Thanks Alex for the config.xml
I will use it next time I set up my LLP

GFantini - 15 July 2008 02:54 PM

I have the exact same camera and lens, plus a similar bandpass filter (880, +-40nm). I can assure my B/W FireflyMV and Tamron lens have no IR coating, and the bandpass filter allows a lot of IR through (75% at the center wavelength according to Thorlabs).

It seems to me that your problem is either with the diffuser or camera settings. Rosco is surely a bad choice for LLP setups, so perhaps you could try another kind of tracing paper.

Regarding the camera, if you have another machine around, try installing the PGR FlyCapture drivers, which allow better control over the camera settings. I would avoid doing it at the computer you’re currently using, because the FlyCap drivers could mess up FlyStream. It’s possible to fix that with the driverControlGUI utility, but it could make things worse.

But, if you manage to configure your camera through FlyCap, you can save the settings to the camera’s memory and bring it back to your machine.

I’m sorry I can’t help you further, cause I’m currently running a FTIR setup and I’m lovin’ it.

EDIT: just one more thing I noticed. My bandpass filter is placed at over the top of my lens cap, not inside the cylinder as your photo shows. Might make a difference.

Thanks for the reply GFantini, I was able to get into FlyCap and jack up the brightness! However it was on the same computer and now I cannot revert back to the FlyStream drivers using the utility!

It did look much better with the levels all the way up. The filter editor I was using before did not letme fully modify the brightness like that.

I’m trying now to get this camera back to the original drivers and test it out!

@Gw: I’ve managed to fix that problem, check out my reply to Progen at nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/2173/P60/. You’re there, too. 

GFantini - 16 July 2008 08:32 AM

@Gw: I’ve managed to fix that problem, check out my reply to Progen at nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/2173/P60/. You’re there, too. 

Yes, I tried something similar but I may have gone, Unsigned->Microsoft->FlyStream and it failed. Now I understand it’s a very delicate sequence!

Yeah, the trick is to first switch to the Microsoft Directshow drivers, and then switch to FlyStream. Make sure you also have the Microsoft drivers installed for the 1394 controller. It should work.

Well I finally figured out what the problem was!

I was waiting for one of those moments where it clicks and you have a wave of relief.

Last night I swapped out the Tamron lens for just the plain old stock Point Grey microlens, and BINGO.

I place my fingers down on the acrylic, and there was instant insanely bright blobs. This means that it has been working correctly since I set it up, I just couldn’t see the blobs!

Few notes on lasers:

The laser doesn’t have to be near the surface at all for it to trigger the blobs. It can be near 1” away from the acrylic and still penetrate Rosco Grey with no effort! I used NASA precision when setting up the lasers when I could not get bright blobs, just be aware, for simple testing it does NOT have to be perfect for you to see blobs.

(1) of Alex P’s lasers is extremely powerfull and now I understand that the second one is added just to prevent blocking, but it is not needed for more light, even with a 120 degree spead.

I want to thank all the people that helped me out in diagnosing this problem.

Stay tuned for some serious updates!

Hello Gw,

So in the new setup are you using the bandpass filter or just the lens only? I tested my 5mW laser with the same lens, a bandpass on a firefly and was getting decent blobs. I did however have my rosco on the top of the acrylic for my test.

brettf - 23 July 2008 10:55 AM

Hello Gw,

So in the new setup are you using the bandpass filter or just the lens only? I tested my 5mW laser with the same lens, a bandpass on a firefly and was getting decent blobs. I did however have my rosco on the top of the acrylic for my test.

Yes I’m using the stock micro lens with the bandpass filter from ThorLabs. It’s working perfectly.

Its weird that its not working with your tamron. The only thing i can think of would be that the aperture of the tamron was closed down. Can you verify that the aperture was wide open on that lens?

brettf - 23 July 2008 01:09 PM

Its weird that its not working with your tamron. The only thing i can think of would be that the aperture of the tamron was closed down. Can you verify that the aperture was wide open on that lens?

Yes the aperature was wide open, all the way.

Bizarre. I think the only difference between us is that you were using the thorlabs filter in front of your lens and I am using one mounted behind my lens. I have no idea why that would make a different though. But that is an assumption. Are you using a filter in front or behind the Tamron lens?

Nope, nothing extra was added, I was just using the stock FireFly CS mount, then the lens, then the bandpass filter added to the exterior of the lens.

Well our setups are slightly different but I don’t see how that should matter. And since the filter is working with your micro mount its not likely to be that. So I guess I am stumped. Can you see the laser with the Tamron without the bandpass?

brettf - 23 July 2008 02:16 PM

Well our setups are slightly different but I don’t see how that should matter. And since the filter is working with your micro mount its not likely to be that. So I guess I am stumped. Can you see the laser with the Tamron without the bandpass?

Yes you could see it, it was just very feint. Switching to the micro lens, the blobs are incredibly bright.

Ok so i am stumped. It is super bright with mine. Sorry i can’t help more.