SPECTRASCAN II ACCENT™

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Output channels: X (horizontal), Y (vertical) at 16 bits of resolution (optional Z (depth) at 12 bits for specialized applications). Six 8-bit auxiliary channels. One 8-bit Power/Intensity channel. TTL-level blanking and visible (gating) signals; TTL-level shutter control. Sixteen TTL-level outputs and inputs for controlling or detecting external devices.

Resolution:

Frame creation: 15-bit resolution for drawing and editing (32,766 x 32,766 grid finesse)

Internal processing: 32- or 64-bit resolution to eliminate round-off error.

Digital-to-analog outputs: Outputs X and Y signals at full 16-bit resolution (65,536 x 65,536).

Marking Image Mode: Hybrid Vector/Point Storage Format

Points per frame: Variable on frame-by-frame basis; 3000 maximum.

Max. frames on-line: This depends on the amount of QuadMod32 memory and the total points in all frames. A 16MB QM32 board can hold about 4000 500-point frames. (These figures are for traditional point-oriented frames. You can hold three times as many vector-oriented frames, on average.)

Max. frames floppy: Approx. 350 500-point frames per 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy disk. Note that loading frames off floppy disk or hard drive does not interfere with display.

Max. frames hard drive: Limited only by hard drive space. Each megabyte can store about 250 500-point frames.

Max. tracks: 8 tracks standard in Access control screen. 100's can function behind the scenes. Custom systems that need to vector to hundreds of differing images in realtime can be accomodated.

Point output rate: 32 points per second to 50,000 pps.

Frame output rate: 2.6 to 100 frames/second (500-point frames) typical.

EXTERNAL HARDWARE

Computer required: An IBM-PC compatible running Microsoft Windows95 or higher with ISA (AT-style) or EISA bus slots. Like all Windows programs, screen graphics draw faster on better computers. For this reason, we recommend a relatively fast Windows system such as a Pentium with a video accelerator card. If a lot of editing is involved in your work then a 17" color monitor is recommended.

Board required: One QuadMod32 board, which is included with each Accent system. See QuadMod32 section below for detailed description.

Scanners supported: Any standard laser marking system with galvanometer scanners (General Scanning, Cambridge Technology, or equivalent) with analog input capable scanner amplifiers.

External controls: Wide variety of inputs and outputs. The QuadMod32 provides 16 programmable TTL-level inputs and outputs through a DB-25 connector.

FRAME CREATION CAPABILITES FROM VARIOUS MODULES

Input devices: Mouse and keyboard. Digitizing tablet input is possible via resident OLE drawing programs.

LD Converter: Module hosts OLE based drawing programs and automates the conversion of computer vector formats into marking objects. For example, Corel Draw and AutoCad files can be used.

Drawing tools: Single point, continuous draw, line, rectangle, polygon, circle, ellipse, paint roller, brush, gridding, clear screen, redraw screen. All with user-controllable automatic blanking, anchor points, and point spacing.

Editing tools: Edit entire project or selected tracks or selected regions. You can graphically or numercially rotate, resize, flip, flop, move, and center. Renumber frame to have different number of points. Differentially vary scan speed and laser power. Adjust blanking delays at specific sites. Undo command. Control long blanking jump speed.

File tools: Long file names supported. Save and load independent tracks or groups of tracks. Save and load marking projects. All marking settings are stored as well as lengthy project notes, names, components, and creation times.

Drawing window: Drawing Window has eight levels of magnification. Three different viewing modes (points, lines, points + lines). Grid display options. Viewing options for different tracks of not visible or dimmed for greater ease of editing.

Text and typefaces: Twenty built-in outline fonts, five different stick/script fonts. Adjustable letterspacing, linespacing, character height and width. Define a drawing area, enter or paste text and just click to grow or shrink text as desired. Right, left, or center justified type is selected with a single button click. Automatically anchors corners and sharp angles (example: bottom of "V"). All Windows true-type and postscript fonts are available via the hosted drawing programs.

Special Data Types: Special types that are optionally available are incremental number, date/time, and bin variant. These can be set to change interactively for marking output dependent on conditions. For example, different part measurements may signal different TTL words for a change in the marking pattern. Raster pattern creation is supported and the ability to autoconvert bitmap images into laser-power modulated rasters is well into development.

QUADMOD32 COMPUTER BOARD

Description: The QuadMod32 is a four-layer computer with a 40 MHz Motorola 68030 microprocessor, and 4 or 16 MB of memory.

QuadMod memory: 16 MB of memory is standard; this provides approximately 4000 500-point frames which are instantly available.

Output voltages: X, Y, Z (power); -5 to +5 VDC. Other analogue signals, 0 to 5 VDC. Blanking, visible and shutter TTL-level outputs. Sixteen TTL-level I/O lines, programmable as inputs or outputs. Usually configured as 8 inputs and 8 outputs.

