X Y Scanner for Laser Pointer

To be able to display fixed or animated simple pictures or some characters from a PC, this project demonstrates the construction of a very low cost X Y scanner for a laser pointer.

The construction involves the use of old CD player in order to obtain the lens actuator which is used to set the distance between focal lens and CD. The lens were removed and glued again with the axis of the lens perpendicular to actuator motion. The second lens was glued a few mm from the first which helps deflect the laser beam when the actuator moves in X or Y direction. Depending on the distance between the scanner and target, the distance between the lens must be adjusted.

Also included in the system are two low cost standard thin metal piezo. It is possible to install 8 mirrors on a cylinder where the 1st mirror is perpendicular at 90° from axis, 2nd is 91°…8th is 98°. This way, the drum can scan 8 parallel lines in order to write characters when the cylinder rotates. To function like scanner, the hard disk head must rotate very quickly at 20° angle.

Rest of the project