| Galvos, Scanners, and Projectors |
| Over the years I have collected a number of different galvo systems and loose galvo "motors" and amplifiers. I'll show you some of what I have found on this page, and tell you a little bit about them. Also, I have found some very interesting websites containing construction projects of home made galvos. First, let me give you a little better idea of what these things are: Galvo - Short for galvanometer, which, for our purposes, is the device that actually points the laser beam. Galvanometers were not originally designed for use with lasers, but certain versions of them turned out to work well for that purpose, and soon the design was optimized for this application. Scanner - The assembly made up of two or three galvos, two of which are arranged to diflect the laser beam horizontally and vertically. If a third galvo is used, it would be placed in a position that would allow it to block or diflect the beam, thereby 'turning it off'. Projector - The entire assembly, consisting of one or more lasers, galvos, beam interrupters, beam combining or separating mirrors, special effect wheels and the motors that turn them, actuators to move mirrors into the beam to deflect it into the various effects and scanners, and then out of the projector and out onto the screen surface. And of course there must be a surface to assemble all this on, which is normally a thick plate of metal perforated with a 1" grid of threaded holes, or a custom drilled plate for a stationary unchangable production configuration. These are simple definitions, but enough to get the idea across. For a more in depth explanation of the laser projector and it's role in the laser show, as well as other outboard effects, check out this LaserFX webpage. |
| My Galvo Equipment |
| Under construction still.... Pictures and more to come. |
| Updated 8-21-06 |