3D Printed Strobe Ringlight - Revision history

NebarnixWikiSysop: /* Dispo Cam Overview */

2020-08-12T20:31:16Z

Dispo Cam Overview

2020-08-12T20:28:59Z

2020-08-12T19:51:04Z

Power Supply and Trigger

2017-04-18T04:04:05Z

2015-02-20T15:18:24Z

2014-05-02T03:58:06Z

2014-04-11T00:56:50Z

2014-04-11T00:56:01Z

2014-04-11T00:47:25Z

2014-04-10T14:47:15Z

typo

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 == Dispo Cam Overview ==
-Disposable cameras use a simple but extremely clever switching converter to charge the 330V capacitor from a 1.5V source. They use a very small pulse transformer to generate the large ionization voltage required to start conduction of the xenon within the flash tube. To save money, the trigger is a simple pair of copper contacts that complete the circuit from the pulse transformer to ground.
+Disposable cameras use a simple but extremely clever switching converter to charge the 330V capacitor from a 1.5V source. They use a very small pulse transformer to generate the large ionization voltage required to start conduction of the xenon within the flash tube. Power converter startup is accomplished via a pushbutton, and in some models proceeds until the flash is fired and in some models the button must stay depressed until the capacitor is sufficiently charged, both models indicate capacitor voltage via an LED or gas lamp indicator. To save money, the trigger is a simple pair of copper contacts that complete the circuit from the pulse transformer to ground.
 [[File:DispoFlashBack.PNG|350px|left]]
 [[File:DispoFlashFront.PNG|350px|left]]
 == Power Supply and Trigger ==

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 [[Image:Ringflash_Strobe_Side.jpg|350px|left]]
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 == Power Supply and Trigger ==

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 == Power Supply and Trigger ==
-For now these will just be the disposable camera board with the beefiest transformer that I can find. Charge times will be slow because there will be three capacitors instead of just the usual single cap. Triggering will be accomplished by an SCR tied to the PC-Sync output of my camera.
+For now these will just be the disposable camera board with the beefiest transformer that I can find. Charge times will be slow because there will be three capacitors instead of just the usual single cap.
 [[Image:Ringflash_Strobe_Electronics.jpg|350px|left]]
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← Older revision		Revision as of 04:04, 18 April 2017
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	=Slideshow of Images Taken Using The Ringflash=		=Slideshow of Images Taken Using The Ringflash=
−	<EMBED src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" width=800 height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fnebarnix%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fnebarnix%2F&user_id=70259473@N00&tags=ringflash" allowfullscreen="true"></EMBED>	+	<html><EMBED src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" width=800 height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fnebarnix%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fnebarnix%2F&user_id=70259473@N00&tags=ringflash" allowfullscreen="true"></EMBED></html>

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:18, 20 February 2015
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	[[Image:DischargeCurrent.png\|thumb\|left\|Discharge current plot for future IGBT control. Looks like the discharge is way too short without an inductor]]		[[Image:DischargeCurrent.png\|thumb\|left\|Discharge current plot for future IGBT control. Looks like the discharge is way too short without an inductor]]
		+	<br clear="both">
		+
		+	=Slideshow of Images Taken Using The Ringflash=
		+	<EMBED src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" width=800 height=400 type=application/x-shockwave-flash flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fnebarnix%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fnebarnix%2F&user_id=70259473@N00&tags=ringflash" allowfullscreen="true"></EMBED>

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:58, 2 May 2014
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	<flickr>13678754815\|thumb\|left\|The light is pretty even for just three lights</flickr><br clear="both">		<flickr>13678754815\|thumb\|left\|The light is pretty even for just three lights</flickr><br clear="both">
	It's WAY too bright for macro work, though it would work well for classical/portrait photography. At the very least a piece of printer paper has been placed over each strobe to dim it slightly. I really need to add a quench circuit to redirect and interrupt the current path slightly with a programmable (if manual) delay. A 555 pulse generator could work well here.		It's WAY too bright for macro work, though it would work well for classical/portrait photography. At the very least a piece of printer paper has been placed over each strobe to dim it slightly. I really need to add a quench circuit to redirect and interrupt the current path slightly with a programmable (if manual) delay. A 555 pulse generator could work well here.
		+
		+	[[Image:DischargeCurrent.png\|thumb\|left\|Discharge current plot for future IGBT control. Looks like the discharge is way too short without an inductor]]

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 ===Brightness Calculation===
 Energy in flash
-.5*120e-6*330*330
+(1/2) * 120e-6 * 330^2 = 6.534 joules
 Assume somewhat poor efficiency of 30 Lumens per Joule
 .534 * 30 = 196 Lumens per strobe

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-=== Strobes ===
+== Strobes ==
 The strobe and capacitor assembly have been harvested from the disposable cameras. The capacitor is glued to the strobe housing with locktite flexible adhesive and the same glue is used to secure the strobes within the structure. Inductors are used to isolate the capacitor/strobes from the power supply to avoid tubes from stealing each other's pulses and exploding.
 [[Image:Ringflash_Strobe_TubeClose.jpg.JPG|350px|left]]
 [[Image:Ringflash_Strobe_View1.jpg|350px|left]][[Image:Ringflash_Strobe_View2.jpg|350px|none]]
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 = Structure =

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 == Mount ==
-Currently the trigger SCR and interfacing PNP transistor are piggybacked onto the stock power supply and trigger board mounted to the topmost strobe. However, the AA battery and holder are currently floating with no home. I would like to design a buck converter to take a lipo down to the required 1.5V or re-design the power converter to run well off of 3.7V as AA batteries are heavy and bulky.
+Currently the trigger SCR and interfacing PNP transistor are piggybacked onto the stock power supply and trigger board mounted to the topmost strobe. However, the AA battery and holder are currently floating with no home. I would like to design a buck converter to take a lipo down to the required 1.5V or re-design the power converter to run well off of 3.7V as AA batteries are bulky and do not perform well under cold conditions.
 =Results=
 <flickr>13678754815|thumb|left|The light is pretty even for just three lights</flickr><br clear="both">
 It's WAY too bright for macro work, though it would work well for classical/portrait photography. At the very least a piece of printer paper has been placed over each strobe to dim it slightly. I really need to add a quench circuit to redirect and interrupt the current path slightly with a programmable (if manual) delay. A 555 pulse generator could work well here.