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I'm searching for a (commercial) projector that just projects a single laser point into the world (e.g. using two moving mirrors). However, I'm struggling because I'm not sure what such a thing is called. I either find area projectors that use lasers, party equipment or laser pointers.

What is the name for such a device?

Mark Booth
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FooTheBar
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  • What's your application? Are you looking to purchase a finished solution or are you okay with DIY? – Chuck Aug 07 '15 at 13:22
  • I want to check if you can build some kind of Human Robot Interface with the system. And I'd rather buy something as I currently have more funding than time. – FooTheBar Aug 07 '15 at 20:10

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The underlying mechanism used by high performance laser painting devices is usually a galvo (Galvanometer scanner, Laser Galvanometer or Mirror Galvanometer).

High performance galvos, like this one from scanlab are essential to the laser micro-machining (drilling, cutting, marking) industries:

Scanlab mirror galvanometer from Wikipedia

Their cost and performance may significantly exceed your requirements however. These are designed to position themselves in microseconds, to sub-micron (near field) accuracy.

I have no association with Scanlab, but I worked for many years in the laser micro-machining industry and they are the products I'm most familiar with.

Mark Booth
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  • +1, in 2D cutting applications, using a galvo to move the laser is orders of magnitude faster compared to a CNC based movement of the laser. The reason is that the mirror is very light and the only mass that has to be moved. – Bending Unit 22 Aug 07 '15 at 14:17
  • Thanks, that was what I was looking for. I just ordered a preconfigured pair with controller, so that I just have to provide analog Input signals for the two mirrors (http://www.mylaserpage.de/images/Litrack.jpg). – FooTheBar Aug 07 '15 at 20:33