Messages

1

Enhancement Requests / Skull import additions

« on: May 30, 2020, 12:45:45 PM »

Hi,
I would like to request that the skull import be expanded to allow more channels. Most Skulltronix routines include a torso servo as well as 8 channels devoted to two rgb spotlights. Given the great number of Skulltronix routines in the library to add these by hand would be beyond my expected lifespan

Many Skulltronix routines also have additional channels devoted to other lights, other servos and other dmx devices.  I know the hard part would be visualizing them but perhaps there could be some servos/lights, etc.  added that just show a slider or perhaps no visualization at all.

Also, on the existing import: Could the import ignore channels that are checked in the vsa routine which are not part of the import?  The way it is now, if I have a channel checked that isn't part of the basic import Xlights crashes.  VSA defaults to all channels on. Turning off all the non-import channels is a pita.

Thanks!

2

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Servos not working as expected

« on: March 19, 2020, 04:42:42 PM »

Thanks Gil. I know you aren't feeling well and I appreciate that you checked it.

Apparently I'm not good at providing you with the detail you need.  I'll try to be more complete.

Let  me try again...  I have set up an entirely new folder for xl. I have created a new skull model. I have imported a vsa file without crashing.  When I look at Check Sequence I see a long line of these errors:

Effect problems
    ERR: Face effect with no timing selected. Model 'DMXSkull', Start 0:06.300
    ERR: Face effect with no timing selected. Model 'DMXSkull', Start 0:06.450
    ERR: Face effect with no timing selected. Model 'DMXSkull', Start 0:06.450
    ERR: Face effect with no timing selected. Model 'DMXSkull', Start 0:06.550

The only effects in the sequence are servo effects that were created during the import.  Is this enough detail to help or would you like to see the actual files?
Thanks!

3

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Servos not working as expected

« on: March 16, 2020, 11:03:10 AM »

Just checking again.  Xlights is actually putting out the entire range now of 500-2500 using the servo slider even though the Jaw is set in layout to 500-750.  It doesn't look like xlights ettings are doing anything unless somehow FPP is scaling it back up because I removed the limits.  Ideally I could set the same limits in both xlights and fpp.

Obviously I'm missing something.

4

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Servos not working as expected

« on: March 16, 2020, 10:57:23 AM »

I've set the limits in FPP to 500-2500. The jaw now will open and close without the previous issue of centering.  But....  Any value sent from xlights in bridge mode below 27 (scale 0-100) sends values below the 1000 ms threshold supposedly set in xlights.  IE, the jaw closes too tight and will burn out the servo. 

When limits are set in FPP do you just ignore values received that are beyond the limits or do you clip them to the limits? Are you scaling anything or just passing raw data?

If you want to call my # is 916 600-2295  I'm in front of it now. 10am ps

5

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Servos not working as expected

« on: March 15, 2020, 06:20:22 PM »

Thanks. Dan said that setting motion limits in both xlights and FPP might be the issue. I?ll try changing that tomorrow and get back to you.

6

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Servos not working as expected

« on: March 15, 2020, 01:27:20 PM »

Hi, I'm testing the Sparkfun I2C servo board on a Pi Zero and getting results I don't understand.

With the VSA servo import as Gil created it I have the Jaw servo set up on channel 1 with values 500-750. That is the correct range from VSA and corresponds to 1000-1500 in MS.

I've created a servo effect for the jaw.  The servo slider in the Effect Settings window will close the jaw at a setting of 50 but any value above OR below that causes it to open the jaw.  I was under the understanding that zero would be the lowest setting for the Jaw which is 500 (1000ms). And 100 would be the highest setting for the jaw 750 (1500ms). Isn't the 500-750 scaled across the 0-100?

In FPP I have the jaw set up as 1000 to 1500. MS is checked. I don't know what the Center value does. It doesn't seem to affect anything so I assume it is for the "To Center" option.

Also, I have put a pwm meter between the servo and pi and the actual pwm being generated by xlights is pretty close to the meter readings.

I'm available anytime to discuss this.  But give me 1/2 hour notice if you wt to see the setup screens.

Thanks!!

