I am in the middle of a major upgrade to my Fast Stacker automated macro focus stacking rail - v2.0. I am switching to significantly better hardware (microcontroller, stepper motor driver, display), which allows to use much smaller steps (0.6 um if using Velbon macro rail) and/or longer rails - all this while also increasing the rail speed (at least 10 mm/s, perhaps more). Nicer LCD and much larger RAM also means I can significantly improve the user interface.
Now it's done more professionally - I designed and printed my own PCB for the controller, and now will be designing a 3D-printed enclosure to host it. I will incorporate an 8 AA batteries holder inside the controller, so it can be easily used either in studio or outside.
At this point, everything is soldered and seems to be working.
You can follow my progress here: https://pulsar124.fandom.com/wiki/Fast_Stacker_Upgrade
Canon EOS 6D • Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM @50mm • 1/160 • f/8 • ISO 1600
It's been 5 years, and I am finally releasing a completely rebuilt version of my Fast Stacker (automated focus stacking rail) - v2.0, with much better hardware and significantly improved software. The highlights:
It is faster (10 mm/s) and more accurate (0.6 microns microsteps), so in principle magnifications up to 60:1 can be handled.
It is much more reliable (completely re-written motion algorithm, plus impulse noise suppression resulting in no more fake limiter switches triggering).
It is more usable. E.g., backlash compensation can now be done in either direction (so the camera can be pointed up or down).
It is much more convenient - UI is significantly simplified and improved. Color higher-resolution display is a big help. The controller now has a large Help menu (so no need to print a guide and carry it with you).
All the important parameters can now be typed in using a new Editor mode. (So one can use arbitrary values for the distance between shots etc.)
Batteries compartment (8xAA) is now built into the controller, and it also has a power switch. So it's easy to switch from batteries to a power adapter and back.
The controller is 3D printed, and I also designed the PCB which can now be manufactured professionally.
Some extra niceties: red/green LEDs reflecting the state of the camera (AF / shutter), a small buzzer used for a few functions.
Important: telescope support was removed in v2.0.
And of course, there is always a catch. The catch: the project is now somewhat more expensive (extra 30$ or so), the controller is larger and heavier.
Updated documentation: https://pulsar124.fandom.com/wiki/Fast_Stacker
Now it's done more professionally - I designed and printed my own PCB for the controller, and now will be designing a 3D-printed enclosure to host it. I will incorporate an 8 AA batteries holder inside the controller, so it can be easily used either in studio or outside.
At this point, everything is soldered and seems to be working.
You can follow my progress here: https://pulsar124.fandom.com/wiki/Fast_Stacker_Upgrade
Canon EOS 6D • Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM @50mm • 1/160 • f/8 • ISO 1600

It's been 5 years, and I am finally releasing a completely rebuilt version of my Fast Stacker (automated focus stacking rail) - v2.0, with much better hardware and significantly improved software. The highlights:
It is faster (10 mm/s) and more accurate (0.6 microns microsteps), so in principle magnifications up to 60:1 can be handled.
It is much more reliable (completely re-written motion algorithm, plus impulse noise suppression resulting in no more fake limiter switches triggering).
It is more usable. E.g., backlash compensation can now be done in either direction (so the camera can be pointed up or down).
It is much more convenient - UI is significantly simplified and improved. Color higher-resolution display is a big help. The controller now has a large Help menu (so no need to print a guide and carry it with you).
All the important parameters can now be typed in using a new Editor mode. (So one can use arbitrary values for the distance between shots etc.)
Batteries compartment (8xAA) is now built into the controller, and it also has a power switch. So it's easy to switch from batteries to a power adapter and back.
The controller is 3D printed, and I also designed the PCB which can now be manufactured professionally.
Some extra niceties: red/green LEDs reflecting the state of the camera (AF / shutter), a small buzzer used for a few functions.
Important: telescope support was removed in v2.0.
And of course, there is always a catch. The catch: the project is now somewhat more expensive (extra 30$ or so), the controller is larger and heavier.
Updated documentation: https://pulsar124.fandom.com/wiki/Fast_Stacker