SC-DMX MANUAL (Preliminary)

OVERVIEW:

The SC-DMX is the first dedicated DMX-512 scanning system of its kind. The SC-DMX supersedes the ever-popular SC-100 scanning system.

The SC-DMX is composed of two DMX controlled quadrature oscillators (circle pattern generators) with vertical and horizontal offsets. In addition, two scanner heads may be operated in unison at the same time. The SC-DMX requires 8 channels of DMX for operation and uses the same scanner head as the SC-100.

DMX Channel 1 controls the frequency or rate of oscillator 1. The frequency is lowest with the DMX value at minimum and increases proportionately as the DMX value is increased.

DMX Channel 2 controls the gain or size of the image created with oscillator 1 as well as its rotation direction. A minimum DMX value will give a maximum size with a counter clockwise rotation. As the DMX value is increased the size of the image will decrease to a spot as the DMX value approaches the mid point. Continually increasing the DMX value will cause the image rotation to flip to clockwise rotation and the size will also increase until it reaches maximum.

DMX Channel 3 controls the symmetry of the image. With the DMX value set to its minimum the image is compressed to a vertical line. As the DMX value is increased to mid DMX the line opens to a full "balanced" image. The image will compress to a horizontal line as the DMX value approaches maximum value.

DMX Channel 4 is similar to DMX channel 1 except that it controls oscillator 2 frequency.

DMX Channel 5 is similar to DMX channel 2 except that it controls oscillator 2 gain

DMX Channel 6 is similar to DMX channel 3 except that it controls oscillator 2 symmetry

DMX Channel 7 controls the "X" or horizontal positioning of the image. At minimum DMX value the image is offset full left (as viewed from the projector). At full DMX the image is offset full right (as viewed from the projector). The image will be centered at mid DMX value.

DMX Channel 8 controls the "Y" or vertical positioning of the image. At minimum DMX value the image is offset full up. At full DMX the image is full down.

OPERATION:

  1. Locate SC-DMX close to Laser projector.
  2. Attach scan head onto desired beam aperture on projector.
  3. Attach scan head into "Output 1". Attach second scan head into "Output 2" if utilized.
  4. Attach a DMX cable from controller to either the 3 pin or 5 pin "DMX In".
  5. Attach power cord into SC-DMX and plug into suitable grounded outlet.
  6. Set DMX address.
  7. Set "Y1 Offset" and "Y2 Offset" to mid point (arrow up).
  8. Set DMX channels 1 through 8 on controller to mid-point.
  9. Turn on "Power" switch, the red "Power" LED should glow.
  10. Check to see if the green "DMX Signal" LED is on.
  11. Energize laser projector and open beam aperture with scan head.
  12. We recommend setting DMX channels 1 and 4 at 0%, channels 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 at 50%. This will give you a single dot.
  13. Set DMX channels 1 through 8 for desired effect (see pattern chart at end of manual).

 ADDITIONAL OPERATION:

  1. This section covers operation with a second scan head.
  2. Mobolazer takes pride in manufacturing the SC-DMX scan head to very tight tolerances, however there is slight differences from scan head to scan head. In order to compensate for these differences the "Y1 Offset" and "Y2 Offset" allow for adjustments in the vertical separation between "Output 1" and "Output 2" scanners.
  3. The "X2 Invert" switch allows for two different modes of horizontal (sweep) scanning. The first mode (switch in the "Out" position) enables the two scanners to be in unison, which is scanning in the same direction. The second mode (switch in the "In" position) causes the two scanners to sweep in exact opposite direction. In the second mode the direction of rotation of the scan will also be reversed. In other words if the scanner out of "Output 1" is rotating clockwise then the scanner of "Output 2" will be rotating counter clockwise.
  4. The "X2 Gain" and "Y2 Gain" trim pots are for balancing the image size of the second scan head to that of the first scan head. In normal operation they should be around the Two O’ Clock position.

 Some basic SC-DMX pattern and their settings
Design

DMX Channel
  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Liquid Sky (Narrow) 100% 100% 100% 0% 50% 0% 50% 50%
Liquid Sky (Large) 50% 100% 100% 0% 50% 0% 50% 50%
Liquid Sky (Pulse) 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 50%
Tunnel (Small) 100% 100% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50% 50%
Tunnel (Large) 50% 100% 50% 0% 50% 0% 50% 50%
Tunnel (Left to Right) 100% 100% 50% 0% 50% 100% 50% 50%
Tunnel (Rotating) 100% 0% 50% 100% 80% 0% 50% 50%
Rotating Star 100% 40% 50% 80% 55% 50% 50% 50%
Rotating Rectangle 100% 40% 50% 85% 100% 50% 50% 50%
Spiral 100% 85% 50% 30% 100% 50% 50% 50%
Bouncing Spring 0% 10% 10% 80% 80% 60% 50% 50%
Small Spring (L to R) 0% 100% 100% 100% 50% 0% 50% 50%
Sin Wave 30% 100% 100% 50% 0% 0% 50% 50%
                 
                 
Please note that these settings are approximate. Not all DMX operating systems are the same and setting variations will slightly differ per unit.