Recommendations for Small, High-Precision Laser Projector

Greetings,

My lab is interested in experimenting in the space between laser projectors and laser video projectors. For the moment, we plan to project onto objects at roughly human scale (i.e. anywhere between 8' x 8' to a pencil), write text, and otherwise just see what lasers can and cannot do.

We'd like to purchase an ILDA controllable RGB laser with the highest possible precision and widest – I don't quite know the terminology – possible 'projection angle'. I understand that these things are probably inversely related, so some advice on the tradeoffs would be helpful. Power is not at all a concern and we can probably spend serious money, though, of course, cheap is good.

I fear that lasers are not made for this purpose, so they are probably all far too powerful for our purposes, but I figure you good folks might be able to help me steer through the landscape.

Thanks!

*nyancat

That change in scale is quite large, but I suspect you'll find that adjusting focussing is an issue you'll find more challenging than scan angle.

EDIT:
Worth mentioning that scanners like 'WideMoves' that can do wide scan angles at close range might ease focussing to sharp point on target, but are lousy at very tiny changes in scan angle so you can lose detail that way. I never found a strong answer as to which galvos best handle the really small scan moves best, and I got the feelign that a person could spend a LOT of money trying to find out. Sharp focus on a wall probably needs longer range anyway, because otherwise you're better off projecting on the inside of a sphere to maintain distance. So long range eases that problem, and creates new ones..

If you're looking for accurate repeatability you really need to be looking at CT6215hp scanners. These scanners have accurate placement each and every time and can be relied upon, they are also capable of scanning at fairly wide angles. There would be nothing look worse than the 'registration' being out by various amounts each time you ran the shows, especially if you were projecting both video and laser together. The scanners are expensive, but you could be disappointed with anything else.

You also might want to contact Pangolin as they are currently working on some new scanners. These are likely to be of extremely good quality and may possibly be at a slightly more competitive price than the CT's.

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We'd like to purchase an ILDA controllable RGB laser with the highest possible precision and widest .. possible 'projection angle'

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Welcome to PL Skiptracer.
There are several businesses here who are members of PL. I'm sure Marc of CT Lasers or X-Laser US would be able to accommodate your needs.

-updated-

In addition to those mentioned above, there are many very talented people here who can build high speed/ high accuracy laser projectors. Are you interested in high quality scanners only, or a fully assembled turnkey or build to order laser projector?

It depends on what power you need for video an all diode rig would give you better color modulation. As for which galvos to get the CTs are probably your best bet. I also think the Micro case here would make a nice host for said RGB solid state rig. But that isn't going to get you too much power, if you need more power color correction boards for DPSS etc will need to come into play. For software if you want to code it all your self look at LFI Player on source forge for a start if you want commercial products the current main players are LSX and (choice of dac) or Pangolin which you would need to get the QM2K DACs to support API interfaces for programming. Other people will chime in just my two cents.

Adam

Thanks everybody for the responses so far.

@The_Doctor Why is it that laser pico projectors are in focus at any distance while laser projectors have focus issues? One of the reasons we want to work with lasers is that we had assumed that they would always been in focus, unlike video projectors.

@Jem Thanks for bringing up accuracy – it's good to know that would be an issue. I'll have a look at the product you recommended as well as Pangolin. If there are people from either company on this forum, I'd love to talk to them. Quick question: a "scanner" is the motorized mirror assembly? Does one point a laser at a scanner? I don't quite have the vocabulary down. Any links to FAQs, tutorials, books, etc. that would help with terminology would be much appreciated.

@steve-o I'm very interested in talking to both business and individuals with the right chops. I'll PM you and maybe you can hook me up with some folks.

@sugeek What would the alternative to a diode rig be? Thanks for the case recommendation... I was imagining we would find something off the shelf, but it looks like you guys are taking it for granted that building something custom is the way to go. Looks like Platinum is in Oregon... I'm in Portland, probably good people to know.

I'd love it if more people chimed in – the more leads the better!

