Understanding PPS and Scanner Ratings

When shopping for laser projectors, you'll see ratings like "30K scanners" or "30,000 pps." But what do these numbers actually mean, and why do they matter for your laser graphics?

Ratings and Test Conditions

Scanner manufacturers rate their galvanometers in points per second (pps) or kilo-points per second (kpps). A "30K" rating is meaningful only with the stated test pattern and scan angle. ILDA describes about 8° optical as the usual test condition for the 30K pattern, rather than as a fixed angle for all content.

Here's the catch: This is a standardized benchmark, not a measure of physical capability. Galvo mirrors have mass and inertia — they cannot instantly teleport between positions. A large jump across the entire scan field takes significantly longer than a tiny movement.

The ILDA Test Pattern

The industry solves the "how do we compare scanners?" problem with a standardized test pattern: a circle inscribed in a square, with additional geometric elements.

At the specified test condition, the circle-to-square relationship is one part of the scanner-response check. A mismatch can have several causes, so use the official procedure rather than diagnosing it from that feature alone.

The pattern creates a repeatable scanner-response test at one operating condition. Passing it does not guarantee that every frame will display identically at the same point rate, especially at a different angle.

Calculating Your File's Demand

The basic formula:

Points per frame × Frames per second = Points per second

Examples:

• 500 total records × 30 FPS = 15,000 pps requested
• 1000 total records × 30 FPS = 30,000 pps requested
• 750 total records × 60 FPS = 45,000 pps requested

Blanked records count too: the DAC still outputs their coordinates while the light is off.

Choosing Headroom

There is no universal percentage that guarantees clean output or protects every scanner. Choose headroom from the manufacturer’s specifications and operating procedure, considering the actual pattern, scan angle, tuning, and duty cycle.

BeamTracer's load badge is a comparison against the selected device profile. Its green, warning, and danger bands are software thresholds for reviewing point-rate demand; they are not an industry certification.

Why Point Count Alone Isn't Enough

Two files with identical point counts can have vastly different scanner demands. Consider:

• File A: 500 points drawing a smooth circle (small, consistent movements)
• File B: 500 points drawing scattered text across the field (large jumps between letters)

The files have the same calculated PPS demand, but different coordinate paths. BeamTracer's Stress Heat Map makes their relative jump distances visible; only the actual output system can show how it responds.

Profile Arithmetic at 30 FPS

Further Reading