Should we build a resource guide?

[ajf]

Hi All,

Wanted to get some opinions as to how we might make information on various aspects of converting/building opensource lasers more accessible and organized.  There's been some good discussion here and, of course, there are the buildlogs, but I'm starting to think that it might be time for a Wiki or something that's more of a centralized, collaborative database.  I'm willing to contribute hosting and setup, especially if there are others who would help with content and maintenance.  Would appreciate any thoughts or comments.

Regards,

aj

[Brandon K.]

I'm a member of a Facebook group that would probably love that. Most of the users there are either fighting through Moshidraw, or have bought the DSP upgrade from LO. I'm sure there are plenty that would love to be able to spend under $100 for a functioning controller.

It does look like we are closing in on a functional system now. The only problems I would see are the different power supplies that are out there. I'll post in the FB group asking people to send me pictures and pinouts of their power supplies. That is.. if they know the pinout. I'm assuming the guys who have upgraded to DSP may have that information.

Honestly, I hate Wikis though. Looking at the Reprap Wiki, it is almost impossible to find what you are looking for. Especially if you're not familiar with the terminology. But, that could just be me too. The greatest majority of the people who buy the K40 (at least on the group I'm on) are not super technical people. Being simple to understand would be a HUGE benefit to everyone involved.

[Brandon K.]

Forgive me, but I'm pretty new to the whole opensource collaboration thing. Should this be considered a separate entity from the Buildlog and LMN? The biggest sticking point I have had with this whole adventure has been EVERYONE has the same name for their firmware and plugins. Keeping things straight on which firmware I was using (AJFs, Dans, LMNs, Turnkeys, "stock" Marlin, etc) was pretty hard to do.

Just my two cents, but I think a rename couldn't hurt. Myself, I'm sticking to Turnkeys forks for now, and looks like others are moving to his as well.

[Brandon K.]

"TH was never hooked up so don't know where it goes. Pretty sure it's in DSP upgrade manual. TL goes to TTL on DSP controller. WP is water protest, and is bypassed (shorted to ground. and IN goes to PWN on DSP controller."

From Rob H. on the FB group.

[Brandon K.]

This is Marcos documentation from Lightobject on a DSP conversion. Full pinout of Robs PSU is inside.

[Brandon K.]

Couple more links just came in too.
http://www.lightobject.info/viewtopic.php?p=12133#p12133
http://openlaser.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Wiring.pdf

[ajf]

Yeah, I think something separate from buildlogs and hackerspaces could be useful.  Those are very helpful, but they tend to be quite specific.  Basically, I'd like to have a place where all the various software, components and suppliers thereof could be documented and, perhaps, rated by users.  

Agree that keeping track of the software forks is a challenge, but that's kind of the nature of forking.  It doesn't make sense to rename every fork, yet at some point you've made enough changes that you need to do so, especially if you aren't getting them pulled back upstream.

[TheSniper]

All, 

Fwiw. Im glad to contribute all I can. I manage to give back to the community and what better way whist Im building my very own unit. Im glad to provide pics  etc..

if my 2 cents are worth anything. Im going to agree with BrandonK. I personally ? dont care for the wiki's Though they do work. perhaps theirs a better alternative.  

@AJ So count me in to help with any content /maintenance. (Im glad to provide proof Im capable)

Sam

[Jeremy G]

Hi aj, and group. Been a long time. Starting G to get the itch on reviving my build. I have a wiki space already hosted on my domain if you want to use it? Let me know and I'll set it up.

I think a wiki space detailing the different psu's and options etc would be very helpfull.

[ajf]

Hi Jeremy, 

Glad your getting a chance to work on your laser again!

As for the wiki, interest seems to be kind of sparse so far, but I agree it could be helpful.  Though I appreciate the offer of using your server, I think that it would better to use a service like http://www.wikidot.com or something, just so the maintenance isn't tied to one person and it's more portable.

regards,

aj

[Anthony Bolgar]

I am about ready to upgrade my K40 to a ramps setup. I wass hoping to create a true step by step guide to help others with the conversion. A resource guide would bea great place to post this.

[jegb]

If there would be a wiki somewhere associated to a github repo, we could be contributing. 

-->Do you know of any github repo which may contain resources already?

Also interested in Part list BOM with links to suppliers, its taking me awful amount of research to find all parts, but now is almost done. For example, Lasersaur part list is comprehensive, of course expensive too when sourcing from same European mechanical part supplier instead of china counterparts. 

jegb

[ajf]

This is on my TODO list, but that's currently a pretty long list.  

As I mentioned up thread, think it would be good to have something that's hosted on a platform that doesn't rely on a single person to maintain and control.  Haven't really seen anything that quite has all the functionality I'd like to see.  Probably over thinking it, but I'd like to have something which allows for a user generated database of parts and is surrounded by build logs and forums, all of it with a defined/templated format.  Kind of a big undertaking, but I think it would be good for the maker community to have a platform like that, not sure if stuff like reprap.org really fits the bill...

regards,

aj

[Anthony Bolgar]

I used to work at a large company (15,000+ employees) and was responsible for designing and maintaining the corporate Intranet. There are may easy to set up content management systems that are database driven and can have as many admins as required, each with varying degrees of write/edit access. Hosting can be found for a small monthly fee on a variety of web hosting sites. I designed using .ASP on the Microsoft platform. I would be willing to set up the content portal and help maintain it with a couple of volunteers to lessen each persons workload. Let me know what you think, and if it is something the group is interested in, I can have a proposal drawn up in a few days.


Regards,
Anthony

[ajf]

I'm crap at Windows & ASP.  But, I'd totally be willing to contribute time and resources to something open.  Seems to me that there will be a growing need for this sort of resource, especially in the maker community, but perhaps beyond that too...

regards,

aj