Crosshair Calibration for X & Y Axis - SOP

Owned by Don Wilson (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Oct 27, 2023 by Avery Nosen (Unlicensed)
4 min read

 

This calibration should be completed before work is started on the laser. Natural drift of around 10um may occur temperature variations in the room throughout a few days

Calibration is the most accurate when the desired zoom level used when working, is the zoom level used when calibrating

Example: If you need to be on zoom level 4 to work with your sample, please use zoom level 4 when performing the crosshair calibration

Before calibrating the crosshair the following should be done:

Step 1: Draw a crosshair in OptecCAD

  1. In OptecCAD use the crosshair function to open the creation window

    1. If the OptecCAD window cannot be found, type “OptecCAD” in the AutoCAD command area

  1. Create a 1mm crosshair and hit the checkmark to execute

  1. A crosshair should now appear in the middle of the work area

  2. Click on the “LayerCross” layer to select it

  3. Change the type to the desired wavelength to be used

    1. Mark speed and Jump Speed to be set to 30

    2. Power is to be set to visibly mark but a thinner mark is better for accuracy

      1. IR set power to 20

      2. VIS set power to 30

      3. UV set power to 50

Step 2: Zero out ProcessPower

  1. Chose the zoom level most appropriate for your work

    1. performing the calibration at your working zoom level is the most accurate

  2. Focus the laser camera and move to an open area for laser marking

  3. Zero out the X Y Z axis

  4. Ensure X and Y are both zeroed out

Step 3: Run the program from OptecCAD

Before running a program ensure ALL below have been checked

  • laser doors are closed

  • Output in Carbide is ON

  • The area of work is in focus

  • All axis have been zeroed out

  • Air supply for the laser is open

  1. In the OptecCAD window, click on the “play” icon to run the program

  2. A window will pop up, ensure the rotation correction is at 0 degrees

  3. Click on “Start Processing” to run the program

Step 4: Move to the center of the laser crosshair

  1. Using the click to move function in ProcessPower or the jogging buttons, move the red crosshair on screen to the middle of the lasered crosshair

  2. The X and Y will now have a non-zero value, this value will be applied later to correct the laser position

Step 5: Apply the crosshair offset to the system

  1. Enter the software configuration window

  1. Select the wavelength that the marking was made with

  2. Hit the “+” button, this will add the X and Y value from ProcessPower into the system offset

  3. Hit the save button to apply the offset

  4. You can now exit the window

Step 6: Validate offset

  1. Jog the laser to a new position

  2. Ensure the laser is in focus and the zoom level used previously is used again

    1. If you used zoom level 4 in calibration use it again when checking and doing work

  3. Zero X-Y-Z in ProcessPower

  4. Run the program from OptecCAD

  5. When the program is complete the camera crosshair should be in the center of the laser marking

    1. If it is not in the center then repeat steps 4-5

  6. The crosshair is now calibrated on the X and Y axis for the selected wavelength using Galvo, Stages and IFOV process types