Automation1 GI4 Laser Scan Head Controller

Description

Design Features

• Laser scan head control for two & three-axis XY2-100 and XY3-100 scanners
• Increases system performance with infinite field of view (IFOV), enabling optimized machine throughput & eliminating stitching errors while maintaining effective pixel resolution
• Minimizes spot distortion by using the central region of your focusing objective (enabled by IFOV)
• Offers marking on the fly for line-follower and other dynamic applications
• Manages laser spot placement with precision using Part-Speed PSO (position synchronized output)
• Features laser control interface with YAG, CO2 & general purpose operating modes

Automation1

The GI4 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

The GI4 is an ideal device for machine builders. Not only does it include multiple I/O points, it also connects to the Automation1-iSMC motion control via the HyperWire motion bus side-by-side with other Automation1 drive electronics. The iSMC’s default G-code support couples nicely with the GI4’s standard 3-axis XY2-100 or new higher-resolution XY3-100 support to make all types of laser systems easy to deploy. Even high-end 3D printing processes are implemented as simply as traditional 2D processes such as laser etching, laser engraving, laser cutting, laser welding and laser ablation.

The GI4 includes a data array with more than 67 MB of memory, which enables bitmap and grayscale processes. Simply download laser on/off control arrays or high-resolution grayscale values to the drive array, then call upon these values, synchronized with motion, to control laser firing and power. Use Part-Speed PSO to ensure accurate and consistent pulse-to-pulse spacing while calling on the drive array’s memory to control each laser firing event.

Do all of this while tracking the positions of your servo axes in combination with your galvo scan head axes using IFOV. Simply route your servo axes position feedback from the Automation1 servo drives to the GI4 and the GI4 will combine the galvo and servo positions to accurately control your process. Even if not a hard requirement, using IFOV can help improve throughput and quality by optimizing laser on time and limiting the scan head motion to the central region of the focusing objective.

See Infinite Field of View (IFOV) and Position Synchronized Output (PSO) to learn more.

Two HyperWire connections make it simple to connect the GI4 with other Automation1 drive hardware in a multi-axis configuration. The device is CE approved and EU 2015/863 RoHS 3 directive certified.