K8055N for Milk Drop Photography

Modules PC Related Projects
1

I am looking to control my camera from my PC via C# to capture milk drop splashes using a high speed flash.

My idea is to use a K8055N with a photocell attached to an analogue input to record when a drop passes. I will then use C# to pause for a few milliseconds and then use a digital output to trigger my camera when the drop hits the target.

My questions are:

  1. Is this doable with the K8055N?
  2. What photocell would be suitable?
  3. Can C# hold the camera switch open so I can shoot in continuous mode?
  4. Is the K8055N powered by USB?

Thanks in advance for your help
Dave (complete electronics noobie)

2

[quote]1. Is this doable with the K8055N?[/quote]I think there may be too many milliseconds delay between the K8055N input and output…
The general conversion time of the K8055N is 2ms per command.

[quote]4. Is the K8055N powered by USB?[/quote]Yes.

3

Thanks for the reply.

2ms might be Ok for my planned setup which is shown in the link below.

The photocell would be placed about 300mm above the splash site which means the milk drop would take 247ms to fall. The PC would note the time when the drop was sensed by the photocell and then trigger the DSLR 247ms later. I have a wireless flash which is automatically triggered by the DSLR shutter.

Do you think this is feasible?

image link is starrydave.com/wordpress/wp-cont … -drop.jpeg

milk-drop.jpeg2376×1558

4

Nice project indeed :slight_smile:
Yes, this may be feasible.
I think the biggest problem may be to sense the drop with the photocell.
You can only use polling method to check the photocell output.
The polling interval is 2ms.
Anyhow you may detect some of the drops…