Hexastorm: an open-hardware laser scanner
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:52 am
Technology: laser scanner using a transparent polygon with a single bundle
Company: Hexastorm
Scan spot speed: 100 to 467 meters per second.
Spot size: 60 micrometers
Scientific Article: http://reprap.org/wiki/Transparent_polygon_scanner
Abstract: The key invention is that Hexastorm is able to achieve a high spot quality and orthogonal incidence without an f-theta lens
Impact: Laser scanners are widely used. The technology has a large impact. The photo-polymer market has a market cap of 300 million dollars and the PCB market a market cap of 60 billion dollars. The technology could also be useful for laser sintering etc..
Patent: None; Open-hardware Startup
Financiers: Self-funding (AKA bootstrapping)
Money: $10K to date
Note: the technology is used to create parts, 3D printing. The scanner is not used to record information, like a scanner in the office.
Hexastorm tried to obtain funding via a kickstarter see here
This failed as the technology was too immature. As a result, it is being further developed as a semi open-source project. The project is only made open-source to those who collaborate.
A presentation of the technology can be seen here:
Technical presentation which outlines the optics (quite hard to follow and might be boring)
Demonstration of the scanner (only core technology not printer)
The scanner has been tested directly via a CCD camera.The kit has been in the news ,
Best,
Pizzaslice = Hexastorm
Company: Hexastorm
Scan spot speed: 100 to 467 meters per second.
Spot size: 60 micrometers
Scientific Article: http://reprap.org/wiki/Transparent_polygon_scanner
Abstract: The key invention is that Hexastorm is able to achieve a high spot quality and orthogonal incidence without an f-theta lens
Impact: Laser scanners are widely used. The technology has a large impact. The photo-polymer market has a market cap of 300 million dollars and the PCB market a market cap of 60 billion dollars. The technology could also be useful for laser sintering etc..
Patent: None; Open-hardware Startup
Financiers: Self-funding (AKA bootstrapping)
Money: $10K to date
Note: the technology is used to create parts, 3D printing. The scanner is not used to record information, like a scanner in the office.
Hexastorm tried to obtain funding via a kickstarter see here
This failed as the technology was too immature. As a result, it is being further developed as a semi open-source project. The project is only made open-source to those who collaborate.
A presentation of the technology can be seen here:
Technical presentation which outlines the optics (quite hard to follow and might be boring)
Demonstration of the scanner (only core technology not printer)
The scanner has been tested directly via a CCD camera.The kit has been in the news ,
Best,
Pizzaslice = Hexastorm