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Arduino based Etch A Sketch Laser Cutter.

by msraynsford on March 26, 2014

Table of Contents
Arduino based Etch A Sketch Laser Cutter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: Arduino based Etch A Sketch Laser Cutter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: Quadrature Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2: The Etch A Sketch Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 3: Arduino controller board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 4: The Source code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-based-Etch-A-Sketch-Laser-Cutter/

Intro: Arduino based Etch A Sketch Laser Cutter.

In this project I take an Arduino Mini Pro connect it to a custom made Etch A Sketch panel and use it to control a Blacknose laser cutter . The result is hours of crazy
laser cutting fun, which we will be taking round most of the UK Maker Faires this year for JustAddSharks.co.uk
T he Etch A Sketch has 2 knobs in the lower corners, one controls movement in the X axis and the other controls movement in the Y Axis. The laser cutter also has an X
and a Y axis so each knob is mapped directly to the appropriate axis. The laser is only turned on while the axis are moving which prevents the laser from setting fire to
the material it is cutting.
The control is all done using the Arduino Mini Pro which shows that small can also be powerful. The lack of processing speed to produce stepper motor pulses is
compensated for using the hardware PWM modules in exactly the same ways as described in my previous instructable .
We will be taking this whole project to the UK Maker Faire at the end of April as well as numerous other UK Maker Faires this year so if you're lucky you can come and
visit us and give it a try for yourself.

Step 1: Quadrature Inputs

The rotary encoders used in this project produce quadrature output wave signal.
Quadrature output is sent over two data lines, each line carries a square wave signal but the two lines are 90 degrees out of phase.
By counting the number of pulses on either square wave it is possible to determine how far the encoder has been turned. It is important to know the direction that the
knob is turning to decide if the step should be added or taken away from the total count. This is where the second data line can be used.
If you check the state of the 'B' data line as the state of the 'A' line changes you can determine which direction the knob was turning. In the example images I have
highlighted the falling edge of the 'A' signal. While the knob is being turned clockwise the 'B' line is high as the 'A' line falls. When the knob is turned anticlockwise the 'B'
line is low.
For ultra fast detection of the quadrature input the first data line could easily be connected to an interrupt input and set to detect the signal edge. Each time the interrupt
triggers the count can be changed and by checking the second line on a standard input you know to add or subtract from the count.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-based-Etch-A-Sketch-Laser-Cutter/

Image Notes
1. When the A signal falls
The B signal is high indicating clockwise rotation

Image Notes
1. When the A signal falls
The B signal is low indicating anti clockwise rotation

Step 2: The Etch A Sketch Controller

The Etch A Sketch controller is laser cut from laser plywood. The frame is very simple, the two rotary encoders are held in the corners. The square holes stop the
encoders turning in the housing. The shaft of the encoders is D shaped so the holes in the knobs were cut to match. The knobs were glued onto the shafts.
Wires were run from the encoders down to the controller before the frame was closed with additional layers of ply. The red coloured was created with mahogany wood
dye. In total there are 6 layers of material in the frame giving it 18mm of thickness, the whole frame is 100mm x 135mm.
I've attached the cutting files in svg and pdf. The files were originally created in Inkscape and saved as svg but I find pdf is much more interchangeable.

Image Notes
1. 6 layers of laser ply provide some nice thickness

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-based-Etch-A-Sketch-Laser-Cutter/

File Downloads

Etch a Sketch.pdf (16 KB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'Etch a Sketch.pdf']

Etch a Sketch.zip (13 KB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'Etch a Sketch.zip']

Step 3: Arduino controller board

This project could be used on any laser cutter that uses the leetro lasercut controller. By using 3.81mm terminal blocks , the same as the existing controller, this board
can be plugged in and out of the laser cutter. It can still be used as a functional laser cutter with a moments notice.
The arduino is 'piggybacked' onto a piece of strip board which holds the connectors for the other modules.
All of the switched inputs use the internal pull ups to stop the possibility of floating digital lines.
The rotary encoders connect using the analogue input pins but these are configured as digital IO.
The stepper motor drivers both connect to the hardware PWM module on Timer 1
The laser driver connects to the hardware PWM module on Timer 3
The laser driver enable line is routed through the lid sensor and the flow switch

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-based-Etch-A-Sketch-Laser-Cutter/

Step 4: The Source code

The source for this project is actually very simple, most of the complicated control is actually handled by the hardware PWM modules. The PWM outputs are setup at the
start and they don't change throughout the program.
Each input pulse on the rotary encoder enables the stepper motor outputs and a timer within the code. When the timer times out the pulses to the stepper motor are
turned off. This turns a single pulse on the rotary encoder into a series of output pulses that drive the stepper motor several millimetres instead of just 1 step.
The PWM for the laser driver is set at the beginning of the code. The control is done by using the digital enable line, this simply turns the laser on and off in the
appropriate places. This data line is routed through the flow sensor and the Lid sensor so it is impossible to accidentally activate the laser when it might be dangerous to
do so.
When either the X or Y axis is moving the laser tube is turned on. Only cutting when the axis are moving prevents the laser from being on while stationary so chances of
fire are greatly diminished.

File Downloads

EtchaSketchLaser.zip (1 KB)
[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'EtchaSketchLaser.zip']

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-based-Etch-A-Sketch-Laser-Cutter/

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Comments
5 comments

Add Comment

edmondslibrarian says:

Apr 4, 2014. 9:23 AM REPLY

Well done! Clear directions and a novel interface.

Have you had a chance to use it with students? I think the etch-a-sketch is an awesome way to teach the cartesian grid and has so many learning
applications in technology. (Like the the Makelangelo
http://www.marginallyclever.com/shop/drawing-robots/makelangelo-3-complete-kit
) I'm hoping someone can post a few student made pictures in the future.

Alex Palfreman-Brown says:

Mar 29, 2014. 5:48 PM REPLY

My thought process on this was...
Cool, but I'm rubbish with Etch-a-sketch...
Oh it'll be a Maker Faire UK, I'll login and comment that I'll see you there...
Bloody hell, haha it's Martin.
Very much looking forward to the Faire, as Hitchin Hackspace will be exhibiting there (our first one). I'll let you have a go on what we're taking. Trust me,
you'll love it.

Misac-kun says:

Mar 27, 2014. 6:30 PM REPLY

My first reaction to it was, WUT?

MrE says:

Mar 27, 2014. 5:04 PM REPLY

I agree this is fascinating but I suck at etch a sketch. So basically you have taken a precise utlra fine laser cutting machine and let an idiot like me screw up
some nice wood and make square boobs on it. :)

craftclarity says:
Fascinating. So you're controlling the lasercutter with the knobs on the Etch-A-Sketch?

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-based-Etch-A-Sketch-Laser-Cutter/

Mar 27, 2014. 1:22 PM REPLY