Hello, I’m assembling a Delta stage v1.1.0 (I’ve enjoyed the v1.0.0 so much I had to make another!), and I’ve assembled the LED grid illumination module for it. It doesn’t appear the ‘How to Install’ section of the gitlab repository has been populated, could someone provide guidance on how to properly install the extensions for the led grid illumination? Thanks!
To elaborate on the previous post, I’m attempting to install the grid illumination extension. I’ve installed the extension folder in the vars/openflexure/extensions/microscope_extensions folder per the documentation, but am unsure as to the granular details of how to get the extension to load in the microscope UI. Perhaps there is a step-by-step reference on how to install extensions, or someone could provide guidance? Thanks!
have you tried to “Force reload”?
Yes I have tried to “Force reload” to no avail. I am not an expert in python or raspberry pi, so I am very likely just missing a detail that one of greater skill might take for granted so is not explicitly stated in the instructions.
I’m downloading the extension packages from github here per the instructions: Files · master · OpenFlexure / microscope-extensions / LED grid illumination extension · GitLab
Then I’m installing the package per the documentation (install the module, then add another file to import the module): Introduction — OpenFlexure Microscope Software documentation
So far I’ve tried the grid_illumination and phase_contrast extensions with neither loading in the UI.
As an update, on a whim I installed the video_extension.py extension into /var/openflexure/extensions/microscope_extensions (with phase contrast and led grid extensions also included in the folder), after which the phase contrast extension began to load in the UI but not the video or led grid extensions. Perhaps there is some generalized issue with loading extensions?
Hello,
There will be some python libraries that those extensions use which will be need to be installed into the ofm virtual environment: ofm activate. I will write how to do this in the extensions’ readme, and update this thread when I have done so. Once these modules have been installed, then if the extension is in the correct folder, it should load into the UI automatically.
The extensions installation experience is in the process of being improved to make it a lot simpler. If you have some suggestions, then please take a look at that OFEP. Thanks!
Great thank you very much!
Hello Samuel, would it be possible for you to list what libraries require installation in ofm activate here? Thanks!
Off the top of my head…
The video extension requires ffmpeg-python.
The LED extension requires adafruit-circuitpython-dotstar.
The phase contrast extension requires Pillow.
1 Like
Great thank you very much. I’m sure it will be covered in the updated readme, but just attempted installing the libraries in ofm activate via pip and received ‘errno13 permission denied’.
The default pi user dones’t have the correct permissions and so you will need to set the correct permissions with:
sudo chmod -R g+w /var/openflexure/
sudo adduser pi openflexure-ws
ln -s /var/openflexure/application/openflexure-microscope-server/ ~pi/
and then you should be able to install the modules
1 Like
Hello,
Installation instructions for these extensions are now in the repo. Please let me know if you run into any problems following them.
Thank you for posting the instructions. The instructions are well aligned with what I tried based on Sam’s earlier guidance, but I went ahead and went through the instructions again with a new download of the raspberry pi image, a new card, and downloaded the extension again. After following the instructions (activating SPI, installing libraries, copying extensions folders to /var/openflexure/extensions/microscope_extensions) I am still having the same problem. The Phase Contrast extension does show in the UI, but I don’t see anything indicating the led grid illumination extension. If I attempt capture in the phase contrast extension it returns the error ‘object has no attribute ‘led_grid’’.
Hmm, that’s strange, can you check the logs if there are any errors? If there’s an error it will be during extension loading so the easiest way to see it would probably be to do
ofm restart; ofm journal
Please post the results here, that should help us figure out what’s going on.
I have difficulties to source the Adafruit LED Grid from Germany: https://www.adafruit.com/product/3444. Some suppliers mention end-of-life.
Do you have any suggestions, experience or alternatives?
I have asked adafruit for suggestions for a substitute - waitng for a reply. There is one on ebay though!
2 Likes
Adafruit not helpfull, can’t find anything comparable in size/led density. Has anyone else had any luck ?
I haven’t tested anything else, but anything based on the APA102/dotstar LED should work with the extension out of the box (for example SparkFun LuMini LED Matrix - 8x8 (64 x APA102-2020) - COM-15047 - SparkFun Electronics ) though you might need to adapt the holder depending on the specific design.
It wouldn’t be too hard to modify it for neopixel/WS2812B (or similar) grids, but these have much slower PWM based intensity control so will likely only work with long exposure times.
Perfect!! Uses exactly the same LED’s so should be a great substitute
Now I just have to wait for my prusa mk4 kit to arrive.
Thanks!
Ben Lightfoot
2 Likes
Thought the sparkfun one was not compatible but did some more reading and it is.
1 Like