Software automatically turns patterns into parts.
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Press Release Summary:
Windows®-based, CAD Conversion Software gives user ability to read Autocad, DWG, and DWX files and generate macro processes and programs to perform direct write functions with laser beam. It processes lines, arcs, circles, points, and polylines, and produces direct writing with company's Excimer and DPSS workstations directly from CAD file information. Users can program subroutine function and then execute function every time point is encountered.
Original Press Release:
JPSA's CAD Conversion Software Automatically Turns Patterns into Parts - With Lasers
Hollis, New Hampshire, USA -J P Sercel Associates (JPSA) announces the release of its CAD conversion software, a powerful tool that gives the user the ability to quickly and easily read Autocad, DWG and DWX files - all the way up to Autocad version 2005 - and generate macro processes and programs to perform direct write functions with the laser beam. The software utility processes lines, arcs, circles, points, and polylines, and produces direct writing with JPSA's Excimer and diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) workstations on a variety of substrates, directly from the CAD file information.
"The user creates a CAD drawing that represents paths, or patterns, for the laser to follow, essentially the center line of the cutting beam," says Jeffrey P. Sercel, President. "The software will then take that CAD information and automatically program the machine to scribe, dice, pattern, text mark, cut out parts, and perform virtually any application where one would need to use the laser as a cutting tool."
The width of the line is controlled (in excimers) by the size of the image spot on target; with DPSS systems, by the size of the focus spot on target. The laser functions much like a pin plotter; the software allows the user to program a subroutine function and then execute that function every time a point is encountered.
"So, if you have a pattern that you want to make on a part," Sercel says, "And then you want to produce that pattern in a variety of locations that are anywhere on the part, you simply create a CAD drawing with multiple points in it, and the program will operate the laser to create an array of whatever complex features that you want to appear at each of those points."
The CAD conversion program is Windows® -based, easy to use and program, and to set up the various parameters for converting the CAD file, what the speeds are going to be, what the scale factor of the drawing is, and more. The screen displays a rendered graphic of the file for the user's reference. Additionally, the new program works in conjunction with JPSA's standard laser control software. "It's designed to do the real work - seamlessly and intuitively, but without trying to think for the user," Sercel says. "It won't interfere with the user's ability to operate the machine and doesn't try to make decisions for the user."
In addition, this state of the art software package incorporates the latest in a number of automatic code builders, such as one that automatically builds scribing routines for wafer scribing, another that builds high-speed fire-on-the-fly routines for wafer exposure, and others that read CSV and other types of files, and more. JPSA's CAD conversion software has been developed and proven in the company's busy job shop facility, and is available as an option in JPSA's IX-1000 wafer scribing systems.
JPSA products and services include UV excimer and DPSS laser micro machining systems, UV and VUV laser beam delivery systems, UV laser materials processing, applications development, optical damage testing, and excimer laser refurbishment services. JPSA Laser operates a high-performance UV laser job shop as well as a systems engineering and manufacturing business. For more information, visit www.jpsalaser.com, or contact the company at 17D Clinton Drive, Hollis, NH 03049 USA, Tel. 603.595.7048, fax 603.598.3835.
