Just a moving line, please help

[mattmagic100]

Hi, i havent posted here much, iv just been reading.
but iv put together all of the components today. there were a few problems at first but i was able to fix those. unfortunately, when i try to play the test frame on spaghetti (while the laser is already on), the galvos barely move and when the laser hits them, it starts making a line that gets wider and shorter. oddly, when i put my ear closer to the galvos, i hear "beats" going to the movement of the laser. Ill post pictures and a vid tomorrow.are they just not tuned well? because i thought that before im gonna start tuning i should see where they are at, at the moment. but if anyone can give any suggestions at all, please do, thanks!

Details-

• 20kpps galvos
• Soundcard dac w/ laserboy correction amp from ElektroFreaks tutorial
• Correction amp is tuned and dac is set correctly
• wiring is correct (i hope)

Thanks again!~

Matt

[ElektroFreak]

is the line vertical, horizontal or diagonal?

[Phredy1]

Sounds to me like you only have one galvo working. I accidently unplugged a wire on my galvo and it did the same thing.

-Gene

[mattmagic100]

its horizantal.
i would be pretty upset if it didnt work

[norty303]

So a good first line of investigation might be to check all of the connections associated with the vertically scanning galvo. A multimeter might assist you in determining where you are getting signal, and where not.

So methodically:
Is there signal from the DAC?
Is there signal at the driver board?
Is there signal out of the driver board?
IS there signal at the galvo?

[Banthai]

mattmagic said

i would be pretty upset if it didnt work

But thats what building your own laser is all about .... nothing ever works perfectly first time
the education is in lerning how to put it right

then next time something goes wrong in the area ... you will know exactly what to do to fix it

so ..... dont worry ... just start looking why ... and eliminate possible causes

all the best ... karl

[norty303]

mattmagic said

the education is in lerning how to put it right

Still some work to go here I see

[mattmagic100]

So a good first line of investigation might be to check all of the connections associated with the vertically scanning galvo. A multimeter might assist you in determining where you are getting signal, and where not.

So methodically:
Is there signal from the DAC?
Is there signal at the driver board?
Is there signal out of the driver board?
IS there signal at the galvo?

Sounds good i will definitely try that. but first, can you tell me how i would do that with a DMM?

mattmagic said


But thats what building your own laser is all about .... nothing ever works perfectly first time
the education is in lerning how to put it right

then next time something goes wrong in the area ... you will know exactly what to do to fix it

so ..... dont worry ... just start looking why ... and eliminate possible causes

all the best ... karl

That actually made me feel a lot better. i know that it takes some trial and error, but when your kinda down on cash, its frustrating. but i will try my hardest to fix it. =]
i just need some help, and thankfully, you guys are here =]]

[mattmagic100]

this is how i set it up so far..


would the problem be that my laser psu/driver, doesnt have a ground?
did i put the blue wire from the laser psu/driver into the wrong spot in the breakout board?

[Phredy1]

i know that it takes some trial and error, but when your kinda down on cash, its frustrating.

A ski mask and water pistol and go the bank?

-Gene