Andor sCMOS examples

Andor sCMOS (Neo and Zyla) SDK3 examples focused on simplicity and speed. Uses C++14 features, which any modern compiler can handle.

A bonus Python script is included that polls the C++ image.exe for an image, an inefficient yet simple method of checking out what the skys are doing with my auroral-aimed Neo. Yes that could be done with ctypes, pyAndorNeo, etc. but my goal is always simplicity and expediency.

Prereqs

Windows

step 4 is necessary because not all compilers understand how to link the .dll files directly; the .lib act as a shim to the .dll.

0. Install Cmake (the .msi file) and MinGW compilers

1. clone this repository

2. install Andor SDK3 for Windows

3. copy from c:/Program Files/Andor SDK3/ directory into andor-scmos-examples/lib/ the files

    atcorem.lib
    atcore.dll
    atutilitym.lib
    atutility.dll
   

4. in andor-scmos-examples/lib

   rename atcorem.lib atcore.lib
   rename atutilitym.lib atutility.lib

Linux

I use Andor cameras with Ubuntu 16.04. Other Linux versions would likely work as well. I do NOT expect that Windows Subsystem for Linux would work, but have not tried it.

0. prereqs

   apt install cmake make g++

1. clone this repository
2. install Andor SDK3 for Linux

Compile Andor sCMOS example programs

from the andor-cmos-examples directory

cd bin

cmake ..   # mac, linux
cmake -G "MinGW Makefiles" ..   # windows

cmake --build .

If you don't have a camera, the SimCam will be used.

Example programs

List all connected Andor Neo

./listdevices

It will always show two Simcams in addition to any physical cameras you have. Keep this number to use in the "image' program or else you could default to the wrong device or sim-device

Acquire a single image

./image -?

with Simcam it saves image.bmp with a test pattern of bar gradients. With the real camera it stores a dynamic-range compression 8-bit bitmap .bmp image.

I have hard-coded 4x4 binning for my work--feel free to make it a command-line option. I have also hard-coded on the Spurious Noise Filter and Static Blemish Correction.

More useful examples are in the Andor sCMOS SDK 3 user manual.