Scanner Newbie HOWTO

Hello, I have made several DIY lasers over the years and I am ready to bring my hobby up to the next level. I have been doing A LOT of research on the subject of laser scanners and it all seems very overwhelming. I wish I could just buy a cheap kit with everything in it minus the laser/driver.

I have found several guides for the different compenents of a scanner system (like sound card DAC) but I have not found a single guide that brings you through the whole process from beginning to end. If anyone knows of such a guide then PLEASE forward to me!

I want to commit myself to this project so this weekend I am planning on ordering a set of 20K galvos. Please let me know if these galvos will suffice or if anyone could recommend something else for about the same price:

SpaceLas PT-20K Galvos (should come with there own amp and psu)
Galvo(scanning) system ILDA20K max35k for Laser systems - eBay (item 290475009457 end time Oct-12-10 18:16:26 PDT)


Here are just some of the links I have compiled for the other components needed:

Link for sound card DAC:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/sound-card-dac-tutorial-40569.html

C-Media CM106 USB 2.0 External Sound Card Box:
DealExtreme: $17.16 C-Media CM106 USB 2.0 External Sound Card Box with 7.1-Speaker SPDIF Optical Output

Correction Op-Amp (what does this do?):
http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/LaserBoy_Correction_Amp.php
USB SoundCard DAC Amp Correction Kits - By AUDIOLASE

Laser driver TTL Analog Driver:
http://hacylon.case.edu/ebay/laser_diode/FlexMod01.php

150mW Green 532nm DPSS/TEC Laser (ANALOG - Will make RGB scanner later )
150MW Green Laser Diode DIY DPSS Module + Power Analog - eBay (item 230514268394 end time Sep-20-10 03:43:04 PDT)

FREE Software for ILDA-compliant Scanner:
Laser Boy: LaserBoy ~ Linux Laser Project by James Lehman ~ Extra Stimulus Inc. AND EZFB Linux Frame Buffer API
LFI https://sourceforge.net/projects/lfiplayer3d/
Spaghetti: The Hinged Newt (NOT Free)

Notes on building a laser scanner:
Laser Man - BUILDING A LASER SCANNER

Questions: Will the SpaceLas PT-20K Galvos suffice? What device do the galvos plug into since I don't see the 25-pin ILDA serial connector on them. In what order do all these components connect together? If someone has any good laser scanner software (besides what I have listed above) please PM me for details and I will make it worth your while. I really want to get into this and I am completely lost when it come to putting everything together.

ANY HELP AND ADVICE WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED!

EDIT: What about this device, can I just use this instead of having to build a sound card DAC and correction Op-Amp? Comes with the software as well:
http://www.chinesedepartmentstore.com.cn/osc/product_info.php/products_id/1915
(offered by the same company that sells the galvos)

I'm pretty sure that Spaghetti isn't free, you have to buy a license key for it.


Edit: No i-Show. i-Show bad.

You do not need another driver (FlexMod) when the laser module already has a driver built-in. Also beware of that module, it spews IR.

I recommend the AUDIOLASE correction amp for the sound card dac. It has a wider max scanning angle than DrLavas kit.
As Proto said, the i-Show DAC is garbage from what I've heard.

What do you plan on installing everything in? (Case)

^ And it just so happens I spotted this thread title earlier -

http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/anyone-interested-audiolase-correct-amp-55707.html

... So have a look here for the part Grix suggests.

M

Grix said:

You do not need another driver (FlexMod) when the laser module already has a driver built-in.

Click to expand...

Understood - Later on when I have everything working, I plan to upgrade to a RGB scanner. For now I just saved the link in my notes.

Grix said:

What do you plan on installing everything in? (Case)

Click to expand...

Something portable but I am a long way away from that

What about the galvos I am thinking of getting. Are these any good?
Galvo(scanning) system ILDA20K max35k for Laser systems - eBay (item 290475009457 end time Oct-12-10 18:16:26 PDT)

What component do the galvos connect to? Anyone know of a good tutorial from start to finish on this project?

Here is a decent guide to building a laser scanner: Laser Man - BUILDING A LASER SCANNER :beer:

Kevlar said:

Here is a decent guide to building a laser scanner: Laser Man - BUILDING A LASER SCANNER :beer:

Click to expand...

Thank you, but if you read the end of my post I already have that link listed. Only problem is that most of the hardware he links to does not exist anymore. Rather outdated

paulzimm said:

Thank you, but if you read the end of my post I already have that link listed. Only problem is that most of the hardware he links to does not exist anymore. Rather outdated

Click to expand...

Sorry about that, I missed that link but I believe the basic concepts are still the same.

I did find some other links that might be helpful for you though:

http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/first-scanner-build-eventual-tutorial-55349.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/first-projector-advice-55328.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/through-scanner-incoherently-newbie-scanner-project-questions-54150.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f50/building-full-color-projector-need-advice-red-53489.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/3-5w-rrgbbv-scanner-w-beamtable-build-46305.html
http://laserpointerforums.com/f47/sound-card-dac-tutorial-40569.html

PL also has some very good threads for building a projector. I hope to build one myself someday. Good luck!!

Thanks for the links! I just made a leap of faith and ordered the following items:
Galvo(scanning) system ILDA20K max35k for Laser systems - eBay (item 290475009457 end time Oct-12-10 18:16:26 PDT)
150MW Green Laser Diode DIY DPSS Module + Power Analog - eBay (item 230514268394 end time Sep-20-10 03:43:04 PDT)
DealExtreme: $17.16 C-Media CM106 USB 2.0 External Sound Card Box with 7.1-Speaker SPDIF Optical Output

More to follow

The green module you ordered, 150 mW, I think somebody here said it puts out over 200mW easily, so it's more overspec, which is great.

Instead of buying a correction amp board, I will make mine :


The pic is of a failed attempt at making the PCB unfortunately, doe to my very poor etchant.

I did order new one from ebay though, H2O2 to be precise, to be mixed with HCl.

paulzimm said:

Thank you, but if you read the end of my post I already have that link listed. Only problem is that most of the hardware he links to does not exist anymore. Rather outdated

Click to expand...

if this is the case ill have to go through and relink

Nice set of links there. That's going to help a few people for sure.

Paulzimm, I'm currently putting together my first scanner and I was scratching my head about the ILDA/DB25 thing too. I ordered a DB25 breakout board and I see you have the pinout in one of your posts above.

If you bought the Spacelas set, I THINK you can download the manual here...
Guangzhou Phenix Technology Co.,LTD.

Your power supply that came with your galvos should already have a set of power wires attached, 4 pin. Those go to the 4 pins on your galvo amps. The 6 pin cables go from your drivers to your galvo motors. This is the easy part and from here on, I'm not 100% so hopefully someone will clarify.

The last set of cables that should come with your galvos are 3 pin and there are two sets of 3 pins on the galvo drivers. These cables should be signal input according to Spacelas. One set of 3 pins is right on the side of the circuit board and the other 90 degrees clockwise and closer to the heatsink. The first set, on the edge of the board, should be the signal input. Based on the ILDA pinout, I'm GUESSING that for the X scanner, from left to right on the pins would be ILDA pin#1(+ pin on the amp) ILDA pin#14(- pin on the amp) ILDA pin#25?(0v pin on the amp). Again, I'm not 100% certain about this and this is what I'm trying to verify currently so don't you pros be shy.
The Y amp would follow the same logic, if I'm right, and would be ILDA 2,15,25 to +,-,0v on the Y amp.

Now, the other set of 3 pins are marked, -15v, 0v, +15v. Problem is, I have absolutely no idea what they're for so now we've exhausted my knowledge of the galvo amp wiring.

I may have just stated the obvious in a whole bunch of words but maybe it'll help. If I figure out what that last set of 3 pins is(-15v 0v +15v), I'll pass it along. I won't set my galvos up until I figure it out because I don't want to screw anything up and maybe the next person will stumble upon your thread when they're scratching their head.