Hi All,
Apologies if this isn't allowed, so mods please delete if this breaks any rules.
While this isn't a product announcement, and have no intention of doing that: I have been working to solve some problems that I face in my observatory. I really wanted to have flexibility on taking my flats, including my larger scope that I stretch t-shirts over and use an A2 EL tracing pad.
I originally used the Arduino controlled device that connected via USB and spoke the Alnitak Flat Panel protocol.
However, as I have progressed on my observatory journey and look to make flats part of my sequence, permanent mounting seemed in order. I hate errant fly-away cables and keeping the flat panel and scope separate is important, since a flip-flat on an 11" scope seems a bit out of control. So I dug into some code and decided to roll my own and then release it on github under the GPLv2. Oh, and the code supports serial (USB) connection or WiFi. I have been running WiFi flatbox for the last 6 months.
This is in two parts (and I realize is probably focused a little more on the DIY minded people here):
Arduino based code implementing the flat control to an EL pad. I currently use a 5v letter sized sheet for my 500mm refractor and a 12v EL A2 size for my 11"SCT
ASCOM Driver to implement the client-side protocol
This currently works on an Arduino UNO WiFi rev 2 with the above EL pads attached talking over either USB or WiFi to my NUC running Windows 10 on ASCOM 6.x.x
I primarily use NINA but have tested it in SGP.
Currently only calibration is supported, but I may add motor control in the future. Depends on my needs, demand from users, and my ability to test, etc.
Here's a link to the code.
https://github.com/smgill75/ArduinoFlatbox
I plan on offering a binary for the ASCOM driver once a couple additional people test. This is still considered ALPHA / early BETA
I hope this helps anyone looking to do the same and either isn't a coder, or doesn't want to code, but likes to tinker and do cool Astro Stuff
Cheers and clear skies!
Steve
Apologies if this isn't allowed, so mods please delete if this breaks any rules.
While this isn't a product announcement, and have no intention of doing that: I have been working to solve some problems that I face in my observatory. I really wanted to have flexibility on taking my flats, including my larger scope that I stretch t-shirts over and use an A2 EL tracing pad.
I originally used the Arduino controlled device that connected via USB and spoke the Alnitak Flat Panel protocol.
However, as I have progressed on my observatory journey and look to make flats part of my sequence, permanent mounting seemed in order. I hate errant fly-away cables and keeping the flat panel and scope separate is important, since a flip-flat on an 11" scope seems a bit out of control. So I dug into some code and decided to roll my own and then release it on github under the GPLv2. Oh, and the code supports serial (USB) connection or WiFi. I have been running WiFi flatbox for the last 6 months.
This is in two parts (and I realize is probably focused a little more on the DIY minded people here):
Arduino based code implementing the flat control to an EL pad. I currently use a 5v letter sized sheet for my 500mm refractor and a 12v EL A2 size for my 11"SCT
ASCOM Driver to implement the client-side protocol
This currently works on an Arduino UNO WiFi rev 2 with the above EL pads attached talking over either USB or WiFi to my NUC running Windows 10 on ASCOM 6.x.x
I primarily use NINA but have tested it in SGP.
Currently only calibration is supported, but I may add motor control in the future. Depends on my needs, demand from users, and my ability to test, etc.
Here's a link to the code.
https://github.com/smgill75/ArduinoFlatbox
I plan on offering a binary for the ASCOM driver once a couple additional people test. This is still considered ALPHA / early BETA
I hope this helps anyone looking to do the same and either isn't a coder, or doesn't want to code, but likes to tinker and do cool Astro Stuff
Cheers and clear skies!
Steve
I'm very experienced with mechanical, electrical, and software design. CS!