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Thread: Swapping scanners?

  1. #1
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    Default Swapping scanners?

    Just got the LaserCube Venum (1W @ 520nm) and I messed up in the original order and only got the 20k scanners...(I think there is a 40k option).

    I have some 40k scanners in my Able Lasers AB-I system and they seem to be the same size.

    Are most scanners designed the same, in that I can just swap them out? Are the drivers generally the same? Or there are certain power requirements/tuning of the drivers that would make this swap a bad idea?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    mixedgas's Avatar
    mixedgas is offline Creaky Old Award Winning Bastard Technologist
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    Swap both the drivers and amps, each driver is tuned and paired to the matching scanner.

    Steve
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  3. #3
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    Short and simple. Keep your scanners matched with their respective drivers. Pinouts can be different. Coil impedence can be different and feedback sensors can be different. That isn't even mentioning the tuning. Even if they are made by the same manufacturer, if you change galvos, even for the same speed galvos, there's a 98% chance you will need to retune. I have really only seen high-end scanners where the tuning for the replacement galvo matches (closely) the existing galvos. Even then, LFD, HFD and Servo need a slight tweak.
    If you're the smartest person in the room, then you're in the wrong room.

  4. #4
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    Ah...got it. Thank you both for the replies.

    I guess my plan was a bit too ambitious then, as the drivers for the Able projector are pretty large and wouldn't fit inside a lasercube, thus defeating the purpose

    Oh well, back to the drawing board....

    Thanks again!!

  5. #5
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    I have swapped my galvos on 1 1w lasercube.
    It is possible yes (small dual board only or if really lucky hope that you have a small profile single board).

    In my modded lasercube is a 30kpps dual board amp and it just BARELY fits. However the power circuitry isn't high voltage differential and the peaks for blanking jumps isnt all that great.. so you can get "close to good tuning at 20kpps" but that's where it is.

    Your angle also is limited because of the current it can draw (hence the projection angle on the cube is smaller then most projectors)

    If you end up doing this: You will need to retune to compensate for the power circuitry limitations... unless you add your own dc-dc converters and tap directly of the batteries but you lose the power and thermal cut off (unless you find out where that runs and how much you can take from that all)

    I can tell you though that a scanner swap and a power circuitry mod adds a lot to the cost of the cube itself.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by masterpj View Post
    I have swapped my galvos on 1 1w lasercube.
    It is possible yes (small dual board only or if really lucky hope that you have a small profile single board).

    In my modded lasercube is a 30kpps dual board amp and it just BARELY fits. However the power circuitry isn't high voltage differential and the peaks for blanking jumps isnt all that great.. so you can get "close to good tuning at 20kpps" but that's where it is.

    Your angle also is limited because of the current it can draw (hence the projection angle on the cube is smaller then most projectors)

    If you end up doing this: You will need to retune to compensate for the power circuitry limitations... unless you add your own dc-dc converters and tap directly of the batteries but you lose the power and thermal cut off (unless you find out where that runs and how much you can take from that all)

    I can tell you though that a scanner swap and a power circuitry mod adds a lot to the cost of the cube itself.
    Thanks! Good info to know! Ok, not as simple as I thought it might be...will stick with the AT20 scanners in it for now. I've found good improvements by just using different software (LaserShowGen) vs. the LaserOS software. Allows more granular control over things like FPS, which LOS does not. Can get some decent text and graphics with low flicker using the Cube + LSG

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