Laser DAC

This is a collection of tools that contain everything you need to get started with programming on a laser DAC like the Ether Dream or Helios, with support for more DACs coming. We also have a good laser simulator so you can develop without looking to the intense lights of a laser.

Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to develop interactive laser drawings. Laser drawing software has existed for years, but making it interactive (e.g. creating a basic webapp using websockets to allow someone to control your laser) is something different!

The tools use Node.js and are published on npm under the @laser-dac scope.

Documentation is still limited. This project is used in our modular synthesizer app, Modulaser.

The tools consist of a lot of small packages, so you don't get all the bloat from things you don't use. Click on the title for more information.

Core packages

@laser-dac/core

This package allows you to easily configure everything, but it does nothing on it's own.

@laser-dac/draw

This package makes it easy for you to make laser drawings using programming. It can also import ILDA files used by professional laser tools.

@laser-dac/ilda-reader

This package can read ILDA (.ild) files and convert them to a JSON array of points.

@laser-dac/ilda-writer

This package can write a JSON array of points to an ILDA (.ild) file.

DAC packages

@laser-dac/ether-dream

This package takes care of the communication to the Ether Dream DAC. It can establish a connection to the Ether Dream and stream points to it.

@laser-dac/helios

This package takes care of the communication to the Helios DAC.

@laser-dac/laserdock

This package takes care of the communication to the Laserdock (USB version only).

@laser-dac/lasercube-wifi

This package takes care of the communication to the LaserCube WiFi (network version only).

@laser-dac/beyond

This package takes care of communication to Pangolin Beyond software (Windows-only).

@laser-dac/easylase

This package takes care of communication to EasyLase and NetLase. Windows only!

@laser-dac/simulator

This package can simulate a physical laser DAC so you can develop without having a laser or DAC at all. It has a web-based simulator for the laser, that also tries its best to mimick the limitations of the laser.

Examples

We also have some examples that should help you get started.