You are not logged in.

#1 2017-09-07 16:02:41

Wisar
Member
Registered: 2017-05-04
Posts: 33

Mask Management Improvements

This is a spin off from stuff that I learned while generating masks for my two printers.  Here is an article on what I have done to date. 

http://raspberrypirobot.blogspot.co.uk/ … ao-d7.html

Based on having gotten this far it would be nice to be able to do two things:

1st, It would be nice if NanoDlp allowed you to name and store multiple masks.  As you see in the above article they could be used for different size print areas as a prime example.
2nd, It would also be nice if NanoDlp allowed for creation of a mask from a CSV file of values for the rows and columns that would otherwise have to be entered. 

Another spin-off of the above could be the creation of a calibration plate that divides the build area into four, six, or even eight sections with different exposures accomplished using a mask. 

Thanks for all the effort on this piece of software!
Will Kostelecky

Offline

#2 2017-09-07 16:35:15

paulg100
Member
Registered: 2017-09-07
Posts: 1

Re: Mask Management Improvements

great idea, endorsed!

Offline

#3 2017-09-07 17:39:39

Shahin
Administrator
Registered: 2016-02-17
Posts: 3,536

Re: Mask Management Improvements

About the first feature I do not get why we need more than one mask file.

Offline

#4 2017-09-08 05:45:31

Wisar
Member
Registered: 2017-05-04
Posts: 33

Re: Mask Management Improvements

There are a couple of reasons.  First, and this applies more to some types of printers with more of a "hot spot" than others, a mask that adjusts for exposure across the entire build plate could increase exposure time pretty considerably.  In my case an additional 30%.  However, if a particular print run only needs 50% of the plate then a custom mask will result in a pretty significant reduction in that 30%.  Second, as mentioned above, and I am still working on this case, a custom mask could be created (from a mask that already adjusts for the UV)  to divide the build plate into exposure areas.  Each area would be a different exposure, as adjusted using the mask.  If the same calibration model is placed into each exposure area you have another way of fine tuning a profile.

Last edited by Wisar (2017-09-08 05:46:22)

Offline

#5 2017-09-08 05:56:39

Shahin
Administrator
Registered: 2016-02-17
Posts: 3,536

Re: Mask Management Improvements

I guess if we have an additional parameter to control how strong mask should be applied we could achieve the same result.

Offline

#6 2017-09-08 06:17:38

Wisar
Member
Registered: 2017-05-04
Posts: 33

Re: Mask Management Improvements

True...and would probably meet most use cases.  It does not help with truly customizing the shape of the print area on the build plate as it precludes an adjustment where you want to use the plate from top to bottom but not all the way to the edges...or the opposite case where you have a long but narrow part so you are only concerned with the middle of the plate from long end to long end.  And it does not help my second case.  But it would be a start and an easy implementation I presume.

Related question.  If the mask file is changed...does the application need to be restarted or would the new mask file be read the next time a plate is added or recreated? 

Will

Offline

#7 2017-09-08 09:37:22

DrNK
Member
Registered: 2016-11-19
Posts: 94

Re: Mask Management Improvements

Endorsed

Offline

#8 2017-09-08 11:36:34

Shahin
Administrator
Registered: 2016-02-17
Posts: 3,536

Re: Mask Management Improvements

On recreate the mask get reloaded.

Offline

#9 2017-09-08 22:18:45

Shahin
Administrator
Registered: 2016-02-17
Posts: 3,536

Re: Mask Management Improvements

Both features has been added to the beta version.

Offline

#10 2017-09-17 04:24:30

Wisar
Member
Registered: 2017-05-04
Posts: 33

Re: Mask Management Improvements

Shahin wrote:

Both features has been added to the beta version.

Love, love, love that the CSV import feature is in the beta!  Unfortunately it does not seem to work for me?  I could be doing something wrong though.  I paste in my matrix and then press the update mask button.  While it does remove any previous mask from the preview panes it does not change the values in the entry matrix nor in the grid preview?

Offline

#11 2017-09-17 04:58:34

Shahin
Administrator
Registered: 2016-02-17
Posts: 3,536

Re: Mask Management Improvements

Probably the static resources cached by your browser. Force refresh the browser.

When you paste or type data inside CSV box it should update above matrix size and also values.

Offline

#12 2017-09-17 07:36:25

Wisar
Member
Registered: 2017-05-04
Posts: 33

Re: Mask Management Improvements

Shahin wrote:

Probably the static resources cached by your browser. Force refresh the browser.

When you paste or type data inside CSV box it should update above matrix size and also values.

Works like a charm.  I stopped and restarted the browser but that didnt work so I deleted history and that did.  The Mask Preview and the Final Mask both updated and the entry values filled themselves in.  The Grid Preview, however, needs to have an update forced as it did not update until I changed a cell in the entry form.  Thanks for doing this!  I had started to write a Python script to save me the trouble of entering 50 data points for each of a number of masks that I need.

The other thing that would be really nice is if the SW remembered the dimensions used for the mask.  (5x10 or 10x5).  Is this a setting somewhere?

Thanks again, Will

Offline

#13 2017-09-17 19:36:13

Shahin
Administrator
Registered: 2016-02-17
Posts: 3,536

Re: Mask Management Improvements

I can force update grid preview.
It already resize grid based on CSV. Saving width and height of grid would not be much useful.

Offline

#14 2017-09-17 19:52:45

Wisar
Member
Registered: 2017-05-04
Posts: 33

Re: Mask Management Improvements

Shahin wrote:

I can force update grid preview.
It already resize grid based on CSV. Saving width and height of grid would not be much useful.

You are right...no need to specify the size if it is detected for you!  Works like a charm.
Thanks for this add.
Will

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB