid masking. I now even have the swing sound just after a clash when you bump the blade of a soft surface (you get the clash, then the blade slightly bumps out and generate a swing). I measured again the latency between the impact and the sound generated, it's < 60 ms.
Since I only have access to automatic equipment, what is pictured is obviously surexposed, sorry about that.

Key points about the videos :
- I tried different configurations of the camcorder but reducing the exposure time darken the background making the whole scene ugly (well ok, I'm not photogenic, I could have disapeared, no big deal). I don't have access to the shutter on the camera, neither the white balance. The overall brightness of the scene is quite comparable to what was seen by my eyes, except that the lightsaber blade is not white cored.
- The energy shimmering is too subtile for the camera rate even at 25 frame / sec, so you cannot see it in the video, but it's there. Our eye is much better than the cam when it's about noticing tiny differences of light or color, as soon as it's not static.
- The cam cannot be frame rate synchronised to specific value, and since I have some randomness in the generation of the clash/blaster/lockup effects, the video does not display the real rythm of the light variation, but you get an idea of what it is. I'd need a 60 frame/sec camera to film this properly.
- Both videos are in Divx 5.2 (use VLC if you're using a macintosh)

The first video is a teaser, just for fun, in the starwars spirit, the second one has no music to focus on the sound coming out of the saber, with the appropriate light effect.

http://www.plecterlabs.com/Media/CrystalFocusWeb.avi
http://www.plecterlabs.com/Media/CrystalFocusSoundFxWeb.avi

I hope you'll enjoy watching this, I wish you a very good start for this new year, and plenty of innovative sabers !
Erv'

Jonitus
01-03-2007, 06:09 AM
Fantastic! Erv, what you have done is most impressive. It boggles the mind that this module/controller went from being talked about to being a reality in such a short time. Although you were limited by videographic equipment, what I saw was more than enough to cement for me the fact that I will be purchasing some of these for projects in 2007.

BTW, did you ever settle on a name for this? Is it officially the Crystal Focus Sound Core, or are we going to keep calling it "buttered toast"?

erv
01-03-2007, 06:52 AM
héhé, the code name "buttered toast", we can keep it, I like it :lol:
Btw, about the name, yes, I settled on Crystal Focus (saber core), it's actually the combination of 3 proposals, yours included, so it will lead to a discount or a free gift when I'll have those board available.
The PCB should be there around the 12th !
I now have to update the website.
Erv'

james3
01-03-2007, 07:57 AM
I need to jump on a different puter to see the vids but,

WOO HOOO!!!! YE HAW!!!!!! ROCK ON!!!!!!

xwingband
01-03-2007, 08:13 AM
hehe, that like the video. 8) I laughed a couple time. It's good to see people with a sense of humor.

I'm contemplating selling my FX boards in anticipation of buying one of your new boards. With my experience with the old boards I know I'm going to want more. They just feel so much more real, the reactive light just sells it.

vortextwist
01-03-2007, 02:33 PM
:( i can't seem to get it to work.

Firebird21
01-03-2007, 02:41 PM
:( i can't seem to get it to work.


You need that divix thingy...


Don't worry, I can't see it ether. :cry:
I do have sound though.



erv, any chance of getting another video format available? I have enough of junk on my 'puter, I don't want to D/L something else too.

erv
01-03-2007, 03:26 PM
well divX seems pretty standard to me... ? Most of the video encoded are divX or Xvid, home cinema dvd player read divx...
Mpeg4 is still a pain to encore with free tools, and I just can't stand the wmv windows format, bad quality and exclusive to windows pc, not readable on linux or mac even with vlc.
This is just a codec to install, personnally, I use the NIMO codec pack which installs all what your computer needs to encode/decode various formats !
But maybe I can put it on youtube as well, I'll check that tomorrow.
Erv'

Dregan
01-03-2007, 04:19 PM
the links don't seem to work for me - as in, I can use Divx, but I can't DL the vid...

YouTube would be a good alternative...


On another note, any chance of (in the future, obviously) getting on that has three Lux controllers built into it? You alluded to it on TF.n a while ago...

The 12th, huh? Well, I think I know where some of my wedding money is going.

Lord Maul
01-03-2007, 04:22 PM
yeah, i can't get the links to work right now either :? i watched the first vid no problem but the second won't work and now the first won't work either :? :shock:

Dregan
01-03-2007, 04:29 PM
We probably exceeded his bandwith allotment. Happens a lot.

Lord Maul
01-03-2007, 05:20 PM
it works again! Looks great Erv 8)

erv
01-03-2007, 10:40 PM
yep, I think many people tried to DL the video, a max number of DL slots is probably setup. I guess I'm gonna see some spike on my daily traffic info :lol:
I'll try to make a better movie next time, in good light conditions to keep the blade with the real color, but that what I could affort at home.
Glad you like it !

About the 3 luxeon controller, I have to think about it, right now, I'm busy with my new Crystal Focus board and a full team of sword fighters who need some saber equipement, in the hilt, wireless, custom saber etc, so I'll go back to electronic design in a month or two :roll:
Erv'

Darth_Dadderall
01-06-2007, 11:39 AM
I'm contemplating selling my FX boards in anticipation of buying one of your new boards.
Better hurry before he actually drops these bad boys. The price is gonna go through the floor after this drops.

vortextwist
01-10-2007, 12:47 PM
I'm contemplating selling my FX boards in.

