DMX-Controlled Cryo Jets

We were hired by a production company to design and build a set of DMX-controlled CO2 cryo jets. These cryo jets expel liquid CO2, which expands in the air to make large plumes of vapor. This hardware has an added element of control, as our client needed these to be activated via a DMX (Digital Multiplex) controller. This way, the system would integrate seamlessly with the other lighting and effects being used at the show.

To facilitate this, in addition to designing the CO2 cryo jet itself, we also designed a custom control module which is compatible with the DMX protocol via custom firmware. The controller provides a high-current output to operate the CO2 valve, and low-current outputs to operate custom LED lighting. These custom-built lights are attached to the jet nozzles to illuminate the CO2 vapor plumes in different colors.

This project was very complex, requiring many of our numerous skills to bring it to completion. This included precise CAD, CAM, and CNC machining, anodizing, laser etching, printed circuit board design and assembly, and firmware design. The result was a custom piece of event production equipment which is reliable, robust, and exciting.

In the end, we completed an initial production batch of sixteen units under our client’s incredibly tight timeline. This system was debuted at the 2019 Jersey City 4th of July Festival, which is the largest fireworks show in New Jersey. Our CO2 jet plumes were prominently featured during the Pitbull concert, perfectly synced with the other stage lighting effects.