https://github.com/rahji/zest_firmware
https://github.com/rahji/zest_firmware
Last synced: 2 months ago
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- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/rahji/zest_firmware
- Owner: rahji
- License: gpl-3.0
- Created: 2023-04-15T15:30:31.000Z (about 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2023-08-22T16:10:13.000Z (almost 2 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-02-06T02:51:27.303Z (4 months ago)
- Language: C++
- Size: 22.5 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
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Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE.txt
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README
# Zest Firmware
This is software for an microcontroller used to convert an Epilog Zing laser cutter/engraver to a machine for exposing cyanotype prints with an off-the-shelf UV laser. The goal of the project is to share all the electronic and mechanical designs, software, and documentation needed to reproduce this transformation from a proprietary defunct media device to an open source system for experimental mark making.
## What Does it Do?
### Filtering the Data from the Zing
The microcontroller takes, as input, a PWM-like data signal that appears on the "data cable" that normally connects to the Epilog Zing's CO2 laser tube. It filters out any incoming pulses of less than 53 microseconds (see ) before mirroring the incoming data to an output pin. This is done to ignore the short pulses that the laser cutter sends to the CO2 laser tube when the machine is idle. This may have some use for the original laser tube (keeping it warmed up?), but the replacement laser driver sees it as a PWM signal and causes the laser to turn on (dimly) when the machine is idle. That's potentially a problem when we are loading the photosensitive paper.
## Which Microcontroller?
This was originally designed for an Arduino Shield (which uses the Atmega328p chip). It has since been updated to work with a custom PCB that uses an Attiny85 instead. The Atmega328p version was never tested with the Epilog machine - only with instruments on the bench.
## Links
* [Five Principles of Zombie Media](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273062231_Five_Principles_of_Zombie_Media)
* [2023 R-CADE Symposium: Repair](https://rcade.camden.rutgers.edu/2023symposium.html)
* [REBOOT Laboratory](https://cfa.fsu.edu/special-projects/reboot/)