ventus + mpc6000

473, 532, 561, 660, 671nm

Operating Manual

IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE

ATTEMPTING TO USE THIS LASER SYSTEM -
CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE MAY OTHERWISE RESULT

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 Contents
Declaration of Conformity .................................................................................... 3

Introduction ....................................................................................................... 4
Operational Requirements ................................................................................... 4

Electrical requirements .................................................................................... 4

Operating environment .................................................................................... 4

Laser Safety ....................................................................................................... 4
Parts List............................................................................................................ 5

System dimensions and weights ....................................................................... 6

ventus laser head ............................................................................................ 6

mpc6000 PSU ................................................................................................. 6

System Assembly ................................................................................................ 7
Laser operation .................................................................................................. 8

Switching the laser ‘on’ .................................................................................... 8

Front panel controls ........................................................................................ 8

Switching the laser ‘off’.................................................................................... 9

Control ports .................................................................................................. 9

Analogue port ................................................................................................. 9

RS232 port ................................................................................................... 11

RemoteApp................................................................................................... 12

Re-calibrating the laser power ........................................................................ 12

Heat-sinking and Power Consumption................................................................. 13

Heat-sinking ................................................................................................. 13

Power Consumption ...................................................................................... 14

Laser Maintenance ............................................................................................ 15
Liability ............................................................................................................ 15
Warranty ......................................................................................................... 15
Support ........................................................................................................... 16

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 DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

Laser Quantum declares that the product:

Name Description

ventus 473nm, 532nm, 561nm, 660nm, 671nm DPSS laser

has been manufactured in conformity with the following standards:-

 IEC/BS EN60825-1:2007 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment

classification and requirements

 BS EN 61000-6-3:2007 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Generic

standards. Emission standard for residential, commercial and light-industrial
environments

 BS EN 61010-1:2010 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for

measurement, control, and laboratory use. General requirements

 BS EN 61326-1:2006 Electrical equipment for measurement, control and

laboratory use. EMC requirements. General requirements

 RoHS: 2002/95/EC Restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances

in electrical and electronic equipment

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 Introduction
The ventus is a diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSS). The laser emits light in the
visible region of the spectrum at 473nm, 532nm, 561nm, 660nm or 671nm,
depending on the wavelength variant ordered. The ventus is a Class 3b or Class 4
laser system. This operating manual describes the recommended setting up
procedures and operational requirements for your laser device.

CAUTION
The use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than
those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure

Operational Requirements
Electrical requirements

The power supply controller (mpc6000) must be powered by a 12V DC source (11 -
14V DC is an acceptable voltage range). The centre pin of the voltage input is the
positive pin. The current requirement of the laser system may reach 8A therefore
the 12V DC source must be capable of delivering 8A. Ensure that the 12V DC power
source voltage level does not have a ground connection.

Operating environment

The laser can be operated over a range of environment temperatures from 10C to
40C and should only be operated in a well-ventilated location with the laser and PSU
controller un-covered.

The mpc6000 has built-in thermal protection circuitry. This will de-rate the pump
diode within the ventus laser at laser head temperatures between 40C and 45C in
an attempt to avoid thermal runaway. At 45C the mpc6000 will shut-down the
laser.

Laser Safety
The ventus laser is a Class 3b or Class 4 laser. The warning label is positioned on
the side face of the laser head. An example of the warning label is now shown:

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 When operating the laser, the operator and those in the environment must adhere to
the following:

 Safety precautions should be in place to avoid eye/skin damage and fire.

 Personal Protective Equipment including laser safety eyewear must be worn at all
times when the laser is in operation. Consult with your laser safety officer to
determine the correct filter requirement for your application.
 Always ensure the beam is safely collected in a suitable beam-stop, or that the
laser is disabled, when not in use.
 Ensure, as much as is reasonably practicable, the use of beam tunnels to minimise
free space projection.

A second label is positioned in close proximity to the laser aperture and identifies the
exit point of the laser light. The label has the following appearance:

LASER APERTURE

For a full description of laser safety procedures, the user is referred to

 BS EN 60825-14:2004 “Safety of Laser Products – Part 14: A user’s guide”

 The FDA “Regulations for the administration and enforcement of the radiation
control for health and safety act of 1968” 21 CFR Ch.1 section 1040.1

 American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers - ANSI Z136.

Parts List

The ventus family of lasers include the following items:

 ventus laser head

 Power supply controller (mpc6000) with enable key
 25-way umbilical cable to connect the laser head to the mpc6000
 Interlock dongle (green spot)
 12V DC power source
 Electrical mains lead

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 System dimensions and weights

Schematic drawings of the ventus laser head and mpc6000 power supply controller
are now shown, including component weights. All dimensions are shown in
millimetres. These drawings should be referred to for integration purposes.

ventus laser head

weight: 0.75kg

mpc6000 PSU
weight: 1.5kg

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 System Assembly

A schematic of the front and rear of the mpc6000 is shown below. Please refer to
these when connecting your ventus laser. The assembly procedure is described in
the following section.

