Laser Dot - Pan & Tilt Gimbal (simple printing, involved integration)

thingiverse

This amazing contraption is comprised of just two distinct printed components, yet it can transform into a remarkable biaxial gimbal system by incorporating a couple of stepper motors and a laser pointer engine! Imagine remotely placing a bright red dot on whatever you desire - or maybe even where your cat thinks it should be! Check out this YouTube video: http://youtu.be/KbmjemYGDg4. As for operation, the possibilities are endless. To get started, you'll need to acquire stepper motor drivers and a suitable controller that can communicate with them. My personal setup employs an Arduino interface, connected via EasyDrivers. I utilize a Quarton Laser Module VLM-650-03 LPA as my laser source. Here's a comprehensive list of required materials: • NEMA 8 Stepper Motor • NEMA 17 Stepper Motor • 4 x M2 x 8 screws (for the NEMA 8 stepper) • A 7mm diameter laser head • 3 x #6-32 x .375" oval point set screws Consider stocking up on these optional supplies: • Drill bits to match the motor shaft sizes, perfect for fine-tuning and cleaning up any excess material. • A #6-32 tap to create threads for secure fastening. To complete your project, simply place a bright red dot wherever you like! **Assembly Instructions** For both components, align the flat side with the driven motor shaft hole against the glass surface.