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LTB MNL Series Manual

Nitrogen laser
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Manual
Nitrogen Laser M NL
July 2004
LTB Lasertechnik Berlin GmbH • Rudower Chaussee 29 • D-12489 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 63 92-61 90 • Fax: +49 (0)30 63 92-61 99
E-mail: info@ltb-berlin.de • http://www.ltb-berlin.de

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  • Page 1 Manual Nitrogen Laser M NL July 2004 LTB Lasertechnik Berlin GmbH • Rudower Chaussee 29 • D-12489 Berlin Tel.: +49 (0)30 63 92-61 90 • Fax: +49 (0)30 63 92-61 99 E-mail: info@ltb-berlin.de • http://www.ltb-berlin.de...
  • Page 2 With the purchase of a laser from the MNL series, you have selected a state-of-the-art Nitrogen laser. The laser satisfies sophisticated needs and demanding goals in various applications within the industrial area. The following properties reveal the advantages of the MNL.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    CONTENT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS NVISIBLE LASER LIGHT IGH VOLTAGE UP TO ANGEROUS GASES RESSURE UP TO BARS IABILITY SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS LACE OF NSTALLATION LECTRIC REQUIREMENTS USES ITROGEN SUPPLY RESSURE REDUCING VALVE ONTROL OMPUTER INSTALLATION PERATION ANEL CCLIMATISING THE LASER RS 232 NSTALLATION OF THE OPTICAL INTERFACE NTERLOCK PLUG 3.4.1...
  • Page 4 LASER MONITORING / WARNINGS NSPECTION NECESSARY HE TEMPERATURE MONITORING ONITORING THE NITROGEN FLOW NERGY MEASUREMENT OPTIONAL HE HIGH VOLTAGE CONTROL OPTIONAL NERGY CONTROL OPTIONAL DJUSTMENT OF THE PARK OPTIONAL ERROR MESSAGES TATIC ERRORS YNAMIC ERRORS PERATION ERRORS ENERGY EVALUATION TOOL UNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION TARTING THE PROGRAM TARTING THE ENERGY RECORDING...

  • Page 5: Safety Precautions

    SAFETY PRECAUTIONS MNL Lasers are 3B class lasers (IEC 60825-1). Improper treatment and operation of the laser can cause damage to your health. Please follow carefully all the instructions in this manual. Invisible laser light The laser emits intensive invisible laser radiation in the UV range.

  • Page 6: High Voltage Up To 12 Kv

    High voltage up to 12 kV A high voltage of up to 12kV is generated in the laser. Perilously high energy amounts are also accumulated in the capacitors of the strip-conductor. Therefore, always ground the laser sufficiently. Do not open the laser! Because of high voltage circuits, the laser should never be opened nor should any objects be put into the laser casing openings.

  • Page 7: System Requirements

    SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Place of Installation Beam output The laser has to be operated and stored in a dry, dust- poor and well-ventilated area. Back panel temperature humidity Storage and +5 … +35 °C 65 % operation Please observe that the laser is not placed close to any heat sources.

  • Page 8: Nitrogen Supply / Pressure-Reducing Valve

    Nitrogen supply / Pressure-reducing valve For the Nitrogen supply, you will need: • Nitrogen with a purity of 99.996% (Quality 4.6) or better • A pressure-reducing valve when using a nitrogen bottle low-pressure side -- 0 … max. 10 bar high-pressure side -- bottle pressure •...

  • Page 9: Installation

    INSTALLATION Operation Panel 1 Main fuses 2 Mains plug 3 Key switch 4 INTERLOCK socket 5 POWER ON ("Laser ON" lamp) 6 LASER EMISSION INDICATOR (warning lamp signals operational readiness and operation) 7 Optical external trigger input 8 Optical PRE-trigger output 9 Electrical output of the optical trigger module with SMB connector (optional) 10 Optical RS 232 interface...

  • Page 10: Acclimatising The Laser

    Acclimatising the laser We recommend that the laser is acclimatised in the operating room for at least an hour after transport or after moving or changing the operating location. Installation of the optical interface RS 232 The laser can only be operated and monitored via its serial interface.

  • Page 11: The Interlock Plug

    The Interlock plug The interlock plug is an important safety feature during laser operation It is provided for: • closing the external safety circuit • integrating external applications in the safety circuit of the laser • connecting external warning devices The safety circuit is supplied from a safety extra-low voltage of 12 V / 20 mA.

  • Page 12: Connecting External Applications

    3.4.2 Connecting external applications For protection against laser radiation, the position switches of any lasers or other devices or the main safety switch of your laboratory can be connected together to one external safety circuit. The laser and its accompanying apparatus can then be turned off from this interlock plug.