Schematic of the control panel of the mpc6000

Schematic of the rear panel of the mpc6000

It is important to follow the next set of instructions carefully when connecting the
ventus laser head to the mpc6000 psu controller.

CAUTION
The ventus contains components which are electro-statically sensitive. Before
assembling the laser it is essential the pins of the connector to the rear of the
laser head can never be exposed to an electrostatic discharge

1. Ensure the mpc6000 is not powered (12V DC is switched off).

2. Connect the 25-way umbilical to the 25 way sub-D connector labelled ‘Laser
Umbilical’ on the mpc6000. Before connecting the other end of the 25-way
umbilical to the laser head, discharge the pins of the umbilical by grounding
yourself and touching the pins. Then connect the other end to the laser head.
Tighten the locking screws by hand. The laser should now be correctly
connected.

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 Laser operation

CAUTION
Care must be taken to prevent direct exposure to the laser beam before the
system is enabled

Switching the laser ‘on’

Switch the 12V DC power source ‘on’ so that the mpc6000 power LED
illuminates. At this stage, the thermal control circuitry is activated, but no laser
emission will occur.

The analogue control port is multi-functional. It has connections for Interlock,

Enable Switch and Laser Power Control/Modulation. It is necessary to close the
Interlock connection before the laser can be operated. This can be achieved by
using the supplied Interlock dongle.

With the key-switch in the ‘on’ position, a momentary press of the ‘enable’
button will start the laser.

Using the rotary encoder and the menu up/down buttons, the operation current
and power can be adjusted as now described.

The ventus laser can be operated in Power mode or Current mode. In Power
mode, the laser power is constant and a feedback control loop maintains the
power to the desired level as requested by the user on the front panel display
screen. Instructions which follow explain the process for Power mode selection.
In Current mode, the pump diode current as selected by the user is a
percentage of the total pump diode current available. The requested current
remains constant, however the power may drift due to environmental changes.
Instructions which follow explain the process for Current mode selection.

Front panel controls

In order to adjust the current, the user must first select the parameter Mode
displayed on the LCD screen by pressing the menu ‘down’ ( ) button to the
navigation marker ( ). Pressing the menu ‘down’ button again will allow the
user to toggle between either Current or Power mode within the selection
marker >< via the rotary encoder. Pressing the menu ‘up’ ( ) button once
will return the parameter back to the navigation marker ( ). The laser is now
operating in Current mode.

Using the rotary encoder, select the parameter Current. Pressing the menu
‘down’ button will change the selection marker to ><. The value can then be

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 changed using the rotary encoder. The value will change faster if the rotary
encoder is pressed whilst rotated.

Once the desired value is reached, pressing the menu ‘up’ ( ) button twice
will store the parameter in long-term memory, i.e. the value will remain after a
power cycle. It is normal in Current mode for a minimum current level to be
required to achieve the threshold laser power and will vary between lasers.

In order to adjust the power, the user must repeat the above operation, this
time selecting Power mode.

Using the rotary encoder select the parameter Power. Pressing the menu ‘down’
button again will change the selection marker to ><. The value can then be
changed using the rotary encoder. The value will change faster if the rotary
encoder is pressed whilst rotated.

Once the desired value is reached, pressing the menu ‘up’ ( ) button twice will
store the parameter in long-term memory.

The selected parameter Power or Current - depending upon the operating mode
– is represented on the top horizontal bar. The actual output power is displayed
on the screen and on the bottom horizontal bar.

Both the ventus laser and mpc6000 temperatures are displayed on the screen,
as well as the ‘status’ display. The Status messages are tabulated below:

Status message Description

KEYSWITCH : OFF Keyswitch/interlock disabled
ENABLE TO START Laser ready, awaiting Enable button
LASER DISABLED Laser disabled via RS232 command
LASER EMISSION Danger! Laser emission

Switching the laser ‘off’

The laser is switched off by turning the Keyswitch to the ‘off’ position or
disabling the interlock connection.

Control ports

Analogue port

The mpc6000 can be operated directly through the 9-way sub-D connector
analogue control port by applying a 0-5V signal with modulation frequency
up to a few kHz in accordance with the following diagrams. At frequencies
greater than a few kHz, the laser will exhibit a saw-tooth response to the
induced modulation signal.

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 A 0-5V signal into pin 4 of the analogue control port (with respect to
ground, pin 5) with a repetition frequency of up to a few kHz will modulate
the laser power from 0 to 100%.

A remote Interlock, Enable switch and Laser enable LED can be wired in
accordance with the following diagrams, to be used as part of a laboratory
interlock safety circuit.

6
Interlock 3
(open cct disables laser) Enable switch
2 (normally open,
push to make)
8
Laser ‘enable’
LED
7

9-way Control sub-D pin-out

5 4 3 2 1

9 8 7 6

PIN FUNCTION
1 +5V rail
2 Interlock (connection 2) & Enable LED anode
3 Enable switch (connection 1)
4 Modulation input (0-5 V, < few kHz)
5 GND
6 Interlock (connection 1)
7 Enable LED cathode
8 Enable switch (connection 2)
9 GND

If the Interlock connection is broken or if the laser head or the mpc6000

overheat, the laser will shut down and the Enable switch must be depressed
again to operate the laser once the Interlock connection is re-made or the
temperature is restored.