BTW
The current project is to get my skulls running off a pi zero without dmx cables or a pc.  It is moving along well so far.

7

Do You Need Help? Post it here / Re: How do I apply effects from the top in 3D

« on: April 21, 2019, 06:16:08 AM »

Can you be more specific ?
I’ve created the preview in 3D layout and tried to apply it in the sequence without success. I still see the side view.

8

Do You Need Help? Post it here / How do I apply effects from the top in 3D

« on: April 20, 2019, 09:52:41 PM »

I have my 24 single strand models sticking out in all directions from a center hub.  The 24 models are grouped into "ALL".  I need to apply the effects to the top of "ALL", not from the side.  I've read the manual, looked at videos, tried all the PerPreview stuff, created new previews in Layout mode.  Everything I can try.  Help! ??

9

Enhancement Requests / Re: Rotate groups

« on: February 17, 2019, 12:59:18 PM »

LOL.  I am completely out of stock and really never want to make another one.  They take a couple of weeks to make.

10

What new effects you would like to see / Re: Horizontally baanded sphere

« on: February 01, 2019, 12:05:07 PM »

Yes, each band would be a different number of pixels.  That's an important feature of horizontally banded 3d objects.  They retain the same pixel density per square area without spreading out or bunching up.  Less LEDs, consistent coverage, less power required, better look. 

11

Enhancement Requests / Rotate groups

« on: February 01, 2019, 12:00:57 PM »

Hi, I need to be able to rotate groups in 3D with the same controls we have for models. Both interactive and text fields.  Thanks!

12

What new effects you would like to see / Horizontally baanded sphere

« on: January 25, 2019, 12:05:40 PM »

Hi
I just discovered that there is now a sphere model. Very cool except I'd never build one with vertical pixels. The spacing gets tighter toward the top and bottom at the same time that the visual viewpoint makes the spacing get tighter toward the poles.  That leaves the poles looking like a solid bloc of color.
I'd like to suggest a horizontally banded sphere using equally spaced strips.  Or a more general 360 shape that lets the user enter the number of leds per band so that odd shapes such as snowmen could be created.
Using the 3d I can create this with multiple wreaths that have been rotated and grouped.But that leaves lots of problems when trying to scale or rotate the group.

13

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Skulltronix DMX import synch problem

« on: October 19, 2018, 01:19:05 PM »

When importing the file I get an error that the girl pan is out of limits.  So I went to the area from 20-24 seconds (where the behavior was way off)  and checked the values in vsa vs xlights. Definitely different.

 But there were about 4 instances in the vsa file in that time range where the events had a low value (in the 400's) and the VSA settings had a low limit of 500.  So I hand corrected those events to 500 and imported into xlights again.  The pan error no longer occurred at that point and the animation was overall smoother.  There was less of a sync problem also but it was still there. 

So, next I'm going to fix all out of range errors for all servos and start over with no out of range errors. Based on the limited success above I'm guessing the jerkiness will be gone. 

To clarify a bit..  The girl panned to the right and stayed there for several seconds when she should have been looking forward.  There are multiple evens in that time period so they are all incorrect.

14

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Skulltronix DMX import synch problem

« on: October 19, 2018, 10:56:02 AM »

Hi
I see a few others in the forum are having sync issues with lights.  Maybe its not a dmx issue at all but something else. 
My VSA file has a number of events that are out of range and fixing it by opening up every single event is killing my carpal tunnel syndrome. I'm looking for a way to fix the VSA file before importing because I could see that just fixing a few events in the girl pan movement noticeably improved the animation.  Not sure what format the data in the vsa file is in.  It would be great to open it in a good text editor and do find and replace.
Suggestions?
Thx!

15

Bugs in xLights/Nutcracker / Re: Skulltronix DMX import synch problem

« on: October 18, 2018, 11:52:37 AM »

Well.... great news - and weird news.

  In the VSA routine there were half a dozen events that had values out of limits for the Girl Pan servo. I corrected those in the VSA routine and then created a new xlights sequence.  It works fine. There seems to be something odd about the conversion process that causes the issues. 

Now on to other projects.  Thanks for your patience.