First, what is a laser galvanometer?
Laser galvanometer is a kind of excellent vector scanning device, composed of optical scanning head, electronic drive amplifier and optical reflector lens, reflecting laser light by two galvanometers to form XY plane motion, mainly supporting galvanometer control system, is a special motion device specially used in the field of laser processing. It is a special motion device specially used in the field of laser processing. It is characterized by small inertia, high-speed scanning, precise positioning and closed-loop feedback control. Since 2000, the laser galvanometer has undergone technological iteration, and the range of applications has been expanding. With the gradual increase in demand from China's consumer electronics, semiconductor and photovoltaic technologies, high-end galvanometers with higher speed and precision have been more widely used.
Laser processing control system is the core of laser advanced manufacturing, consisting of motion control software and cards, integrating multi-disciplinary technologies. According to the mainstream technology route can be divided into laser galvanometer control system and servo control system and so on. Laser galvanometer control system is suitable for precision processing, small format processing field, around the high-speed, high-precision characteristics of the development, has covered the laser marking, laser punching, laser cutting and laser welding and other laser processing application scenarios; servo motor control is mainly used in large format metal cutting, emphasizing the cutting thickness and speed, focusing on the application of metal plate or tube cutting field. Compared with servo system, laser galvanometer control system has higher speed and higher precision, which is suitable for small-format micro-nano processing.
Second, the laser processing industry related policies sorted out
In 2020, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission and other five departments issued the "Strengthening the "0 to 1" basic research program", which aims to strengthen the "0 to 1" basic research, open up new fields, put forward new theories, develop new methods, and achieve significant pioneering results in original innovation, as well as the international community. It is also the high point of international scientific and technological competition. The program focuses on supporting major fields such as artificial intelligence, network collaborative manufacturing, 3D printing and laser manufacturing, key basic materials, advanced electronic materials, manufacturing technologies and key components, high-end medical devices, major scientific instruments and equipment, etc., and promoting breakthroughs in key core technologies.
Third, the domestic market situation of laser oscillator
China's laser processing industry has achieved rapid development, according to relevant data, China's laser equipment production grew rapidly from 55,800 units in 2016 to 201,900 units in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate of 29.33% during the period. Among them, laser cutting equipment, laser welding equipment, laser marking equipment production accounted for 38%, 28%, 15%, totaling more than 80%. From the distribution of value volume of laser cutting equipment, lasers and beds accounted for a relatively high proportion, and the motion control system accounted for 5%.
China's laser vibration control system market size is currently about 2 billion yuan, of which the high-end market occupies 1.5 billion yuan, mainly monopolized by foreign companies. It is expected that by 2025, the high-end market space is expected to reach about 2.5 billion yuan. 2021 laser vibration mirror control system sales increased by 35%, which projected the laser vibration mirror control system sales scale of 386 million yuan.
Domestic laser galvanometer control system market size. China's laser vibration mirror control system market size of about 2 billion yuan, of which the high-end market of about 1.5 billion yuan, basically monopolized by foreign investors. It is expected that by 2025 the high-end market size of domestic laser vibrator control system is expected to reach about 2.5 billion yuan.
Laser galvanometer sales scale. According to the "2021 China Laser Industry Development Report", the number of sales of low-power precision processing control system in 2020 was 238,500 sets, benefiting from the continued high demand for laser processing equipment, laser vibration mirror control system sales in 2021 increased by 35%; according to the average price of laser vibration mirrors of 1,200 yuan / set of calculations, the laser vibration mirrors in 2021, the sales scale amounted to 386 million yuan.
3. Domestic vibrating mirror enterprise situation. According to Wikipedia's Industrial Research Center statistics, from 2014 to 2022, the number of vibrating mirror manufacturers in China grew from less than 10 to more than 20.
Laser vibration mirror industry chain and competitive landscape
The vibrating mirror control system is located in the middle reaches of the laser processing industry chain. The laser galvanometer control system is the key device in the middle of the industry chain, which cooperates with the laser and mechanical system, etc. The upstream of the galvanometer control system includes the light source, the laser, and the mechanical system. The upstream of the vibrating mirror control system includes light source materials, optical components, and other materials such as capacitors and resistors.
Supply chain of laser control system. From the direct upstream point of view, laser control system suppliers need to dock chip manufacturers, PCB manufacturers and related wire suppliers, from the current domestic substitution situation, part of the chip can be localized, but part of the still rely on Texas Instruments and other international suppliers. PCB and wire basic localization, and adequate supply, price transparency.
Downstream equipment and applications. Vibration mirror control system downstream is laser cutting, welding, marking, cleaning, 3D printing and other laser equipment, including laser cutting equipment, laser welding equipment, laser marking equipment production accounted for 38%, 28%, 15%, totaling more than 80%. From the downstream application, the vibrator control system is mainly used in consumer electronics, automotive manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, lithium battery production, aerospace, rail transportation, medical and other fields.
Laser galvanometer market outlook
Laser galvanometer in the photovoltaic industry. In the photovoltaic industry, laser oscillators are mainly used in production processes such as laser scribing, SE diffusion, patterning, and laser grooving. The lens size used in the photovoltaic field is larger than 10 mm, which requires higher precision and speed, and the rapid iteration of technology has brought about a steady demand for additions and replacements, and the value of the laser vibrator market in the photovoltaic industry is at the level of tens of millions of dollars every year.
Laser galvanometer in the new energy industry. In the new energy industry, laser vibration mirror is mainly used for battery welding, vibration mirror laser welding machine can achieve the same welding quality on a variety of surfaces, compared with the traditional aluminum welding, laser welding can greatly improve the safety, reliability and service life of automotive power battery.
The application of laser vibrator in 3D printing industry. In 3D printing scenarios, the hopping speed and accuracy of the vibrator is critical, especially when creating lightweight structures and support structures, which require frequent hopping and high accuracy to ensure the finish and precision of the printed surface. In addition, because 3D printing uses layer-by-layer scanning, the cumulative processing time of the workpiece is longer compared to new energy battery welding, thus requiring relatively high stability and heat control of the galvanometer. With the growing demand in the 3D printing market, the compound annual growth rate of laser vibrators applied to this industry is expected to exceed 30%.
