Introduction: Laser Controller

In this instructable I made an Arduino project that allows me to control a laser with a smartphone or tablet.

Step 1: Things You Will Need

2 9 gram servo motors.

1 bread board.

1 laser.

1 Arduino Nano board.

Assortment of wires.

1 Bluetooth transceiver.

1 9v battery.

1 Smartphone or tablet.

1 box.

Double sided tape.

Soldering iron (Not required but usefull)

Step 2: Preparing the Laser

  1. open up the laser and remove the batteries
  2. attach a wire to the + inside the laser
  3. attach a wire to the - on the side of the laser where it is screwed on, preferably with a soldering iron or with hot glue
  4. wrap a wire around the laser in order to keep the button pressed down.

Step 3: Preparing the Servos

  1. attach one servo on top of the other with glue or a by wrapping a wire or a string around the servo and the attachment on the other servo.

Step 4: Upload the Code to the Arduino Board

<p>#include <br>Servo XAxis;
Servo YAxis;</p><p>int XAxisAngle = 90;
int YAxisAngle = 90;</p><p>void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  XAxis.attach(7);
  YAxis.attach(8);</p><p>  XAxis.write(XAxisAngle);
  YAxis.write(YAxisAngle);
}</p><p>void loop() {
  int ChangeValue = 2;
  if (Serial.available() > 0) {
    char Character = Serial.read();</p><p>    if (Character == 'L') {
      XAxisAngle += ChangeValue;
      Serial.println("Left");
    } else {
      if (Character == 'R') {
        XAxisAngle -= ChangeValue;
        Serial.println("Right");
      } else {
        if (Character == 'U') {
          YAxisAngle += ChangeValue;
          Serial.println("Up");
        } else {
          if (Character == 'D') {
            YAxisAngle -= ChangeValue;
            Serial.println("Down");
          } else {
            Serial.print("Command not found:");
            Serial.println(Character);
          }
        }</p><p>      }
    }
  }
  if (YAxisAngle > 180) {
    YAxisAngle = 180;
  }
  if (YAxisAngle < 0) {
    YAxisAngle = 0;
  }
  if (XAxisAngle > 180) {
    XAxisAngle = 180;
  }
  if (XAxisAngle < 0) {
    XAxisAngle = 0;
  }
  YAxis.write(YAxisAngle);
  XAxis.write(XAxisAngle);
}</p>

Step 5: Putting Everything Together

  1. put the Arduino in to the breadboard.
  2. attach the Bluetooth transceiver to the Arduino board (tx to rx and rx to tx)
  3. attach the servo motors to the Arduino on pins 7 and 8.
  4. attach the laser to the servo motor with double sided tape
  5. put the 5v and ground wires of the laser to the 5v and ground of the Arduino.
  6. use the double sided tape to attach the servo motors to the bottom of the box and use a wire to secure it in place.
  7. stick the breadboard on to the side of the box
  8. attach the battery to the Vin and ground of the Arduino

Step 6: Bluetooth App

  1. Download an Arduino Bluetooth controller app.
  2. Set the Up arrow to send the letter U.
  3. Set the Down arrow to send the letter D.
  4. Set the Left arrow to send the letter L.
  5. Set the Right arrow to send the letter R.

Step 7: Finished!

That it. You're done.