[Laser] Stepper motor control of laser communication unit

[Andrew T. Flowers, K0SM]

Kerry,

I'd like to see a copy of that word document when you get a chance.  I 
won't get a chance to do any building any time soon, but it will give me 
something to think about.

BTW, I just assembled a second laser aimer using a couple of Daedal 
stages  It very much like my other aimer which uses a big Zeiss 
translation stage, only much lighter.  With any luck we'll be lighting 
up for a real QSO around here in a couple weeks.  K2AXX is planning a 
big tower party to put up the uW antennas and It looks like we are going 
to try a 47 GHz shot from his hill.  If we do that then I'll tag along 
with the THz gear :-)

Andy K0SM/2

Kerry Banke wrote:

> Chuck (WB6IGP) & I recently picked up some surplus  Oriel StepperMike 
> 18503 units. These are basically  stepper motor replacements for 
> standard micrometer heads.  I just recently finished a breadboard to 
> drive a pair of these units using the Allegro 5804 ICs.  The driver 
> breadboard  provides Az/El  control using either  a joystick or 
> automatic  raster scan mode. Last night I  replaced the manual 
> micrometers on my laser communicator with the Steppermikes and  played 
> a bit. These units are everything I had hoped for & more. Talk about 
> smooth & precise  control of pointing!  I'll  put together a short 
> Word document soon including the schematic & a few pictures of the 
> unit and will send it upon request. Measuring the motion  with a 
> digital indicator, the linear motion is about 1/10000 " per step.    
> If anyone is serious about making such an addition to their  hobby 
> optical communicator unit, contact either Chuck or myself. Were 
> looking at laying out a crude circuit board to ease duplication.
>  - Kerry N6IZW -
>
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