Not going to get etherdreams installed internally anytime soon. I do like the idea of external dacs, if I need to sub rent some lasers or something. I simply want to run network and e-stop line to lasers. Been trialing several options and think this will be version 1, unless someone tells me that this is technically unsafe. I’m waiting for some larger hangers, may hang Dac’s separate from laser. Scored some mini-pc mounts. Been trying to use them because they are close to perfect, with holes drilled. Had some small corner brackets to help mount to the yoke.
Mounting pipes in the space is a future project and buying a small truss and crank system isn’t in the budget currently. I decided to use some 1.5” schedule 40 pipe to hang from. I made some diy stands out of some old Bose Acoustic wave cannons speakers that I’ve had lying around for like 19 years. (There is more to them once installed for safety and stability).
Requesting feedback on my build or alternative external ideas. I’ve already asked to see your racks, so if you’re mounting at the laser, I’d like to see yours please!
Honestly I’ve been down this route before, I’ve made some pretty comprehensive Ether Dream enclosures (with built-in interlock management and power supply) but in the end it is always way way easier to put them inside your lasers! And keep an external ILDA connection in case you want to run another controller in future (Stanwax can provide boards that will auto switch when you plug in an external controller).
But if you are going to use an external controller, you can make yourself short ILDA “ribbon” cables very cheaply and easily (although not very robust/waterproof).
So I think the number one reason you should install your etherdreams internally is because you’ll forget the ILDA cables and it’s too much work to recoup, and not enough urgency to bother.
Look at my etherdreams. They look like baby birds waiting for momma feed them ILDA except momma didn’t properly prepare and left dinner at home…
Assuming that’s an OPT projector .. Is it just me or does OPT love to install power switches upside down? … ensuring the rocker action is down (backwards) to power-on the system… thus causing and OCD level of annoyance.
Looking to correct this on all my projectors. Power switch rocker UP has always been ON for me.
I sympathise but I think that’s actually the standard outside the US and Canada. In the UK (and I think the rest of the world too), rocker switches usually go down to turn on. So OPT are just following what’s normal in their part of the world.
You can usually flip the switch around inside the panel - I’ve done that on a few of mine just to keep things consistent. And I’m sure if you ask them next time they’ll fit them USA style
I didn’t think about different standards. Good point! But yes, I like to flip UP for ON though. Seems correct for human factors, etc. Down for off in an emergency seems like a more logical motion. I understand that this differs all over the world though. However, I’d be surprised if North America is the only area in the world where rocker (including wall switches) is configured UP for ON.
