X-Y Scanner

How much would a basic X-Y scanner cost that is capable of projecting pictures and slow moving animation?
i heard they wernt to expensive to build so i thought maybe they were cheap here.
so, if anybody is building these and wants/can to sell me one (i dont need the module) can you get onto me.

whoever told you scanners are cheap are either rich or saw some cheap step motor NON ilda DMX projector on ebay.


if you dont want many animations or you dont want to make your own animations or have any control of the projector then a cheap dmx based scanner will do just fine.

but most likely you will want to be able to have some control over the projector and be able to make your own things.


so you would need a DAC some software and a set of galvo scanners

if you already have the laser module you can do a pretty budget build with some scanpro 20kpps scanners for $250 and then you could even build your own dac out of a sound card. and use free software....

I was in the same position, thinking of the cheapest for a scanner.

Thing is, they aren't cheap at all. Just a good DAC will set you back $300 USD. And a basic ILDA scanner will cost $300 USD too.

In the end, I've settled on a great 130mW 10kpps RGY scanner for $350 shipped, and a good quality DAC for $360 USD. (Oh yeah, the DAC was more expensive than the scanner!). $710 USD all up.

You could probably do the same thing for $500 USD.
-Galvos:150, l
-lasers:150 (you already got lasers, but you had to pay for them some time!),
-sound card dac:100,
-optics + case + wiring + misc:100.

But you'd have to be pretty competent at electronics and building, plus the free software would never be as good as bought software.

With low end, entry level scanners it might be easier to just to buy them I've found. Where it comes cost effective for DIY is when you're making some serious scanners, like a 1 Watt full analogue RGB or something. Buying that new would cost heaps, but DIY would be much cheaper (that's what I'm doing ).

how about just a scanner, no animation and not a spirograph.
a green or red laser that just goes crazy... can i design watever i want or is there some sort imposibility going along with that?