Can your scanner do this ?

It happens quite often, that potential clients approach us with questions as to whether or not our scanners will be able to achieve particular scanning task. This is especially true of customers involved with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), which involves continuous scanning at high speeds.

Conventional galvanometer scanners are not well suited to imaging applications, and customers complain that they are prone to overheating. Another common complaint is that customers see “squiggles” in the projected laser beams.

The unique and patented “stronger, cooler, faster” design embodied by ScannerMAX scanners allows our galvanometers to scan at high speeds while avoiding the “wiggles”, and while also remaining cool. But that’s not all… our DSP-based servo driver also provides a degree of flexibility that other drivers do not, while consuming less power and generating less heat.

Because of this, whenever customers ask us “can your scanners do this?”, we perform in-house testing based on their inquiry, and we develop brief reports that detail our findings. (Of course we do not publish the reports if the inquiry or application are confidential.)

Below you will find links to PDF files generated for potential clients who send in non-confidential inquiries. Be sure to check this page from time to time as we will be continually adding reports as customers continue to send in inquiries.

Practical Considerations for High-Frequency Sinusoidal Scanning

This paper presents information about the sine-wave scanning performance that is achievable with the Mach-DSP and Saturn 1 and Saturn 2 scanners. It also includes information about power consumption, heat generation and bearing lifetime.

3mm beam performing high-efficiency triangle-wave and sawtooth scanning

This report shows that scanning a 3mm beam with triangle-wave and sawtooth-wave can be performed with high efficiency, both from an optical standpoint as well as a heat-generation standpoint. Even in the most demanding test performed (850Hz sawtooth with 19 degrees optical), the scanner temperature rise was only 12 degrees C above ambient. The tests were performed used our Saturn 1B-80P, which has the highest dynamic performance of any scanner tested so far. Here we demonstrate -3dB bandwidth > 8kHz and step times well under 100 microseconds.

3mm beam and 5mm beam at 600Hz and 40 degrees

This report shows that scanning 3mm beams and 5mm beams at 600Hz and 40 degrees is accomplished easily. It also shows that 3mm beams can be scanned up to 1200Hz at 40 degrees, and 5mm beams can be scanned up to 900Hz at 40 degrees without much difficulty.

3mm beam performing sawtooth scans at 500Hz and 1kHz using cycloid-style flyback

This report shows our Saturn 1B with standard 5kHz tuning, executing 30-degree sawtooth waveforms from 500Hz to 1kHz, using cycloid-style flyback technique.

Saturn 1B and 2B scanning sinewaves from 1kHz to 5kHz with a 3mm beam  

This report describes the sinewave scanning performance of the ScannerMAX Saturn 1B and Saturn 2B scanners, with the standard ScannerMAX 3mm mirror set.

3mm beam projecting a pattern 1000 times per second

This report shows that it is possible to project a pattern 1000 time per second, using a 3mm beam over a projection angle of 8 degrees optical in both X and Y. Power supply requirements and heat generation are modest.

5mm beam accomplishing various size steps from 0.1 degree to 60 degrees

This report shows the step times for our standard Saturn 5B configuration, with 30K and 60K tunings.

5mm beam scanning sine-waves and triangle-waves up to 40 degrees and up to 1kHz

This report discusses various aspects of performing sine-wave and triangle-wave scanning with a 5mm beam at scan angles up to 40 degrees and frequencies up to 1kHz, specifically for imaging applications.

6.2mm beam performing cycloid sawtooth scanning up to 2kHz

This report shows how sawtooth waveforms can benefit from cycloid retrace, and can scan wide angles with high efficiency.

6mm-7mm beam performing sawtooth scanning at 650Hz and 1325Hz

This report shows how 6mm-7mm beams can be scanned at various angles and frequencies while providing respectable fly-back times and also while remaining cool.

8mm beam performing sawtooth scanning at 400Hz and 2200Hz

This report shows how 8mm beams can be scanned with a sawtooth waveform at several scan angles and high frequency with minimal heating of the scanner and servo driver.

8mm beam performing ramp waveforms from 200Hz to 900Hz

This report shows how 8mm beams can be scanned with triangle- and sawtooth-waveforms at 20-degrees optical peak-to-peak. Electrical power required and heat generated are all easily managed. 

8mm-9mm beam performing sawtooth scanning at 650Hz, 1200Hz and 1325Hz

This report shows how 8mm-9mm beams can be scanned at various angles and frequencies, providing similar performance to our system with smaller apertures.

10mm beam executing a 14-degree optical step in 800 microseconds

This report shows that 10mm beams can be scanned with step times ranging from 300 microseconds to 1 millisecond.

Tiny scanner driving a 10mm mirror and executing small moves

This report shows our Compact 506 driving a 10mm Y-axis mirror and executing a variety of small moves using PD and also PDF servo control laws.

16mm beam scanning sawtooth and triangle waves, up to 40 degrees and up to 120Hz

This report shows how 16mm beams can be scanned at up to 40 degrees using sawtooth and triangle waves up to 120Hz. It also demonstrates the benefit of cycloid-style waveforms.

Our smallest and our largest scanner driving large mirrors with sine-waves and triangle-waves

This report shows our ARC12532 scanner driving our 30mm mirror set, and our Compact 506 driving our 20mm mirror set, scanning sine-waves and triangle-waves at various angles and frequencies.