How to Choose the Right Galvo Scanner - Zbtk Technology

In any application that requires the use of a laser, a galvo scanner is quite important in ensuring accuracy and swiftness. These devices find numerous applications in engraving, marking, and cutting industry. There are many types of galvo scanners in the market making the process of purchasing the right one a daunting task. This guide will highlight the basic areas that need to be focused on when selecting the appropriate model and how Zbtk is able to offer the best quality galvo scanners.

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What is a Galvo Scanner?

A galvo scanner is a device that controls the laser beam position with high accuracy using a galvanometer through an optical system. Because of its ability to quickly change the position of multiple mirrors, it makes it easy to control the position of the laser and make more intricate designs at faster processing speeds. Galvo scanners can find numerous uses not only in industrial processes but also in artistic processes.

Key Factors to Consider
1. Speed and Performance

The scanning speed of a galvo scanner is vital for efficient operations of the users. The need for high speeds in this case is to allow for fast processing and this is important in production areas. Do not forget to check the specifications describing the maximum values of scanning speed and acceleration values.

2. Images' Resolution, or their Precision – what is it good for?

Resolution is the measure of detail where one level is able to perform a compositional level task. Work at higher resolution gives better results based on complexity levels of the work depending on the designs used. Be sure that the galvo scanner you purchase fits that resolution you need for your applications.

3. Application of Different Wavelengths

Some laser applications may require the use of a particular wavelength. Make sure that the galvo scanner is in turbid compatibility with the wavelength of the laser source irrespective of whether it is fiber, CO2 or any other type. Such compatibility makes sure peak efficiency is achieved.

4. How Well Does the Equipment Last? Is it up to Par? Why or Why not?

Durability is of great importance in industrial environments. Performing galvo scanners that are made up of solid construction are able to endure long use with resilience to abuse. Look out on the materials used for the manufacture of the scanner and any guarantees provided by the company.

Why is Zbtk’s Product Better Than Others?

High Performance: Zbtk based competitive galvo scanners have been designed in a way that not only satisfies the needs of speed but also precision making them useful in a broad range of applications.

Custom Solutions: We provide several models to fit the requirements of the industry relieving our customers from every time seeking a specific model in the market.

The Right Choice of a Galvo Scanner With Continuous Project Support: Our professionals are focused on ensuring that you choose the most appropriate galvo scanner and that they continue supporting you in the implementation of the project.

In the accomplishment of your laser works, it is very critical that you choose the proper galvo scanner. With speed, resolution and other aspects taken into account, a thoughtful choice can be made. I highly recommend Zbtk for the acquisition of equipment such as galvo scanners as they have wide product lines with great quality and able caring professionals. All your needs for a galvo scanner will be satisfied by Zbtk within the shortest time at an excellent quality level.

I would appreciate some feedback to anyone who currently owns a CO2 Galvo machine!

I have a CO2 gantry laser (and also a UV Galvo and Firber/MOPA Galvo) and I recently purchased a CO2 Galvo specifically for faster raster scanning (and to minimize all the side-to-side wear and tear on my gantry).

I even purchased an upgrade ($290) to a Galvo head capable of up to mm/sec…

I can not get a proper raster image on this machine at virtually any reasonable speed. I have run tests at , , , and even mm/sec.

The manufacturer has participated in a Zoom call and even they could not get a proper image as low as . (I was testing on thermal paper so we didn’t go lower as all it would do is burn). No matter what settings we/they tried, I always got a double (skewed image). Basically, the even number rows were pushed in one direction and the odd number rows were pushed in the other. In the end it looks like a double image. Its actually two half-images slightly apart.

The manufacturer is telling me that CO2 lasers are simply not capable of firing fast enough (turning on/off) to keep up with the galvo and that I will need to adjust my speeds lower than mm/sec. To me, this makes the purchase of a CO2 Galvo laser useless. I might as well use my gantry for such slow speeds…

I run my UV Galvo and Fiber Galvo at speeds greater than mm/sec all the time. It appears they are trying to tell me that a CO2 laser can not fire fast enough to run at these speeds.

I think they are just making excuses for a machine which is not properly designed. However, I would like to ask anyone with an actual working experience if they can tell me what the actual maximum biderectional raster scanning speeds their machine is capable of (without corrupting or distorting the image)

Anyone? (Thanks in advance!)

This could be timing on the start and end of the delay… This Laser Everything is done on a galvo fiber, but the mechanism is the same. You can watch it and see it it’s applicable.

Probably true if you want to actually control the tube. You can’t really compare ssl (solid state laser or diode) or fiber (also solid state) with a dc excited tube laser.

The response time for an lps, is usually <= 1mS… At worst case, running mm/s you are covering 1mm in 1mS, the best resolution you can possibly get is 25.4 dpi/lpi.

If you drop it to 500mm/s, you can double it to 50.8 dpi/lpi… 250mm/s is 101.6 dpi…

Few gantry machines can reach that kind of speed.

