How the galvanometer mirror works. Once used for scientific instruments, now vital to laser scanners

HUDSON, N.H. - April 23, 2014 - PRLog -- Hudson NH, March 18, 2014—Nutfield Technology (http://www.nutfieldtech.com) the leader in galvanometer laser scanner manufacturing thinks everyone should know about the galvanometer mirror and what it does. The first galvanometer (galvo without a mirror) was developed in 1826. While this was much more than a century before the laser was invented, these first galvo devices were used in various scientific instruments until reliable electronic amplifiers were developed. In 1856, the galvanometer mirror was further advanced by William Thompson when he adapted a galvo to detect faint signals transmitted through transatlantic cables. He was knighted as Lord Kelvin for his work.

Today the high-speed galvanometer mirror is used to control the x and y directions of scanning lasers. These devices are used in many applications from laser light shows and laser marking, to laser machining, wafer dicing, barcode readers, and laser ablation. The mirrors are attached to high-speed, limited rotation dc motors and the motion is governed by an internal position detector to allow feedback control of the motor. This is done through a signal that provides position information that is proportional to the rotation of the motor.

Nutfield has recently introduced a new laser scan head with a galvanometer mirror that controls the laser in a three-axis configuration. Called the Contour, it allows for intricate engraving of contoured surfaces.

For more information about the galvanometer mirror or the Contour laser scan head, or any of Nutfield Technology’s line of highly precise laser scan heads, please visit http://www.nutfieldtech.com.

About Nutfield Technology
Nutfield Technology has been designing and manufacturing advanced galvanometer based optical scanners, scan heads, laser scan kits, and scan control software and hardware since 1997.  As the one-stop solution for laser scanning, Nutfield Technology has a full product line ideally suited for most laser scanning applications.  Nutfield Technology is located in Hudson, New Hampshire, 30 miles north of Boston with representation in the U.S., Europe and Asia. For more details visit us at: http://www.nutfieldtech.com