Decent cheap timed shutter?

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Nnnn
Posts: 39
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2018 3:23 am

Decent cheap timed shutter?

Post by Nnnn »

Exactly as the topic says, does anyone happen to know of a decent electronic timed shutter?

It seems like the answer is to build it myself, but I know embarrassingly little about electronics.

From what I understand, I can use a 'solenoid shutter' for a digital camera:
https://ebay.to/2KW76Wb

And attach to it a 'relay timer.'
https://ebay.to/2NxCPPD

I'm not sure if these two items in particular work witch each other, but it seems like they should.

Is there a better/recommended solution staying within the realm of under $10-40?

I remember seeing things like using a modified power meter for a shutter in Practical Holography, but that would still require hand operation, which I'm trying to get around.
Ed Wesly
Posts: 513
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:16 pm

Re: Decent cheap timed shutter?

Post by Ed Wesly »

"We're the flowers in the dustbin" Sex Pistols
Nnnn
Posts: 39
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2018 3:23 am

Re: Decent cheap timed shutter?

Post by Nnnn »

Ed Wesly to the rescue again! I've heard of the old camera method but never really understood how it worked before I saw this, so thanks!

Reading this, it sounds like a voltage meter + darkroom timer would be a good setup for longer exposures, too.

Thanks again for all the help.
vasimv
Posts: 58
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2019 2:16 am

Re: Decent cheap timed shutter?

Post by vasimv »

I'm planning to build one with a sail servo (i'm using laser diodes without collimating lenses, so beam is quite big) and arduino or ESP8266 microcontroller (so it could be activated remotely). Actually, any servo will go if you want to block just collimated beam, so shutter would be very small. Firmware for the arduino would be very simple, it is basically in any servo library examples, just need to add some code to control it from button.

Biggest problem - vibrations from the servo and shutter's movement itself. I'm goiing to mount these on wall, not on table.
Ed Wesly
Posts: 513
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:16 pm

Re: Decent cheap timed shutter?

Post by Ed Wesly »

I keep my shutters on the table, on heavy metal bases, with a mouse pad (remember those?) underneath them.http://edweslystudio.com/LabTour/Lasers ... ble19.html
"We're the flowers in the dustbin" Sex Pistols
pluto
Posts: 99
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 2:06 am

Re: Decent cheap timed shutter?

Post by pluto »

vasimv wrote: Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:20 am I'm planning to build one with a sail servo (i'm using laser diodes without collimating lenses, so beam is quite big) and arduino or ESP8266 microcontroller (so it could be activated remotely). Actually, any servo will go if you want to block just collimated beam, so shutter would be very small. Firmware for the arduino would be very simple, it is basically in any servo library examples, just need to add some code to control it from button.

Biggest problem - vibrations from the servo and shutter's movement itself. I'm goiing to mount these on wall, not on table.
This is the cheapest option. All you need is a $5 nodeMCU board + $1 SG90 servo and you're all set. For higher powers I use a graphite thimble type thing as a beam dump (cheap on eBay). I wrote some code to spawn a webserver and host a simple webpage that controls the shutter open/close. If anybody wants the code, PM me. Nothing fancy, but might be useful to non-programmers.
Grayham
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:56 pm
Location: Hampshire, UK

Re: Decent cheap timed shutter?

Post by Grayham »

Hi,

You can get really cheap delay timers of Ebay these days. They cost about £5-10.
The timers have an input triggered countdown timer and a relay timer with many different programs.

For example I set my timer to count down 4 mins to let things settle and then to fire the relay for 9 seconds for plate exposure. The relay fires my shutter.

This is similar to mine and much cleaner than an arduino set up.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-LED-Disp ... SwyjNdIwvv

You will also find dedicated shutters on ebay as well. Something like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NM-Laser-Hig ... SwepZXRfks

Do a search on delay timer or laser shutter.

Grayham
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