I’d suspect that your issue is actually a combination of issues. This is my guess…

You can mitigate the response time issue to some extent. When you do something on a co2, for example a line @ 50% power… a dc excited tube can lase at 50% power, whereas a ssl cannot. It’s when you start en/disabling the lps that these delays occur. Such as with an image or dither …

I hope you follow me with the lps/tube response time explanation.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website laser galvo scanner.

Good luck.

Thanks!

I have already watched the video. It is very informative. I will take another pass at the settings. I really appreciate the recommendations!

But, do you guys actually have Galvo CO2 lasers? Before I get all caught up in chasing the optimal values (as the manufacturer clearly did not), I would like to know what my expectations should be. If I have no expectation to reach - mm/sec with my CO2 Galvo then it is of little value to me. I might as well send it back.

What maximum marking speed should I reasonable expect?

Other vendors are advertising , or , but my manufacturer says I need to drop the speed below to get an accurate image!

What settings did you try changing when you were on the call with the manufacturer? @jkwilborn may have been on the right track with checking on timing settings, if you did not try adjusting those yet.

What is the effect you’re getting with your images, and can you share a photo? If you’re seeing a “double image” effect, that is most likely related to Jump Settings. Slower Jump speeds, as well as longer Min and Max Jump delays should help.

When you first set up your device profile in LightBurn, did you import the markcfg7 file from your EZCad folder? If not, the first step is to do that now. That will import the default Jump (and other timing) settings from EZCad.

https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/galvo/Setup.html#importer

If your laser has a glass tube it may well be the case that what the manufacturer is telling you is the final word. However, I can say that the RF CO2 Galvo with we have at HQ is capable of faster speeds.

This was done at mm/sec:

Not a perfect image engraving, but no “double image” effect.

You can see a couple of images which display this issue in my other thread related to this problem at:

https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/t/galvo-ghosting-double-image-and-beam-alignment//1

Also, here was one I sent to the Manufacturer the other day when they kept claiming I needed to scan at or less. (This scan was done at only and it still shows the double image):

If you look closely, you will see all entities are duplicated in the horizontal direction (as that was the way I was scanning). Here is a closeup of the “Y-Axis” text. (Note that the original image has a “-” between “Y” and “Axis” and NOT a “=”. You can also clearly see the image duplication in the “Y” and “X”…)

The image is a little blurry because I’m using thermal paper for testing. Otherwise the hundred or so test images I have made would be a major waste of Acrylic or Wood…

Just to be clear, if I change the scan to vertical, then everything gets duplicated in the vertical direction.

As I’ve mentioned before, I think its actually two half images which are appearing as a duplicate. One half offset in one direction (odd number lines) and the other half in the other (even number lines)

1. Yes, I imported the markcfg7 file from EZCad as soon as I connected the machine. This is what I got:

2. Once I started asking questions about the duplicate/skewed image, the manufacturer immediately told me to change the Laser On TC from 100 to 300. So I did that. Id didn’t help at all.

3. Then after 2.5 hrs on a Zoom call (and remote desktop) with the manufacturer, we still did not have a good image. Even at only mm/sec. Here is the settings they left me with:

4. I started running through all the test cards per the “Timings video” and actually ended up with:

Jump Speed
Min Jump Delay 100
Max Jump Delay 400
(Jump Dist Limit 10.0)

Laser On TC 250
Laser Off TC
(End TC 100)
Polygon TC 350

• Of course the real outliers were the crazy high “Laser Off TC” and the “Polygon TC” (which really shouldn’t matter in a raster scan anyway)

I tried this with my test images and it really blurred things up. I also tried halving the “Laser Off TC” until I got back down “in the neighborhood” but as I got closer top a sharper image, the duplication started appearing again.

One of the issues with running all the tests in the “timings video” (which I did) is that it only uses unidirectional scanning. My problems only really get exposed if scanning in both directions. Otherwise, there is no way to notice the shift in the image. I don’t think its “mirror slop” unless both mirrors/motors have exactly the same slop…

But my original question STILL stands. Can anyone with a Galvo CO2 please tell me what the max scanning speed they can realistically use for bidirectional scanning? It would seem to me that “less than ” is way below expectations. None of my other Galvos are anywhere near that slow…

So even after working meticulously to follow the video and get my timings correct on my “test cards”, I’m still seeing a skewed (double) image on my full size jobs.

My test cards are “perfect” for both and mm/sec (bidirectional). But when I try to scan my full size job (at either speed using the corresponding settings) I’m still getting a double image! Its not as bad as it was, but its still clearly visible.

If I disable Bidirectional scanning the problem goes away. But with bidirectional scanning, its like my Galvo is loosing track of the horizontal origin. It seems to use one origin when scanning left and a slightly different origin when scanning right.

One could guess that its a difference in error between “Laser On TC” and “Laser Off TC” (as they would “switch ends” as the bean turns around) but my calibration test cards are spot on… (albeit the required “Laser Off TC” values appear excessively high…)

Here is the mm/sec “Laser ON TC” (start) side:

…and Here is the “Laser Off TC” (end) side (with “Polygon TC” in the upper right):

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