Laser Controller

Disclaimer!

This is a BETA Project ATM. You have been warned. Especially the hardware design and schematics are - let's say - creatively cobbled together. If you know how to improve them, feel free to open a pull request!

GalvOS

What Is GalvOS?

GalvOS replaces the original control board of an RGB galvo laser projector (specifically the Mikoy 5W) with an ESP32-S3-based system. The result is a firmware platform that is more capable, fully open, and frankly more fun to work with than whatever the OEM shipped.

The origin story: the stock firmware couldn't dim the laser — it was full-brightness or nothing. What started as a quick bug investigation turned into a complete hardware and firmware replacement. Classic "Well, that escalated quickly..." moment.

Key capabilities:

• 16-bit galvo DAC (vs. OEM 12-bit) via SPI DAC8562
• Browser-based WebUI — no app install, works from any phone or desktop
• DMX-512, Art-Net, sACN/E1.31, and OSC input; Ether Dream and Helios (network) DAC protocols
• ILDA file playback from SD card
• Per-point laser modulation with full RGB PWM control
• BPM-synced show engine: global tempo clock (Tap/DMX/Manual), preset sequencer, and an 8-slot modulation matrix (LFO/Noise/Envelope/Step-Sequencer → any live pattern parameter)
• Watchdog, scan-command activity and E-stop interfaces — safety qualification remains open
• Point optimizer pipeline with adaptive density, S-curve blanking, and ringing compensation
• Camera-in-the-loop auto-tuning of optimizer parameters via a companion Python tool (see Chapter 6)
• Community Presets — browse, download, and activate GitHub-hosted preset bundles straight from the WebUI
• Temperature monitoring (up to 5× DS18B20 sensors)

Full Feature List

Yes, all of this is real, and yes, it's all running on a 6 Freedom Money ($) microcontroller. (That exclude all the other components you need - but hey, sounds much more impressive this way:-) )

Output & Rendering

Patterns & Effects

Control Inputs

Storage & Playback

Calibration & Tuning

Safety & Reliability

Connectivity & UI

Quick Start

Feeling yolo? Take this route then:

1. Read the Safety section — seriously.
2. Check Prerequisites — tools and hardware needed.
3. Build & Flash — PlatformIO build, firmware + WebUI upload.
4. Connect to WebUI — Wi-Fi, browser, done.

No board on the bench yet? Try the WebUI first at www.galvos.de — see Live Simulator below.

Live Simulator (No Hardware Required)

www.galvos.de runs the exact WebUI as a self-contained browser simulation — a fake firmware backend behind the same frontend, no ESP32, no flashing, no install. Click around every tab, fire presets, tune the optimizer, and watch a simulated galvo trace respond, all before you own a single component. Handy for evaluating the UI, planning a build, or just seeing what the fuss is about.

It is not identical to a real device — no camera-in-the-loop tuning, no actual laser/galvo output, and it can lag a patch or two behind the firmware/UI shipped here (maintained by hand, see Known Issues). For the real thing, build one.

Documentation

Need a good sleep aid? This is the one for you here:

Release history: CHANGELOG.md.

Hardware at a Glance

Don't like one's and zero's that much? Well, this one is for you then:

Full netlist: hardware/

Repository Structure

GalvOS/
├── src/                    # Firmware source (C++, Arduino/PlatformIO)
│   ├── control/            # DMX, Art-Net, safety control
│   ├── ilda/               # ILDA file parser
│   ├── net/                # WebUI server, REST API, Art-Net/sACN/OSC/Ether Dream/Helios receivers
│   ├── output/             # Galvo ISR, DAC output, RGB PWM
│   ├── patterns/           # Pattern engine, presets, optimizer
│   ├── safety/             # E-Stop, watchdog, scan-fail
│   ├── sensors/            # DS18B20, temperature monitoring
│   ├── storage/            # SD card, ILDA playlists, SVG storage
│   └── util/               # Shared utilities (log buffer, CPU/mem monitors, PSRAM scratch)
├── include/
│   ├── config.h            # Runtime config struct, optimizer defaults
│   └── pinmap.h            # All GPIO assignments
├── data/
│   └── index.html          # WebUI (single-file PWA, served via LittleFS)
├── community-presets/      # GitHub-hosted community preset library
│   ├── index.json          # Preset index fetched by the WebUI's GitHub Browser
│   ├── builder.html        # Community Preset Builder (offline browser tool, no backend)
│   └── *.json              # The preset bundles themselves
├── test/                   # Host-side (native) test suites
├── hardware/               # Netlist, schematics, wiring diagrams
├── scripts/
│   ├── upload_all.py       # PlatformIO target: flash firmware + LittleFS

⚠️ SAFETY WARNING — READ BEFORE PROCEEDING

(I know - BORING! But hey - at least you read this far. So keep going!)

This project involves CLASS IIIB or CLASS IV laser devices.

Lasers at these power levels are capable of causing immediate and permanent eye injury and skin burns, and can ignite materials at close range.

• Never look into the beam or at specular (mirror-like) reflections.
• Always use appropriate laser safety eyewear — OD rating matched to your specific wavelengths and power level.
• Never operate the laser without proper enclosure or beam stops in place.
• By modifying this device, the original CE marking and safety certification are void.
• You are solely responsible for the safe operation of any device built using this project.
• Check your local laws — modifying laser equipment may require licensing in your jurisdiction.

🔴 This project is intended for experienced makers and engineers who understand laser safety. Treat every beam as dangerous until proven otherwise.

License

• Firmware & Software: GNU General Public License v3.0
• Hardware Designs: CERN Open Hardware License v2 — Strongly Reciprocal (CERN-OHL-S)

Contributions welcome under the same license terms. See Contributing.