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Thread: What's everyone using for beam switching these days?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
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    18

    Default What's everyone using for beam switching these days?

    Hey guys, been a while since I've posted and my little .6W RGB laser has morphed into a .9W 30K, and will soon find its way into its new enclosure. I was toying with the idea of adding a line grating/burst/someother optical effect, and was wondering what everyone's using for beam switching nowadays. Aside from the eBay GM20s etc... does anyone even make actuators anymore? I remember in the good ol' days there were a few, GM20s, MFEs, the STP-8Xs, etc... but recent googling turned up a big "We don't know what you're talking about".

    I'm yearning for that metallic "THUNK". Any ideas? Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Northern Indiana
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    921

    Default

    If you what a "thunk" use a ledex rotary solenoid.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    373

    Default

    Ledex Rotary Solenoids or ScannerMax VRAD 506's. I've got both in my beam table. I like the VRADs much better; they are faster and run much cooler.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    1,478

    Default

    ... or high geared servo-motors

    https://vimeo.com/95379146

    https://vimeo.com/95512748

    Viktor
    Aufruf zum Projekt "Müll-freie Meere" - https://reprap.org/forum/list.php?426
    Call for the project "garbage-free seas" - https://reprap.org/forum/list.php?425

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Orlando, FL
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    373

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    Quote Originally Posted by VDX View Post
    ... or high geared servo-motors

    https://vimeo.com/95379146

    https://vimeo.com/95512748

    Viktor
    Those are NICE servos!

    At one point I tried higher end hobby servos (something like nicer MG-90s) for beam steering and actuation...they were serviceable, but had serious issues with jitter. That being said, I wouldn't dare use them for anything critical.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Germany
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    ... have them salvaged from a dental-3D-scanner (Maxxon servos, normally pretty expensive!) -- they are geared with 400:1, so not this fast ... two other, with identical size, were even slower (but more precise too) with 800:1

    Found some "coarser" servos in the meantime (one with harmonic-drive), so will eventually build another "servo-scanner"

    Viktor
    Aufruf zum Projekt "Müll-freie Meere" - https://reprap.org/forum/list.php?426
    Call for the project "garbage-free seas" - https://reprap.org/forum/list.php?425

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Germany
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    ... here, found two other of the smaller servos and the one with harmonic-drive (have some other with NEMA23-size and 2000 or 4096 lpi encoders).

    But maybe interesting too are "motor-driven potentiometers" - essentially a servo with a (precision) trim-pot instead of encoder

    Viktor
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 3-Servos.jpg  

    3-Motor-Potis.jpg  

    Aufruf zum Projekt "Müll-freie Meere" - https://reprap.org/forum/list.php?426
    Call for the project "garbage-free seas" - https://reprap.org/forum/list.php?425

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Isla Mujeres
    Posts
    14

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    Anyone besides me used one of these for switching?

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/26426699410...&ul_noapp=true

    Steve

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Brooklyn NYC
    Posts
    839

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    we have these new light weight shutters with built in drivers i never tested them with a load on the flag but i would guess if its not very heavy mirror i should work just fine and the cost $35 each
    they need 12v drive 5v signal

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Orlando, FL
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    373

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    Quote Originally Posted by Vger View Post
    Anyone besides me used one of these for switching?

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/26426699410...&ul_noapp=true

    Steve
    Yes. I do.

    Variable beam splitters are amazing, but you aren't going to get galvo-like speeds out of them. I use them on my optical-bench/beam table-type projectors for changing the ratio of beam being sent to the scanner and grating paths. TBH, I really only find myself using it in 3 positions: 100% to scanners/0% to gratings, 0% to scanners/100% to gratings, 50% to gratings/50% to scanners.

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