74 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
74 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
# mcopy
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An open platform for controlling small-gauge film optical printers (16mm, Super8, 8mm).
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1. <a href="#intro">Introduction</a>
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2. <a href="#downloads">Downloads</a>
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1. <a href="#usage">Usage</a>
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2. <a href="#software">Software</a>
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3. <a href="#firmware">Firmware</a>
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3. <a href="#hardware">Hardware</a>
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4. <a href="#why">Why?</a>
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-------
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## Introduction <a name="intro"></a>
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The `mcopy` project is comprised of software and hardware for optical printers, built with re-purposed broken projectors.
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#### Components
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* Sequencer desktop app
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* Scripting language, called `mscript`, for orchestrating complex sequences
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* Arduino firmware for projectors, cameras, lights and existing printers
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* 3D models of parts used for modifying projectors and printers
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* Schematics for simple Arduino-based electronics
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## Downloads <a name="downloads"></a>
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* [1.0.3](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/releases/tag/1.0.3) for macOS and Linux (.deb)
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For Windows, you can [install from source](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/tree/master/app#mcopy-desktop-app) for now.
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## Usage <a name="usage"></a>
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The software requires your hardware to be in place before the mcopy control app is useful.
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## Software <a name="software"></a>
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The mcopy desktop app is an Electron-based project which can be built for Linux, Windows and macOS.
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Pre-built packages will be made available for macOS, initially, with the other two target platforms to follow.
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To build the desktop app from source, see the [installation and running instructions](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/mcopy/tree/master/app#mcopy-desktop-app).
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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).
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## Firmware <a name="firmware"></a>
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This project contains Arduino formware for controlling:
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* a projector
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* a camera (see [intval2](https://github.com/sixteenmillimeter/intval2) for more info)
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* a light
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* a projector + a camera
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* a projector + a light
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* a camera + a light
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* a camera + a projector + a light
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Using a simple serial interface, this modular platform can be used to control DIY components, modified existing optical printers or a mixture of components.
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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.
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## Hardware <a name="hardware"></a>
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All non-electronic hardware for this project is available as plaintext OpenSCAD files and 3D print-able .STL files.
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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.
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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.
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## Why? <a name="why"></a>
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I'm interested in expanding the viability and access of the 16mm film format and to repurpose thre rising tide of discarded film technology.
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