What Is a Galvanometer Scanner?
A galvanometer scanner is a method for scanning lasers and other devices.
An optical element (mirror or lens) mounted on a rotating shaft is rotated at high speed by an electromagnetic motor, etc. Based on the output from the position sensor, a servo driver controls the motor at high speed and with high precision to achieve the scanning function.
By using two galvanometer scanners, one for X and the other for Y, laser scanning can be performed in a two-dimensional flat plane. There is also a 3D galvanometer scanner that can scan in three dimensions by adding a galvanometer scanner in the Z direction.
Uses of Galvanometer Scanners
They are used for high-speed, high-precision laser drilling, laser marking, welding, and other processing, as well as laser scanning for 3D printers using trendy photo-curable resins. It is used for parts processing that requires micron-level accuracy.
They are also used in optical coherence tomography (OCT), which visualizes the internal structure of minute tissues by taking advantage of its features that can be controlled even on a nanometer scale, for high-precision, high-speed, and wide-area scanning.
Principle of Galvanometer Scanners
Galvanometer scanners are characterized by good scanning accuracy, high speed capability, high resolution, easy operation, and excellent cost performance. They are used in many applications such as laser scanning because they can operate at high speed for long periods and maintain high repetitive positioning accuracy even when the temperature changes.
The mirror size (inertia) determines the galvanometer scanner’s configuration. Since the scanner is selected to suit the inertia, it may not work well when replaced with a mirror of a different weight or center of gravity.
Selecting a galvanometer scanner is based on the scanning method (step, raster, or vector scanning), required speed, and accuracy as well as mirror size. care must be taken when selecting galvanometer scanners.
Mirrors are available in a variety of coatings depending on the wavelength of the laser or other device used.