72 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
72 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
# mcopy
|
|
|
|
An open platform for controlling small-gauge film optical printers (16mm, Super8, 8mm).
|
|
|
|
-------
|
|
1. <a href="#intro">Introduction</a>
|
|
2. <a href="#downloads">Downloads</a>
|
|
1. <a href="#usage">Usage</a>
|
|
2. <a href="#software">Software</a>
|
|
3. <a href="#firmware">Firmware</a>
|
|
3. <a href="#hardware">Hardware</a>
|
|
4. <a href="#why">Why?</a>
|
|
|
|
-------
|
|
|
|
## Introduction <a name="intro"></a>
|
|
|
|
The `mcopy` project is comprised of software and hardware for optical printers, built with re-purposed broken projectors.
|
|
|
|
#### Components
|
|
|
|
* Sequencer desktop app
|
|
* Scripting language, called `mscript`, for orchestrating complex sequences
|
|
* Arduino firmware for projectors, cameras, lights and existing printers
|
|
* 3D models of parts used for modifying projectors and printers
|
|
* Schematics for simple Arduino-based electronics
|
|
|
|
## Downloads <a name="downloads"></a>
|
|
|
|
* [1.0.3](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/releases/tag/1.0.3) for macOS and Linux (.deb)
|
|
|
|
For Windows, you can [install from source](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/tree/master/app#mcopy-desktop-app) for now.
|
|
|
|
## Usage <a name="usage"></a>
|
|
|
|
The software requires your hardware to be in place before
|
|
|
|
## Software <a name="software"></a>
|
|
|
|
The mcopy desktop app is an Electron-based project which can be built for Linux, Windows and macOS.
|
|
Pre-built packages will be made available for macOS, initially, with the other two target platforms to follow.
|
|
To build the desktop app from source, see the [installation and running instructions](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/tree/master/app#mcopy-desktop-app).
|
|
The desktop software also interoperates with two related projects; the Bluetooth + Wifi capable, Raspberry Pi-based [INTVAL3](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/intval3) and the Arduino-based [intval2](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/intval2).
|
|
|
|
## Firmware <a name="firmware"></a>
|
|
|
|
This project contains Arduino formware for controlling:
|
|
|
|
* a projector
|
|
* a camera (see [intval2](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/intval2) for more info)
|
|
* a light
|
|
* a projector + a camera
|
|
* a projector + a light
|
|
* a camera + a light
|
|
* a camera + a projector + a light
|
|
|
|
Using a simple serial interface, this modular platform can be used to control DIY components, modified existing optical printers or a mixture of components.
|
|
The desktop app can connect to multiple serial devices, so your mcopy optical printer can be built from various designs that suit your hardware tastes/needs/available parts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Hardware <a name="hardware"></a>
|
|
|
|
All non-electronic hardware for this project is available as plaintext OpenSCAD files and 3D print-able .STL files.
|
|
The hardware component of this project is aimed at modifying broken Bell & Howell projectors into USB serial-controlled projectors to be used in optical printing.
|
|
As a secondary capability, this desktop software and firmware package can be used to replace the sequencers for early-model JK optical printers, with some modification.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Why? <a name="why"></a>
|
|
|
|
I'm interested in expanding the viability and access of the 16mm film format and to repurpose thre rising tide of discarded film technology.
|
|
|