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Originally Posted by skiptracer

@sugeek What would the alternative to a diode rig be? Thanks for the case recommendation... I was imagining we would find something off the shelf, but it looks like you guys are taking it for granted that building something custom is the way to go. Looks like Platinum is in Oregon... I'm in Portland, probably good people to know.

I'd love it if more people chimed in – the more leads the better!

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The advantage being modulation DPSS green lasers do not have a linear modulation curve as well as you noted you wanted low power. I also should note a member drlava is in the Portland area and produces drivers (flexmod3 and software LSX). Laserbiker is also in Portland and is a very nice guy. I also used to be from Oregon... but there are more jobs where I am now than in PDX. I would suggest getting a hold of Platinum and he can probably help you out quite a bit and save you a lot of time. If you want a varianced projector slickrick (slick lasers) out of Seattle has a very good lawyer he works with.

All that being said a microvision picoprojector could also work for you it uses a 2-D MEMS but they are not very bright.

Adam

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Originally Posted by skiptracer

@The_Doctor Why is it that laser pico projectors are in focus at any distance while laser projectors have focus issues? One of the reasons we want to work with lasers is that we had assumed that they would always been in focus, unlike video projectors.

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It's a matter of scale and divergence. While coherent light can be made to appear as if it came from a distance tending to the infinite, it always diverges, and in laser diodes, it does it a lot and always need lenses to tame them. The always-in-focus thing works well enough if you've got a beam around 0.5 to 2mm wide, and your projection scale is a screen a few feet wide several feet away, but you mentioned being able to scale it to projection on a pencil! :) To do that you'd need to focus it down to a fine point like any other light source. The main difference being that where a 'normal' light emitter's spot size minimum is related mainly to emitter geometry and scale (combined with lens size and focal length), in laser light it's mainly related to wavelength. 'Diffraction limited'. But you'll still need fine control of focus if you're projecting on a tiny scale, for engraving, for example.. It could be easy enough though, a long focal length with a fairly small lens will avoid depth-of-field issues if your range is significantly longer than projection plane width. That would ease the scanning demands. If you laid it right, you might get very fast scans off very small mirrors for small-scale work, but I doubt you could easily, let alone smoothly, scale this kind of operation up to a wall-scanning thing.

Hi Skip. Welcome to PL :)

I'm keeping an eye on this thread as I am learning the ropes and want to build something that has nice tight beams for graphics highlighting.

You might find this thread helpful(I ask about beam focussing). Planters builds some amazing kit, posts great videos and explains things simply to newbs like me!

Keith

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Originally Posted by skiptracer

..We'd like to purchase an ILDA controllable RGB laser with the highest possible precision and widest...possible 'projection angle'. I understand that these things are probably inversely related, so some advice on the tradeoffs would be helpful. Power is not at all a concern and we can probably spend serious money...

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Can highly recommend the 'Compact' line from RGB Lasersystems, Hungary, rep'd by Lighting Systems Design ('LSDI') here in the US..

Attachment 40398Attachment 40401

...these systems are *really*, uh.. 'compact'. :p
Attachment 40395 ..and about the toughest and 'smartest' (thermal-management design / exterior convergence-controls access.. (priceless feature, if Graphics are important..) designs on the market.. Yes, they have a 'corresponding pricetag', but.. Quite 'competetive' with similar-caliber quality systems found in Europe.. Highest-precision galvos available (just-about..) and very-tight, single-mode diode sources / VCSEL green (fast modulation.)

Fully US Certified, and they. just. rock. See some examples, here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...4271029&type=3 (..top 4 shots, 'NASA' shot, 'Orb', LP, BrokenBells, etc..) etc ,etc..

...yes I am 'prejudiced'.. :) I bank a living on these PJs, so.. 'kinda like 'em'.. PM me if you want more specs / details..

hope this helps.. :cool:
ciao
j

They look great. Very interested in the external divergence control ..... TEM00..... maybe I should make some money first eh? :P

i don't know if discoscan lens by pangolin would work on this project, but contact with pangolin and give it a try :P