  • Page 13: Gas Supply

    Gas supply 3.6.1 Instructions for compliance with the gas hygiene Operate your laser only with nitrogen of the quality 4.6 or better. We recommend the mini gas generator MNG 100 or compressed gas cylinders filled with the specified gas. Central supply lines for technical nitrogen are not suited, even not with additional filter equipment.

  • Page 14: Connecting The Laser To The Nitrogen Generator

    3.6.2 Connecting the laser to the nitrogen generator This procedure is comprehensively described in the Manual of the N generator. 3.6.3 Connecting the laser to the nitrogen supply 1. Remove the gas outlet nipple from the pressure- reducing valve on your gas bottle. 2.

  • Page 15: Laser - Computer - Communication

    Laser - Computer - Communication The laser now needs to be connected to your computer. In the utility bag, you will find an electric/optical interface adapter with an OWG-Duplex cord. Please observe that the plug is coded. Screw the interface adapter (LWL/232-IF) onto a free serial port (e.g.

  • Page 16: User Interface Of The Winlac Program

    User interface of the WINLAC program Laser type Laser configuration Temperature monitoring Program exit Selection of port Energy display (optional) Port monitoring Pressure monitoring Starting of the High voltage flushing routine adjustment (optional) Shows the current Signals the laser gas mode readiness for operation Warm up control Shut down of the...

  • Page 17: Operating The Laser

    OPERATING THE LASER Switching on the laser 4.1.1 Key switch Turn the key switch on the operating panel of the laser to position I. The green diode above the key-switch should now light up. The laser switches automatically into the ONLINE mode. laser-computer-communication electronically monitored.
  • Page 18 Select the appropriate port (COM 1 … 9) Laser operation 17...
  • Page 19 After turning the key switch, the 10-minute flush-warm-up and conditioning phase of the laser begins that lasts approx. 25 minutes. This phase is displayed in per cent. The steps are displayed separately. During this time you cannot operate or internally flush the laser.

  • Page 20: Adjustment Of Nitrogen Supply

    4.1.2 Adjustment of nitrogen supply When using the N generator MNG 100, the pressure and the gas quantity is adjusted automatically. When using a gas cylinder, you can adjust the nitrogen pressure with the pressure-reducer on the cylinder, and thus choose between semi-sealed or flow mode. The monitoring of the adjustment is depicted on the monitor graphically and numerically.

  • Page 21: Open The Beam Shutter

    The Flow Mode If the pressure is adjusted to above 1600 mbar, the laser automatically switches into the flow mode. The optimum adjustment is at 2.0 bar. The gas consumption is ≤ 6.5 l/h. 4.1.3 Open the beam shutter To open the beam shutter on the beam output side of the laser, 1.
  • Page 22 From 4 / 2002 20 Hz lasers are equipped optionally and 50 Hz lasers as standard with a motor-driven beam shutter. The beam shutter is incorporated into the energy monitor. During an internal warm up and conditioning burst of the laser over a few thousand pulses until the laser has reached operational readiness, the control of the beam shutter is blocked...

  • Page 23: Operating The Laser

    If the button is actuated again, the shutter is closed. By actuating the button “Laser off” or when the laser operation is interrupted, the shutter is closed automatically. Operating the laser You can change all parameters via the mouse on the user interface or by using the respective underlined letters in the menu bar.

  • Page 24: Set The Repetition Rate And The Number Of Pulses

    4.2.2. Set the repetition rate and the number of pulses In the window REPET. RATE you can key in the required pulse frequency as an integer number. In the window QUANTITY you can key in the required pulse number up to 65 535 as an integer number (refers only to Watchcount and Burst mode).
  • Page 25 For changing the value of the repet. rate or quantity, click into the respective display: The following input window appears: INPUT REPETITION RATE respectively INPUT QUANTITY There you can key in your required values and confirm them. You can call the input windows by entering "E" or "Y" on the keyboard.
  • Page 26 4.2.3 Choosing your operation mode Five seconds after you pushed the LASER ON button, the following buttons become active: REPETITION ON BURST EXT-TRIGGER WATCH COUNT Here, you can choose the required operation mode. After pushing one of these buttons, the high voltage is switched on and the laser starts in the selected mode.
  • Page 27 REPETITION ON The laser runs continuously with a frequency of 1 – 10 / 20 / 50 Hz depending on your chosen frequency and your laser type. BURST Besides the frequency, you can also choose the pulse quantity in this mode. Starting with the total number, the laser counts down the pulses to zero.
  • Page 28 4.2.4 Changing the parameters If you want to change the parameters, you can key in your new values in the quantity and repetition rate display windows at any time. The new values are flashing then in the respective window. However, in order for them to become valid, the laser must be first switched off on the control panel.

