Build a shutter tester for Focal Plane shutters - Cheap, Easy & it Works

Spachal · Jan 22, 2025

Hello, that's great, I'll see if I can upload the mentioned script to the ESP32 I'm using with the 'activated license' in the IDE, or maybe it would be simpler to use one of the older ESP8266.
I have a few of and use them for testing. For now, it's probably not necessary to add functions to the main program, setting the laser beam position should be sufficient just by visual inspection, but I'll see what the reality will be when assembling the solution I'd like to implement. The adjustment I need is primarily mechanical; software can't handle that :]

My courier is supposed to deliver better metal buttons from AE today (https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005006794868960.html), so I can probably start 3D printing the first prototype.

koraks · Jan 22, 2025

Spachal said:
or maybe it would be simpler to use one of the older ESP8266.

Overall, the ESP32 is fairly similar to the 8266 in terms of programming (especially from an Arduino point of view), with the main difference being the expanded capabilities of the ESP32 series (there are many members in this family). For this particular application, I expect either to be very generously qualified.

Spachal · Jan 24, 2025

Hi, I've never used ESP8266 with Arduino IDE. In my case, there was no reason for that. For home automation, I used ESPEasy firmware - it's a really great piece of art for this usage :]
But you are right, in this case, it doesn't matter. ESP8266 has only one CPU (which is also used for wireless communication), while ESP32 has 2 CPUs (and BT support) and it's much more powerful.

@Niglyn: with a bit of spare time, I've used AI to generate some name suggestions for a tester:
- VintageShutter
- LaserShutter Pro
- Photon Chrono
- ShutterMatrix
- LumaChron
- RetroShutterLab
- ShutterScope
- ShutterSense
- ESP ShutterMaster
- RetroSpeed Tester
- ShutterBeam ESP
- PhotoTach
- PhotonPrecision
- ShutterVizor
- ShutterLab
- ChronoShutter
- ShutterSync Pro
- OptiShutter

We could come up with a workable title using these words, right? Have a joyful mind and a pleasant weekend, everyone! :]

VirtualFeature · Jan 27, 2025

Hello! Just thought I'd ask if i could get a key DM'd as well as i don't have permission to send messages yet

koraks · Jan 27, 2025

VirtualFeature said:
as i don't have permission to send messages yet

You have now!

Niglyn · Jan 27, 2025

VirtualFeature said:
Hello! Just thought I'd ask if i could get a key DM'd as well as i don't have permission to send messages yet

Normally there is a restriction for new subs before they can DM, to stop spamming.
Not sure if it is number of posts, time subbed or both.

Easy workaround is to post here, as you have done & I can DM you, which then allows messaging between us, without a 30 day wait.

Often, for genuine subs, Koraks will beat me to it & open up messaging between us.

Niglyn · Jan 27, 2025

Spachal said:
@Niglyn: with a bit of spare time, I've used AI to generate some name suggestions for a tester:
- VintageShutter
- LaserShutter Pro
- Photon Chrono
- ShutterMatrix
- LumaChron
- RetroShutterLab
- ShutterScope
- ShutterSense
- ESP ShutterMaster
- RetroSpeed Tester
- ShutterBeam ESP
- PhotoTach
- PhotonPrecision
- ShutterVizor
- ShutterLab
- ChronoShutter
- ShutterSync Pro
- OptiShutter

We could come up with a workable title using these words, right? Have a joyful mind and a pleasant weekend, everyone! :]

@Spachal Hi,
Thanks for your thoughts & list of ideas.
LaserShutterPro & RetroShutterLab look good, although the latter is a bit close to another fully-built tester.

I have just called it The Shutter Tester for now.

I have recently been playing with CAD & designed a bezel to go around the TFT screen, covering the join between the screen & box lid.

Have also started making a template, with markings for bolt, TFT and button positions, to make marking out and cutting the top of the project box easier.

Alas I have no 3d printer so have no way of knowing if they work )

MattKing · Jan 27, 2025

Niglyn said:
Often, for genuine subs, Koraks will beat me to it & open up messaging between us.

Not just @koraks

If you want to have the restriction removed before you reach the 20 post threshold, make the request in a post and then Report that post, with your request repeated in the Report.
All the moderators then will have the ability to consider your request.
Sometimes we say no, or ask further questions of you (outside the public threads), but we have the ability to manually remove the restriction.

Spachal · Jan 27, 2025

@Niglyn: You're welcome, , in post #555, you asked for name suggestions, so I tried to create a prompt for various AI. How you ultimately name your tester is up to you.

Learning to model in 3D in a CAD application is a bit of a challenge, but it's generally useful in life. I wish you good luck and, most importantly, patience! If you export an STL file, I can print it for free and either take photos and test it, or send it to the UK.

Pijalu · Feb 13, 2025

Yellow everyone !

Thanks a lot @Niglyn for making this happen !
found out fixing old camera is fun and I really have a couple cameras that need shutter love
=> You are my hero !

I still need to position the lasers but so far the main assembly is done and after a bit fighting (had to boot windows to flash) , it seems to boot/work even if I am usually pretty bad at HW ...

Obligatory photos (I'll post more when done)

Yeah - I don't need a key... I may have poked around/reverse engineered a bit and keygen'ed my way in... but it's for my own guilty pleasure ^_^

Niglyn · Feb 14, 2025

Pijalu said:
Yeah - I don't need a key... I may have poked around/reverse engineered a bit and keygen'ed my way in... but it's for my own guilty pleasure ^_^

Haha, you will be sorry.
I was inspired by sky TV in the 90s, whose decrypt cards would regularly be hacked and then sold at a lower price than Sky.
They were then sold with a guarantee that they would work for a year.

