What Is a Galvanometer? | Understanding Laser Powder Bed Fusion
The “galvo” steers the laser beam. Part of a series of videos on laser powder bed fusion filmed by looking at an open-source additive manufacturing machine.
Scroll to unlock this premium content if video does not play.
In a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing machine, the galvanometer, or “galvo,” is the hardware element using coordinated mirror motion to precisely steer the laser beam. The laser itself is fixed, but its beam is in motion thanks to the galvo. A laser beam following a seemingly simple and continuous path through a powder bed, to melt the metal along that path, is probably in fact responding to complex set of precise angular moves of multiple mirrors reflecting the beam from one mirror to another.
At the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where researchers have developed an open-source laser powder bed fusion system built from standard third-party hardware, we filmed a series of videos on fundamental elements of laser powder bed fusion — including this video that takes a look at the galvanometer and the important role it plays.
Transcript
Coming soon.
Related Content
-
Video: Intelligent Layering Metal 3D Printing at 3DEO
Contract manufacturer 3DEO delivers metal parts using Intelligent Layering, a binder jetting-like 3D printing process the company developed and operates internally. Here’s how it works.
-
NIOSH Publishes 3D Printing Safety Guide for Nonindustrial Settings
NIOSH has published a 3D printing safety guide for small businesses and other additive manufacturing users such as makerspace users, schools, libraries and small businesses.
-
The AM Ecosystem, User Journeys and More from Formnext Forum Austin: AM Radio #43
Sessions and conversations at the first U.S. Formnext event highlighted the complete additive manufacturing ecosystem, sustainability, the importance of customer education, AM user journeys and much more.
