Controlling ultrafast, adaptable and synchronized cascaded scan systems for laser materials processing

This paper presents an advanced control architecture for cascaded scan systems in laser materials processing. The control architecture enables full motion synchronization and user defined adaption of scan strategies for cascaded components. The central requirements for controlling a cascaded scan system are discussed and the challenges and capabilities of the new setup are analyzed. Finally, processing results of a full functional three-stage cascaded scan system consisting of two acousto-optical deflectors, a galvanometer scan head and linear stages are presented to illustrate the use of cascaded systems in additive manufacturing and micro machining. A laser spot position update rate of up to 3.2 MHz in two dimensions can be achieved.