Sky then issued new cards and the pirates soon cracked these, or so they thought.

Then a few months later, Sky got their revenge as hidden in the new cards, was their ECM, which locked all of the Sky boxes & they could never be used again )

Pijalu · Feb 14, 2025

Niglyn said:
Haha, you will be sorry.

Tempting as that would be a fun one to unbrick.

But don't worry, plan is not for me to steal you or your work... It's was just :ho, I never built such thing... Followed by Hohoho, I never reverse engineered a esp32 firmware...

Fun fact: In the 90s, I was seriously on the dark side... until I moved into open source

All in all, thank you for your work

hulk · Feb 15, 2025

Hi,Niglyn
Thanks for posting your project!
I followed your post and build the system as per your information, only the passcode is missing, you can send it to me?

Pijalu · Feb 16, 2025

hulk said:
Hi,Niglyn
Thanks for posting your project!
I followed your post and build the system as per your information, only the passcode is missing, you can send it to me

Nice build !
Nota:You should provide your reference code so @Niglyn can send you the auth code

Niglyn · Feb 16, 2025

Pijalu said:
Nice build !
Nota:You should provide your reference code so @Niglyn can send you the auth code

Unless you cheat

Niglyn · Feb 16, 2025

hulk said:
Hi,Niglyn
Thanks for posting your project!
I followed your post and build the system as per your information, only the passcode is missing, you can send it to me?

Hi, code sent.

Looks like you went for the full monty! Don't think anyone has done that yet.

I like your case & they way you have done the power bus bar.

Please let us know how you get on with it.

hulk · Feb 16, 2025

Noted and thanks.

MattKing · Feb 16, 2025

Niglyn said:
Looks like you went for the full monty! Don't think anyone has done that yet.

Just a bit of caution here:
If someone doesn't recognize that reference, they might be confused if their research leads them to the Movie of the same name

Niglyn · Feb 17, 2025

3d print files are available.

First is a template to fit on the project box lid. It has the cut-out size for the TFT screen and the drill holes for TFT mounting bolts & button positions.

Second is a bezel, to cover the gap between the project box cut-out and the TFT screen.

Big caveat here, I have only drawn them. They have never been printed or tried for accuracy.

If somebody with 3d print skills could look at them & print them, to see if they will work, that would be appreciated.

Ideally they would need a new project box to try the template print.

When I get a 3d printer (might be some time) I will print them myself & send to anyone who wants them

alinCiortea · Feb 18, 2025

Hey, Niglyn!

I'm about to start working on my second tester (it will be a slight upgrade of my first one, so film gate sensor only because it fits my needs better - unless you'd tell me that the measurements are not as precise as the laser one!)

I have a question... is there any way to include an USB port and make the tester export the measurements on an USB stick? For the time being I take photos of the readings with my phone (attaching the tester to my laptop is a bit of a hassle)

Niglyn · Feb 18, 2025

alinCiortea said:
Hey, Niglyn!

I'm about to start working on my second tester (it will be a slight upgrade of my first one, so film gate sensor only because it fits my needs better - unless you'd tell me that the measurements are not as precise as the laser one!)

I have a question... is there any way to include an USB port and make the tester export the measurements on an USB stick? For the time being I take photos of the readings with my phone (attaching the tester to my laptop is a bit of a hassle)

Alas the ESP will not connect to a USB stick.

It would be possible to output to a SD card.

Niglyn · Feb 18, 2025

Hi, here is a piccy of the bezel. It is designed to fit over the gap between the project-box cut-out and the TFT screen, to give a neater appearance.

3d print (stl) file of this & a cutting template for hole & buttons are on the github page.

I have no idea if it will fit as I do not have a 3d printer to test it.

Spachal · Feb 19, 2025

Hi Niglyn,
If no one gets to it faster, I'll print the part for you next week and try it on the LCD to see if it fits properly.
I might be able to add the part to an ongoing print, but I can't guarantee that, the printer is running almost non-stop right now.
Do you want to use any special material for the print, or is any material fine for testing?

BTW, please add a link to Github to the 1st post or your signature, thanks! :]

Niglyn · Feb 19, 2025

Spachal said:
Hi Niglyn,
If no one gets to it faster, I'll print the part for you next week and try it on the LCD to see if it fits properly.
I might be able to add the part to an ongoing print, but I can't guarantee that, the printer is running almost non-stop right now.
Do you want to use any special material for the print, or is any material fine for testing?

BTW, please add a link to Github to the 1st post or your signature, thanks! :]

Hi, thanks would be great if you could print it & see if it fits.

I used the diagram on the seller's site which gives most of the dimensions. I had to measure a few myself.

I know nothing about 3d printing, so please change or adjust as you think fit. I did not add a bevel to the edges as was not sure if it would print ok.
Happy for any and all suggestions as to size/thickness, materials etc.

billbill100 - Overview

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alinCiortea · Feb 20, 2025

Niglyn said:
Alas the ESP will not connect to a USB stick.

It would be possible to output to a SD card.

That would also be great, although a quick search on aliexpress didn't give me any mountable sd card reader modules..

Build a shutter tester for Focal Plane shutters - Cheap, Easy & it Works

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