Scannermax 506s

[mixedgas]

I will invoice everybody this evening for the amplifiers. I ordered the parts to match Bill's latest revision, today.

[f150trk21]

so what beam size do these large mirrors accommodate?

[Carl B]

so what beam size do these large mirrors accommodate?

I have just made payment to pangolin for my two sets of 506's with modified DT40 amps.
The mirrors fitted to them are for a 5mm beam scanned through 50 degrees X and Y and I think these are the same size that Steve is working with.

[tribble]

I just re-read this thread trying to get a picture of what the current options for obtaining a working 506 scan set are, but am not sure I succeeded. Please check me on this:

1: Wait for Pangolin's amp, ETA unknown, and buy a complete set;
2: Buy a set through Kvant using their amp, currently available (?);
3: Buy scanners directly from Bill, pending individual availability outside of their large contract runs, and then:
3a: acquire and mod an amp per Bill's PDF and try to make your own cables;
3b: acquire a modded amp from Steve with cables included; (any units still available?)

I'm pretty sure I don't have the nuances of Steve's arrangement correct, and there may be some other options I've missed. Is that about the decision space for someone looking to build a projector around the 506 this summer/fall?

[mixedgas]

Let me clarify, I'm selling scanner amps and cables for the 506s. The amps are modified to Bill's specifications. I purchase the amps and do the SMD soldering to install the modifications, and I make the cables.

The C506 Scanners are ordered directly from Pangolin. I just spoke to Justin, price is 250$ a Pair (1-10 pairs) for the C506 with mirrors and mount, delivery is less then 4 weeks. Demand is high, but production is ramped up, with two people on the scanner build team and others helping out. Odds are your scanners will ship in around two weeks.

I will pre-tune the amplifiers to be close enough for a user to do final tuning. If need be I will be glad to tune with new in the box, unused scanners, provided any additional packaging and shipping is paid both ways.

The option now is buy my amps, or wait for Pangolin's digital amps.

How this works for my side:

To get good pricing on the amp cores and the specialized, tiny, cable material, I have to order amps in Lots of 20 pairs. Shipping on the amps comes at a high premium from that region of China, working out to close to 150$ a box for guaranteed delivery. Single pair AMP ONLY pricing from my vendor basically equals the cost of buying the amps plus Chinese Scanners, but going bulk makes them happy, and brings the cost down low enough for me to do this. The "Mini CT" connectors are expensive as well, costing about 15$ per Galvo. The work has to be done under a stereo microscope.


Steve

[laserist]

$250 a pair - when I asked the target was 75 % of a comparable Cambridge galvo - I'm totally in favor of altruism, but 50% of not quite compairable Chinese?

[Stiffler]

$250 a pair - when I asked the target was 75 % of a comparable Cambridge galvo - I'm totally in favor of altruism, but 50% of not quite compairable Chinese?

Sooo you are upset that they are cheaper than you thought?

[White-Light]

$250 a pair - when I asked the target was 75 % of a comparable Cambridge galvo - I'm totally in favor of altruism, but 50% of not quite compairable Chinese?

Yeah but don't forget these are the 506's, the low cost galvos.

From memory the estimate regarding the Cambridge galvo's was for the Scannermax Saturns.

I think the target for 506's was about the same as DT's. I presume from that pricing of $250 for the galvos alone, they will probably be there or there abouts when you add in the digital amps.

[laserist]

Shaft, magnet, bearings, housing, position sensor, connector, end cover, mirrors, fixturing, assembly, and testing - no I'm not upset that they're cheaper than I inferred - I'd just love to understand the costing model - there's a lot of cost involved in manufacturing that I didn't even mention above - It's been my experience that you don't always get what you pay for, but you rarely get more.

[mixedgas]

Shaft, magnet, bearings, housing, position sensor, connector, end cover, mirrors, fixturing, assembly, and testing - no I'm not upset that they're cheaper than I inferred - I'd just love to understand the costing model - there's a lot of cost involved in manufacturing that I didn't even mention above - It's been my experience that you don't always get what you pay for, but you rarely get more.

Laserist, From what I was told during my visit to Orlando last year, there is already a large industrial user of 506. That means we are safely benefitting from Economies of Scale.


Steve