Softstart Mode - Scanlab RTC 4 Installation And Operation Manual

Softstart Mode

For some applications it's important to control the
laser intensity at the beginning of a marking process.
SCANLAB provides a convenient solution in the form
of the softstart mode, which can be used for all laser
modes.
With the command set_softstart_level (see
page 114), a list of control values (Level[0]...Level[n],
n < 1000) for the first n pulses can be defined: digital
values corresponding to various pulse widths or
analog values corresponding to variable laser power
levels.
Initialization of the softstart mode is performed via
the command set_softstart_mode (see page
The set_softstart_mode command determines,
among other things, whether the softstart value
should be interpreted as an analog value or a digital
value. Therefore, the command must be called before
first-time use of the set_softstart_level command.
As soon as the laser remains switched off longer than
a certain predefined time (restart delay), the value
Level [0] is assigned to the output port (digital values
to LASER1 or analog values to ANALOG OUT1/2).
Simultaneously with the first n laser pulses (selectable
at either the leading or trailing edges of the laser
pulses) the corresponding values (Level [1...n]) will
then be automatically assigned to the output port.
Notes
(1) With a large enough value for the restart delay
time, one can avoid the softstart mode being also
activated after very short jump commands.
(2) The pulse width or power of the first laser pulse is
determined by level[0] if the values are assigned
with the leading edge of the laser pulse selected,
or by level[1] if the trailing edge of the laser pulse
is selected.
®
RTC 4 PC Interface Board
Rev. 1.3 e
4 Principle Of Operation
115).
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