How much? :oops: pm me if interested

erv
01-15-2007, 07:50 AM
Hi there !
Got my PCBs earlier than I initially thought, so I've already assembled 10 Crystal Focus boards. I still have to put the item on my website but it's working REALLY well ! I even found a way to upgrade my output amp with an additionnal gain of 10, if powered at 7.2v it's loud as hell :twisted: Even at 5V (4 AA nimh battery pack) it's louder than a MR I think, especially because the hilt acts as a resonnator since my battery pack is thinner than the MR Fx battery holder/speaker.
I'm currently converting a luke Ep VI (simple FX to luxeon upgrade) and 2 anakin (with Crystal Focus), so I'm going to release another video.
Last thing : my new board can do in-the-hilt sound as well as wireless sound, it's going to be the new platform of my OmniSaber wireless system !
Erv'

xwingband
01-15-2007, 09:13 AM
You better watch it people... if there's 10 total you better not be the 10th after me. Money is at the ready!

How's international shipping going to do also?

vortextwist
01-17-2007, 10:51 AM
I got's my money ready also. can't wait.

erv
01-17-2007, 12:08 PM
How's international shipping going to do also?

it will be < 20 euros. I don't think I'm going to use the trackable thing, it's expensive and not faster. I don't have the exact amount yet, I have to ask at the post office how it's working. I think I can have the shipping close or lower than 10 euros.

I've been asked also on another side of the forum if the board will fit in an MHS hilt : it does ! it's even floating a bit meaning that the 4 AA battery pack can be wrapped into heatshrinking tube, and the module glued on it. The board cannot be glued on its total lenght, the SD card makes it too thick, even for a MR Fx, but it's half sitting on it, just like I showed on my last pics in the gallery section here
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1189&start=15

It's therefore using a total lenght of 2 AA in line plus 3.4 cm = 10 + 3.4 = 13.4 cm. It might therefore work even for a short MHS hilt (no extension).
Erv'

vortextwist
01-17-2007, 12:41 PM
wow, I didn't even realize that those were AA batteries under there. Sweet. recharge port, Here I come.

vortextwist
01-20-2007, 10:01 AM
erv, did you ever get that video on youtube? I want to see it.

erv
01-20-2007, 10:31 AM
you mean, the two divx I posted ?
here they are ! Please note that sound is really behind the original divx, producing a strange delay between action and sound. Much better on the divX if you can read it. Dunno why the conversion by youtube gave that result.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfVGh5i17EU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgm8DAHDh64

Erv'

vortextwist
01-20-2007, 10:37 AM
yes, thanks. I wasn't able to see em on divx.

edit: nice I love it. When do I get to get one of these?

erv
01-23-2007, 05:48 AM
So cool ! I've tested the new board with a blue K2 and I successfully run it for more than 2 hours at 1.3 A. I could go higher but I prefer to keep some security about the parts I'm using. It means that the K2 can be used really close the the max ratings. I'll be honnest, I've tested the K2 on lab power supply (protected, regulated) and the eye won't make the difference between 1.3 and 1.5 amp when trying to compare the brightness... The K2 is just a bit warm... The whole device regulate current at that amperage until the batteries go to 3.9 or 4.0 volts, just above the limit of the forward voltage of the luxeon K2, which is around 3.8V @ 1.3 Amp. And then the lowpower LED starts blinking 8) .... So, I have something like 200 mV of loss with my hardware which leads to [(5.2 - .2) / 5.2v] x 100 = 96% of efficiency (let's say 90%) when the device is powered by 4 AA nimh batteries, 1.3 v per cell when fully charged => 5.2 volts.
I initially thought I had some kind of limitation and that I could not guaranty to drive more than 1 amp, but that's much better ! I got fooled by my ground reference to my oscilloscope cause I did not take in count the voltage loss in the power supply cables. Sounds like a boring technical detail but it's really important in your saber design to use GOOD quality cables, that can pass enough current and the shortest as possible. A wire has some electrical resistance, but even if it's low, when a high current flows thru it, it causes a voltage loss just like a regular resistor.
Now, I'm using some silicone coated wires used for measurements, very flexible, does not melt with heat even if touching the luxeon backplate, very low resistance etc.
A customer also asked me to add a feature : to avoid touching to the sound volume or putting a switch on the speaker to mute it, I'll add a parameter on the SD card... :wink:
Erv'

xwingband
01-23-2007, 03:13 PM
Hehe... I told you I wanted one more than you all. I checked Erv's site and I bought my buttered toast. :D How about you? :P

Came to a little over $150 with the conversion rate.

vortextwist
01-23-2007, 03:26 PM
dang it, I knew it. as soon as I had money Tim gets it. well I guess I will have to wait. can't wait to see some pic and video X-wing

xwingband
01-23-2007, 03:36 PM
hah, I'm not sure how fast that'll happen. It's going in my personal hilt. Tim's custom machining the hilt and it'll be run by Erv's stuff but a lot of details are hazy... I have enough to work on anyway.

I'm going to start selling some creations soon. :)