Connector: 50-pin IDC male connector on the QM32 board. There is a ribbon cable adapter which terminates in two more common connectors: a DB-25 female (parallel-port type) for scanner signals, and a DB-25 male for TTL I/O lines.

SPECTRASCAN II ACCENT™ FOR WINDOWS

SYSTEM CONTROL FEATURES

Output configurations: Output can be channeled through a serial port for General Scanning DE Command format, parallel port for digital output to General Scanning DSC format bus, or 16-bit analogue output for scan amps such as Cambridge Technology's or General Scanning. Additional analogue outputs are available for laser intensity modulation, Q-Switch control, laser duty cycle, or other hardware control functions. Multiple TTL IO ports are available for event-based variations in scanning, shutter control, trace laser control, and other interactive programming.

Project Format: Projects can be created, saved, and opened with the information of all scan parameters, individual component images, converted scan commands, DE correction tables (when using a GS DSC system), and project descriptions. Defined projects can be assigned to database stored parts in their unique configurations. An Operator Window, Accent LaserPro allows marking sessions based only on these stored parts with automated parts counting and scan time estimates. This Operator Window can be password protected from all the editing windows. Working sessions are also stored in Access databases.

Marking Input: Using images, text, and other input formats taken from the Accent creation program, OLE draw programs, or converted computer files, up to 8 tracks of graphic input can be prepared for output in one marking project. Using a coded color, one of these tracks can represent the unique shape of the scan field or part to be marked. This can be scanned by the Trace Laser for verification of optical alignment. These tracks can be manipulated independently in the following ways: made active or inactive in the current marking scan, resized, moved, rotated, flipped, flopped, or renumbered for higher or lower point density.

View port: A view window shows all output for all tracks. For ease of editing, specific tracks can be made invisible. Views can be telescoped up to 128X and panning is available. For positioning accuracy, grids can be turned on. Screen measurements can be in coordinate units, inches, or centimeters. Software will calibrate the viewing window in the actual marking field dimmensions based on the marking system's physical parameters. Dimmension tool will indicate exact distances between field edges, separate marks, or intra-mark. Position output indicators show current cursor location and range of viewport on-screen.

Editing Tools:

Center: Automatically centers active tracks in the marking field.

Renumber: Renumbers a track for less or more composite points. Effects scanning speed and output accuracy.

Move: Positions active tracks in the scan field. Can be done by mouse, slider, or exact distance.

Rotate: Angulates active tracks in the scan field. Can be done by mouse, slider, or actual degrees.

Resize: Shrinks or enlargens active track images in the scan field. Can be done by mouse, slider, or actual percent change desired.

Flip: Inverts image about any defined Y-parallel axis.

Flop: Inverts image about any defined X-parallel axis.

Dimmension: Mouse driven ruler showing distance between clicked points in the scan field.

Select: Tool for selective choice of small area of total image for application of other tools.

Undo: Permits reversion to previous state.

Marking Speed Control: Input window sets the base scan speed. Using discrete location tools, percentage variations in scan delays or local speed changes can be introduced providing finesse in marking quality.

Laser Intensity Control: Using Select tool, percentage variations in laser output power can be introduced in any area of a mark providing finesse in marking quality. Input window sets base laser power.

Step-and-Repeat Mark Formations: Simple user interface takes a single marking combination and assists in the creation of a repeated array of the marks. Spacings are easily entered and single groupings can be deleted or shifted in relative position.

Bin Mark Variations: 3 IO lines can carry the realtime information for 8 pre-assigned variations in a single marking track while other marking information remains constant.

Parts Handling Interface: Using an exceptionally easy interface, descriptive phrases are assigned to specific IO TTL lines. Then, using AND and OR logical connectors, you define conditions for mark initiation. Signals are available during marking and at completion of a mark cycle.

Laser Operating Parameters: Supports CO2 or YAG systems with Q-Switches, duty-cycles, etc. Laser blanking delay is available.

Error Compensation: GridGen calculations are made for General Scanning DE format. Based on physical scan configurations, corrections can be made to X and Y coordinates and a variable focus correction calculated. For pre-objective systems, custom correction algorithms can be implemented.

Trace Laser: Control signals are available for a visible diode trace laser which can be used during marking, pre-mark, or for alignment.

Scan Trigger: Marking can be triggered by a screen button, external events, or clocked output. Interlocks or external device states can be part of this loop. Continuous marking with parts counts and input to session databases is supported.

Screen Display: Status messages, project name, output format, and total active point information is available on screen. Other windows show project descriptions, DE command listings, physical layout, and actual elapsed marking time and number of parts marked for complete job estimating.

USER HELP

Installation manual: Booklet describing installation and initial setup.

Help files: On-line help, instantly accessable while working in the programs. Standard Windows-type help files. Click on hypertext or pictures to jump to desired information. In-depth and fully cross-indexed.

Monitor Screens: Windows are available for monitoring LD QM32 commands, serial port and parallel port activity.