Automation1 GL4 Galvo Laser Scan Head Linear Drive

Description

Design Features

• 200 kHz* control eliminates speed-related part distortion such as necking on circles & rounding of corners
• Industry-leading 26-bit scanning resolution with Enhanced Tracking Control (ETC) software for minimizing point-to-point settling times & tracking errors
• On-board real-time 2D calibration for planar distortion correction
• An external clock input for synchronization with mode-locked lasers
• Infinite Field of View (IFOV) combines standard linear & rotary motion to produce scanner trajectories with single-digit micron accuracy over most work area sizes
• PSO allows for commanded laser pulses at up to 12.5 MHZ & latencies as low as 80 nanoseconds, enabling real spatial domain pulse control

*200 kHz full servo rate possible with Automation1 controllers; A3200 v6.04 & newer are limited to 192 kHz servo rate

Automation1

The GL4 is a part of the user-friendly Automation1 motion control platform, which includes the following:

• Development Software
• Controls
• Motor Drives
• Fiber-Optic HyperWire® Communication Bus

Driving the Industry’s Most Accurate & Dynamic Scan Heads

The GL4 2-axis linear servo drive is specifically designed for use with the AGV Scan heads listed below. Use it to drive a single 2D scanner or in concert with the Automation1 XL4 linear single phase servo drive for AGV 3D and 5D scan heads (all connect via a HyperWire communication bus).

• AGV-HP(O) - High accuracy 2D scanner
• AGV-XP(O) - Extreme dynamic, high accuracy 2D scanner
• AGV-3D - High accuracy 3D scanner
• AGV-5D - 5-axis micromachining precession scanner

Advanced Software & Electronics

The GL4 uses advanced interpolation electronics to provide up to 26 bits of effective resolution. With its 200kHz full servo state control, the GL4 uses closed loop position feedback to enable zero tracking error trajectories via feed forward velocity control. This Enhanced Tracking Control (ETC) software allows for precise motor tuning and trajectory mapping. Additionally, on-board real-time 2D calibration ensures accurate beam placement over the entire field of view.

Infinite Field of View (IFOV)

Our Infinite Field of View (IFOV) is a unique, industry-leading solution for the synchronization of linear or rotary servo axes with laser scanners. IFOV produces significant throughput improvements while eliminating stitching errors and part quality issues that result from overlapped and mismatched laser processing. By combining the high-dynamic capabilities of galvo scanners with the travel range of servo stages, parts significantly larger than a scanner’s traditional field of view can be processed continuously with no need to stitch individual working areas together.

Position Synchronized Output (PSO)

Our Position Synchronized Output (PSO) enables you to accurately place a laser spot as a function of X/Y axis position, and it’s a key feature of our linear positioning tables for laser processing applications (see Figures 1 and 2). The GL4 brings this functionality to scanner applications both within the scanner's effective area and within a larger infinite field of view, with IFOV driven by traditional linear and rotary motion. The ability to accurately trigger the laser as a function of position eliminates the need to program mark, jump and polygon delays, resulting in reduced programming complexity. This unique scanner feature enables commanded laser pulses at up to 12.5 MHz and with latencies as low as 80 nanoseconds, allowing for real spatial domain pulse control even under the highest acceleration trajectories.

Remote Linear Amplifier & Drive Architecture

The GL4 uses linear amplifiers, which are the most stable high-performance method for driving galvo scan head motors and provide improved velocity control and position stability. The amplifiers and servo drive components are combined in the GL4’s chassis and intentionally separated from the galvo scan head (an AGV-HP(O), for example) to minimize thermal noise and drift and reduce the scan head’s mass and size. Removing the heat source from the scanner improves system accuracy (see Figures 3 and 4), maximizing performance and precision – and setting our scanner solutions apart from the rest.