DMX PRojector Douser

Role: Circuit/PCB Design, Programming, Fabrication. (Solo Project)

Project Overview:

This device is mounted on top of a digital projector and the flap is lowered to cover the lens by a command sent over the DMX lighting protocol. This is often required in live theatre and dance performances to allow for a full blackout instead of “video black”. The latter is very noticeable in a perfectly dark room. The project involved creating a custom PCB implementation of an Arduino UNO and all the code was written in the Arduino environment. A servo controlled by the MCU moves the lightweight flap. The box was drilled and silkscreened to my specifications in china and I cut the metal flaps out on a small DIY CNC machine. I managed to sell about a dozen units to regional theaters where they are still in use today.

Key Features:

• DMX addressable via dip switches

• Manual (non-DMX) control mode with a wired remote

• Large light-weight aluminum flap covers even very large lenses.

• High-speed metal geared servo motor

• Status LED

• DMX loop-thru

Suppliers:

• RFBat (Enclosure)

• Seeed (PCB)

• Various Ebay vendors (Components)

• HobbyKing (servos)

• Lee’s Electronics (Components)