Newbie needs help with Galvo Steppers

[pcfixit]

Hey.
Does anyone know where i can get the sort of stepper motors shown on the attatched image?
Ive searched high and low for them and cant find anywhere that sells them. :-?
Please Write Back
Alex

 

[Buffo]

They pop up on E-bay all the time. Search for "Galvo" and you'll find them. I wouldn't pay any more than $20 for them though.

In fact, Chris Leubner is running an auction for those exact steppers right now. Search for auction item # 300196337893 and you'll find it. (Can't post links yet, or I'd link you direct to the auction.)

Note that these are actually pretty lousy for laser show use; they're better than nothing of course, but you can actually get better response by using the voice coil of an old speaker to move a mirror...

Adam

 

[andy_con]

rings a bell

http://www.laser-man.co.uk/2006/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=6

 

[Buffo]

Hi Andy!

Yeah, I decided to jump in over here too. (Like I didn't already have enough posts to keep up with on PhotonLexicon, right?) ;D

Good to see a familiar face. Cheers dude...

Adam

 

[andy_con]

yeah this is a good pointer forum mate

 

[pcfixit]

Thanks for your help guys!
Just out of interest, how can you interface a voice coil to a microprocessor to create a multi line liquid sky and other effects? Also do you know of any other laser projector projects other than the one by Elm Chan and Norm?


Alex

 

[Buffo]

You can use the output from your sound card to generate a liquid sky effect. Load up a 100 Hz tone and play it through the speaker. That will rock the mirror back and fourth 100 times per second, giving you a smooth fan of light. Add a little fog and you're all set. (Of course, you need to mount the mirror on the speaker so that as the cone moves in and out, the mirror rocks back and fourth, and you'll have an annoying hum coming from the thing all the time, but it's about the cheapest laser show you can build.)

Adam

 

[rog8811]

The step up from loudspeakers is the drive units from old laser disk drives, they sometimes come up on ebay as well........like speaker coils mounted as a pair with mirrors attached and again they can interface directly with your sound card.
This thread has description and photo....
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1189380713/0

Oh and hi Buffo, thanks for your help elsewhere

Regards rog8811

 

[pcfixit]

Thanks for all your help guys. Im deciding to go down the LaserDisc Galvo route. But if that doesnt work, I will try speakers. Failing that, I might consider going back to stepper motors.

Alex