  • Page 29: Switching Off The Laser

    Switching off the laser 4.3.1 Stopping the laser operation If you do not want to operate the laser for some time, you can put it in the stand-by mode by pushing the button (or "O" on the keyboard) From the stand-by mode, you can continue the laser operation again at any time or even change the operation mode.

  • Page 30: Turning Off The Laser

    4.3.2 Turning off the laser You turn off the laser completely when you press the following button LASER_OFF (or the space key). Now, the high voltage module is turned off. If you wish to start the laser activity again, you have to press again the following button: LASER ON (see 4.2.1)

  • Page 31: Closing The Beam Shutter

    4.3.3 Closing the beam shutter To close the beam path, pull the key out of the beam shutter. The beam shutter closes automatically. 4.3.4 The key switch Turn the key switch to position 0. The gas flow is automatically shut off. For safety reasons, pull out the key. 4.3.5 The Interlock plug Remove the interlock plug from the interlock socket.

  • Page 32: Laser Monitoring / Warnings

    LASER MONITORING / WARNINGS The following functions are set up to monitor: • the warranty cycle • the temperature in the laser casing • the nitrogen adjustments • the output energy (option) If, during laser operation, differences are detected in these parameters, you will be warned and eventually the laser's operation stops after a warning period.

  • Page 33: The Temperature Monitoring

    Afterwards, this message will continuously flash in the Laser type field: Please contact LTB to make an appointment for the inspection of the laser. The temperature monitoring The temperature monitoring is depicted as a bar on the software control panel. If the internal laser temperature exceeds a limit value, the colour of the bar will change to yellow.

  • Page 34: Monitoring The Nitrogen Flow

    Monitoring the nitrogen flow You can operate the laser for 1 million pulses in the Semi- Sealed Mode. After 1 million pulses, the laser has to be flushed for at least 10 minutes. If you do not flush the laser, a warning will appear requesting that you flush the laser.
  • Page 35 For laser flushing, you just need to increase the pressure on your pressure-reducing valve. You do not need to turn the laser off. The laser will automatically switch into the flow mode and will be flushed with nitrogen for ten minutes. The time remaining until the flushing is completed is displayed as a percentage.

  • Page 36: Energy Measurement (Optional)

    Energy measurement (optional) Optionally, the laser can be equipped with an energy monitor. With this monitor, the energy output can be displayed and monitored on your user interface. The data transfer is carried out via an OWG to the laser- internal controller.

  • Page 37: The High Voltage Control (Optional)

    A mean value over approx. 20 pulses is determined, which is entered in the „energy adjust window“ and confirmed. The adjustment is thus completed. Please conduct the adjustment on a warmed-up laser only, in order to avoid errors (only the last figure may change constantly).

  • Page 38: Energy Control (Optional)

    Energy control (optional) The laser can be run in the Energy-Constant-Mode. The high voltage is tracked via a control circuit, thus keeping the laser output energy independent of outside influences. The switching-on is carried out via the button CONTROL Energy display Switching-on / -off of the Energy-Constant-Mode Display of a faulty energy...

  • Page 39: Adjustment Of The Spark Gap (Optional)

    c) If the high voltage value is changed (see 5.5) while the laser is running and the control button is active, the new value is automatically adopted as new energy set point. Adjustment of the Spark Gap (optional) Lasers equipped with a spark gap are subject to a higher wear.
  • Page 40 The following window opens When this function is started, the laser starts operating automatically. The high voltage is incremented in 1 % steps beginning at 0. The optimum value is searched for. This value is saved and kept after the laser was switched off. Please take appropriate measures before starting this function, in order to avoid endangering people or work equipment,...
  • Page 41 If the breakdown occurs very often, the laser can respond with "OPERATION ERROR“, "HV CHARGING“. To reset the "OPERATION ERROR“ the laser must be switched off. After approx. 20 s the laser can be switched on again. When the "Warm UP" is completed, the adjustment can be started.

  • Page 42: Error Messages

    Error messages In case of an error, an additional window will appear on the WINLAC user interface indicating the type and cause of the error. Errors are split into static errors, dynamic errors and the EEPROM error. Except for the latter, the laser will cease operating if any of these errors occur.

