Laser Line Geometries
Lasers with fan angle
Lasers with fan angle show an increasing line length with increasing working distance. Lasers are avilable with a fan angle with up to 84° so that they can provide a long line length in a rather short working distance. The longer the line length, the smaller the power density in the focal plane. Please note that each laser has a defined focussing range, in which the laser line can be focussed. If you need a large depth of focus, there is always a corresponding macro line laser (with an extended depth of focus).
Semi-telecentric
Semi-telecentric lasers have no fan angle and have a constant line length along the beam path. The line length is usually smaller than for lasers with fan angle. However, a semi-telecentric line is often chosen for a reflection based measurement technique and a glossy surface. The constant line length then allows a camera (with an aperture larger than the line length of course) to capture the whole reflected line even if the camera is placed further apart.