Specifications

Motion Control and Digital Input/Output

PCI-1240U

4-axis Universal PCI Stepping/Pulse-type Servo

Motor Control Card

Laser and 3-axis Robot

The 4th axis of the motion control card is used

to move the laser from its secure position to the

engraving position, while a digital output signal is

used to light up a warning indicator to show that the

laser is active. A digital output of PCI-1240U is used

to switch on the laser that carves the first point of

the first layer.

PCI-1240U switches off the laser after the allocated

time, as the size of the cut depends on the time spent

engraving. The table moves to the next point on the

same layer where PCI-1240U again fires the laser.

When all points on the same layer have been carved,

PCI-1240U moves the table down along the Z-axis

to create a higher layer of cuts. On completion, the

laser is moved back to its secure position and the

warning indicator is switched off. The operator takes

the tray with crystals and replaces it with another.

Conclusion

•

The new solution doubled the speed from 500 kbps to 1 Mbps, saving the customer time &

money and effectively doubling their output

•

By moving from their old proprietary system to a PC-based system, training operators became

easier, and the complexity of patterns could be increased due to the higher memory and storage

capacity. Programming the PC was also cheaper than earlier proprietary programming, and with

the high costs of proprietary system, this PC-based solution was clearly a more economical

solution

•

The new system has more precise position control for the lenses and the moving table.

•

The on/off switching time is shorter

•

The patterns could be changed much easier, which means that shorter production cycles were

possible