  • Page 43: Dynamic Errors (Operation Errors)

    Dynamic errors (Operation errors) Dynamic errors indicate that the tolerance level of the monitored operating limits or components has been exceeded. These include: • the strip conductor; • the high voltage module; • the thyratron or spark gap switch; • the internal laser software. Turn off the laser by turning the key to position 0.
  • Page 44 Troubleshooting The following tables will help in troubleshooting and error elimination. If the laser does not indicate any errors and yet no stable laser operation is achieved, a contamination of the laser operating gas might be the reason (bad gas quality, humidity, air inlet or the like).
  • Page 45 Static errors Error Cause Removal The POWER lamp is not on The power cord may not be Check the mains connection properly attached or the values and the fuses. Even if the key is on position I, fuses are defective. As If necessary, change the fuses: there is no voltage applied.
  • Page 46 Dynamic errors a) influenceable by the user Error Cause Removal error message: Gas pressure improperly high Reduce the nitrogen pressure on the pressure reducer so far that only 3 of "Pressure“ the 5 segments of the pressure bar display flash. Afterwards a restart of the laser is necessary.
  • Page 47 b) Hardware errors Error Cause Error message The charging time for the high "HV CHARGING“ voltage charge is exceeded. -The thyratron is defective. -The strip conductor is defective -The charging filter is defective. Error message The high voltage module is "HV Overvoltage"...

  • Page 48: Energy Evaluation Tool 47

    Energy Evaluation Tool Functional description By using the DLL interface of the laser MNL 200, the energy evaluation program “energy evaluation 1.x“ allows the the laser light parameters to be monitored without additional appliances and parallel to the controlling software WINLAC from version 7.02-b.
  • Page 49 To ensure that you receive comparable measuring results, defaults are determined that must not be changed. The monitoring should only be conducted, when the laser has already run for some time (approx. 20 min operation time after warm up time). If the laser shows an energy stability worse than 6 %, the monitoring should be repeated after a laser flushing.
  • Page 50 The program is included in the laser software package Winlac 7.02-b. After proper installation and program start, the laser monitoring can be started by clicking on „Start“: The laser is automatically started with the program settings, the beam exit remains closed ( no danger). The result is represented and can be directly compared with the plot of a properly functioning laser.

  • Page 51: Starting The Program

    Starting the program Das Energy Evaluation Tool is started by double clicking the program icon on the Windows desktop. via “Start”, “Programs”, “LTB- Lasersoftware”, “EnergyEvaluationTool”. Starting the energy recording By clicking the “Start“ button in the Energy Evaluation Window, the recording of the laser energy is started over 6000 intervals.
  • Page 52 The upper diagram “Energy Deviation“ will not be displayed before the end of the measurement. The recording of the energy over the time in the lower diagram is displayed on-line. Three cursors exist in each diagram. They conduce to evaluate the gradient: green Is the gradient above this line, the laser is alright.

  • Page 53: Saving The Recording In A File

    Saving the recording in a file Clicking the “Save“ button saves the recording as file. The file name consists of: „Energy“_ S/N of the laser_ Year_ Month_ Day_ Hours_ Minutes_ Seconds .pdf The default for the saving location of the file is the directory C:\Winlac 7.02_b\Measurement Data\ .

  • Page 54: Printing The Recording

    The saved file can be viewed again with the Adobe Reader (Viewer). Printing the recording After clicking the “Print“ button, a window opens for printing the recorded energy gradient. Clicking “OK“ starts the print process. Energy Evaluation Tool 53...
  • Page 55 Printed energy gradient: Energy Evaluation Tool 54...

  • Page 56: Quitting The Program

    Quitting the program The program is left with a click on the Exit button. Is a complete, but not yet saved recording existing, you are asked to save it. Is no or no complete recording existing, the program module is left directly. The Energy Evaluation window is closed.

  • Page 57: Appendix

    APPENDIX The options With the MNL, you can order additional devices: • a TWE Trigger Converter for optical external triggering, if you have an electric trigger source only. The TWE additionally contains a fast opto- electric converter, by means of which an electric trigger impulse can be generated from the pre- trigger signal of the laser.

  • Page 58: Technical Parameters

    Technical parameters Parameter Unit MNL 200 MNL 800 Wavelength 337.1 Spectral bandwidth ≥100 ≥400 Energy µJ Pulse duration 115/230 Mains supply 50/60 Power consumption (at 10Hz) Gas requirements Dimensions (width x depth x 450x250x168 538x338x168 height) Weight Adjustable beam height 125+20 Service The number of generated pulses is registered and displayed.

This manual is also suitable for:

Mnl 200Mnl 800Mnl 205

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