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20381-D02
Single- and Dual-Axis Scanning Galvo Systems for Large Beam Diameters
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting
5.1 Common Problems
Some of the more common problems encountered when using galvanometers are
details below.
Motor fails to respond to the command signal
This can occur for a number of reasons. The most likely are:
1) power is not correctly applied to the board
2) one of the cables is faulty or not connected properly
3) a fault has been triggered
4) the device has been disabled either by placing a jumper across JP4 pins 1 and 2
or by placing a jumper across JP4 pins 2 and 3 and pulling J7 pin 4 to ground.
Instability of the scanner
If uncontrolled, instability of the scanner will cause a whistiling or schreeching noise
and uncontrolled movement of the scanner. It will also cause large current to be drawn
by the motor and the motor will move spontaneously and unpredictably. If this occurs
the user should turn off power to the driver boards immediately to prevent damage to
the scanners.
However under normal circumstances the instability should be detected by the fault
control circuitry. In this case the behaviour most likely to be observed by the user is
the following: The mirror will suddenly jump from one position to another (probably
with a short burst of whistling) and stop and remain still. After a delay of a few seconds
the mirror will jump to another position and so on. Here when the mirror is stopped a
fault has been triggered and the driver board is disabled. The only movement is during
the brief period when the fault control circuitry tries to resume normal operation.
Instability can occur for a number of reasons. The most common is if the driver board
is incorrectly tuned to the motor. This can occur if the board is connected to a different
motor to the one it was originally sold with or if one of the potentiometers have been
tampered with. Another common cause for instability is if the motor is driven at large
amplitudes and high frequencies then the electronics may be unable to control the
scanner.
Note
After powering the boards, there may be a delay of up to 10 seconds before the
motors start to follow the command signal.
Summary of Contents for GVS011
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