DOT. LINE. PLANE. SHAPE
LUMS software imports DXF, DWG, Gerber files to prepare for laser cutting, etching, ablation and other 2D, 2.5D applications. All objects are imported as lines and arcs for efficient machining. Set size and position of the object or simply drag it where it should be machined.
Use Hatching to fill the volume of the object. Use Stitching feature to split large objects to machine with galvo scanners.
Using 64-bit architecture, LUMS not only supports large and complex STL files, but handles them really fast. Our advanced slicing and hatching algorithms allows to slice 300 MB file with 4 million triangles in less than a minute. Faulty STL models can be fixed using LUMS Slice Repair tool.
LUMS allows NC Drill file import for laser drilling processes. Adjust via hole size by offsets to compensate beam spot diameter. Use either helical or layer by layer drilling. In Helical drilling mode, Z axis moves constantly, while XY axes draws circles. In Layer mode a set number of repeats are done before moving Z axis by a specified step size to increase drilling depth. Use Stitching tool to center each hole at the center of galvo scanners. Combine NC Drill file with Gerber files to do both PCB etching and drilling.
Simple shapes like lines, circles, arcs and rectangles are easy to draw in LUMS software. You can draw them by hand and/or add precise parameters for size and position. You can even draw poly-lines and polygon shapes with a special easy to use tool. All closed shapes can be hatched with one of the hatching types (lines, cross-hatching, dots, contours). Select motion speed and laser parameters either for each shape, groups of shapes or the whole recipe. Use Stitching tool to split large shapes or to center them in galvo scanner field.
To add a text in the machining recipe, simply click on Text tool and click where it should appear. LUMS supports fonts supported by Windows, bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough functions.
Formulas and Variables can be used and interpreted in text as well using {}. E.g. a line “speed = {v} mm/s”, where “v” is a variable with value 50, will return a result “speed = 50 mm/s”. This function is especially useful in R&D as process parameters can be marked near object for future reference.
Any imported or drawn object with a closed contour can be hatched in LUMS laser machining software. LUMS has several different hatching modes: Line, Cross-Hatching (up to 5 angles), Dots and Contours.
AUTOMATION. SYCNHRONIZATION. LOOPS
Complex laser machining recipes can be created and automated with LUMS software. LUMS laser machining software has a Stitching tool to combine motion of galvo scanners and standa linear stages. It makes use of fast speed of galvo scanners and the field size of linear stages. And all of it is controlled with an easy function in a single window. Stitching allows to divide large object or recipe to tiles or center each object in the galvo field e.g. for laser drilling. LUMS controls all of the hardware directly, so all the motions are coordinated with an available feedback from controllers.
Any part of the laser machining recipe can be looped in LUMS. Loops inside loops are also allowed. LUMS allows recipe start or restart loop by digital inputs.
When sample is tilted or has an uneven surface, distance to it can be acquired via sensor focus function. That data is generated to a height map and is used to compensate beam focus position. User can select which area should be mapped and device to do it. A map can be imported as a CSV file.
Additive laser manufacturing or 3D laser printing processes like SLS, SLM or stereolithography may use additional level of automation.
ONE INTERFACE FOR ALL HARDWARE
LUMS laser machining software controls many hardware of the machine directly:
- Positioning stages;
- Joysticks;
- Galvanometric scanners;
- Laser sources;
- Serial ports;
- I/O control;
- Sensors and cameras.
LUMS laser machining software controls positioning stages directly using manufacturer’s .dll files. Therefore, control is always precise and does not need additional post processing, proofing and upload. Just click run and motion is executed.
LUMS controls XY or XYZ galvo scanners. Functionality such as galvo delays tables and skywriting is implemented and easily accessible in LUMS. Combined motion by galvo scanners and stages is possible by using Stitching function.
Laser sources can be triggered through motion controller outputs. Triggering can be done at a set frequency or position based. For laser sources supporting the function, power can be controlled via analog output from LUMS.
Peripheral devices can be controlled by LUMS Laser machining software via Serial Port tool.
A selection of various sensors is supported in LUMS. They are mostly used for: distance, height detection. Power meters can be used to automatically set required laser power via analog output or direct laser control.
MACHINE VISION AND CAMERA
LUMS software seamlessly integrates machine vision for laser machining processes. Use it to see machining results or position your fabrication trajectories on the sample precisely. Camera view is displayed in the Recipe Preview window in LUMS. It is calibrated to match coordinate system of positioning stages and galvo scanners.
LUMS supports several cameras: one camera for general view and one camera for high resolution view. Camera view can be calibrated to be coaxial to laser beam or off-axis.
LUMS Machine Vision module has an Autofocus function for the camera(s) used in the system. Focus can be found by scanning whole set range continuously or by small steps looking for focus improvement.
Built-in LUMS’s Machine Vision module provides alignment functionality for laser machining processes. There are several alignment modes:
- Manual, when machining trajectories are dragged to match sample view.
- Manual, when fiducials are selected in camera view by operator.
- Simple, when Machine Vision finds a position of a user set image.
- Advanced, when Machine Vision searches for a set pattern e.g. cross, edge, etc.
Alignment can be done using one or two alignment marks. After alignment all recipe is rotated and translated automatically to match sample displacement error.