Laser DAC
This is a collection of tools that contain everything you need to get started with programming on a laser DAC like the Ether Dream or Helios, with support for more DACs coming. We also have a good laser simulator so you can develop without looking to the intense lights of a laser.
Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to develop interactive laser drawings. Laser drawing software has existed for years, but making it interactive (e.g. creating a basic webapp using websockets to allow someone to control your laser) is something different!
The tools use Node.js and are published on npm under the @laser-dac
scope.
Documentation is still limited. This project is used in our modular synthesizer app, Modulaser.
The tools consist of a lot of small packages, so you don't get all the bloat from things you don't use. Click on the title for more information.
Core packages
@laser-dac/core
This package allows you to easily configure everything, but it does nothing on it's own.
@laser-dac/draw
This package makes it easy for you to make laser drawings using programming. It can also import ILDA files used by professional laser tools.
@laser-dac/ilda-reader
This package can read ILDA (.ild) files and convert them to a JSON array of points.
@laser-dac/ilda-writer
This package can write a JSON array of points to an ILDA (.ild) file.
DAC packages
@laser-dac/ether-dream
This package takes care of the communication to the Ether Dream DAC. It can establish a connection to the Ether Dream and stream points to it.
@laser-dac/helios
This package takes care of the communication to the Helios DAC.
@laser-dac/laserdock
This package takes care of the communication to the Laserdock (USB version only).
@laser-dac/lasercube-wifi
This package takes care of the communication to the LaserCube WiFi (network version only).
@laser-dac/beyond
This package takes care of communication to Pangolin Beyond software (Windows-only).
@laser-dac/easylase
This package takes care of communication to EasyLase and NetLase. Windows only!
@laser-dac/simulator
This package can simulate a physical laser DAC so you can develop without having a laser or DAC at all. It has a web-based simulator for the laser, that also tries its best to mimick the limitations of the laser.
Examples
We also have some examples that should help you get started.