The mpc6000 has its own 5 V source (pin 1) which, if directed into pin 4 will
operate the laser at maximum power, subject to current setting on the
front-panel display. By wiring a variable potentiometer in accordance with
the circuit below, the laser power can be varied smoothly in Current mode
operation only.

4 10 kΩ
potentiometer
5
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 RS232 port

The alternative control of the laser is via the RS232 port and with use of a
terminal emulator such as PuTTY or HyperTerminal. This allows the user to
turn the laser on/off, control the laser power, and prompt the processor for
information such as laser head, PSU temperature and laser status. The
RS232 port uses the standard configuration pin-connections as illustrated in
the table below. It is necessary to have the Interlock and Enable switch
closed via the analogue control port in order to enable the laser, prior to use
of the RS232 port, and have pin 1 and pin 4 shorted together to allow
maximum current to be set by the RS232 commands.

RS232 port (9-way Sub–D connector)

Pin Number Connection

1 -
2 TXD: RS232 - Transmit
3 RXD: RS232 - Receive
4 -
5 GND
6 -
7 -
8 -
9 -

The serial port runs at 19200 BAUD with ‘no parity’ and ‘1 stop bit’ and with
‘no hand-shaking’. The user must wait for a response from the unit before
sending the next command. A response is any text string (including null)
followed by a carriage return.

Following is a list of the serial commands:

CONTROL=POWER Sets the Power control mode on

CONTROL=CURRENT Sets the Current control mode on

CURRENT=# # is 0 to 100. This sets the current to the laser diodes

as a percentage of the current maximum. For example,
to set a diode current of 85% of maximum, type
CURRENT=85, followed by a carriage RETURN

POWER=# # is power in mW. This sets the output power of the

laser. For example, to set a power of 1000mW, type
POWER=1000, followed by a carriage RETURN

POWER? Returns calibrated power of the laser in mW

OFF Disables the laser, regardless of interlock status

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 ON Enables the laser subject to interlock and reset status

STAT? Returns status of interlock circuitry

LASTEMP? Returns the temperature of the laser head in degrees

Celsius

PSUTEMP? Returns the temperature of the PSU in degrees Celsius

TIMERS? Returns the PSU ‘on’ time, Laser Enabled Time and
Laser Operation Time

ACTP=#### Recalibrates the internal laser power meter to the

measured power in mW

WRITE Stores the recalibrated ACTP power into long term

memory

RemoteApp

The alternative control of the ventus is via the RS232 port using the
RemoteAppTM software suite. To install the application, visit the Laser
Quantum website page http://www.laserquantum.com/products/options-
customisations/detail.cfm?id=1 and follow the online instructions to
download the application. Then simply follow the on-screen instructions to
install onto your pc. The application includes a comprehensive instruction
manual and can be accessed via the ‘Help’ tab and clicking on ‘Contents’.

The RemoteAppTM can also be used if a remote connection is required by

our service and support centre and is a powerful tool if performance
optimisation is required.

Re-calibrating the laser power

The laser can be recalibrated at any time to ensure the Power mode is in good
agreement with any external power meter device. Recalibration is a simple
process that takes place via the RS232 port. The procedure for recalibration
requires the RS232 port to be configured for use with a pc terminal emulator
such as PuTTY or HyperTerminal. The following procedure must be followed:

1. Select an intermediate power that the laser is capable of reaching, i.e. for a
1500mW ventus, select 1000mW, by typing the command POWER=1000

2. After a period of a few minutes, measure the actual power using a trusted
external power meter

3. Type the command ACTP= [external power meter reading in mW]

4. Confirm that the laser has adjusted its power such that the external power
meter now reads 1000mW within a few mW

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 5. If necessary, repeat steps 3 and 4 until the calibration agrees

6. Once accepted, type the command WRITE to store the new calibration

Heat-sinking and Power Consumption

Heat-sinking

The laser has a characteristic warm-up period before it reaches specification;

this time depends partly on the heat sink to which it is attached. However, the
typical warm-up time is ten minutes from switch on.

In order for the laser to perform to specification, it must be securely fixed to an

adequate heat-sink. Operating the laser on an inadequate heat-sink will
adversely affect its stability and will lead the laser into thermal runaway.
Operating the laser on an optical bench will produce optimum performance. In
normal laboratory conditions, a heat-sink with dimensions 400 x 400 x 10 mm
should be suitable for the laser to operate in accordance with its specifications.
For further information on heat-sinking your ventus, please consult your sales
representative who may be able to provide a heat-sink solution.

If the ventus or the mpc6000 are each not attached to an adequate heat-sink,
the component will gradually increase in temperature. During this increase, the
OVERTEMP LEDs on the rear of the mpc6000 will begin to flash slowly as a
warning – there is an LED dedicated to each component. Once either LED
begins to flash, the current to the laser diode begins to reduce in an attempt to
reduce overheating and thermal runaway of the laser or psu controller.

The table below show the temperatures of the laser head and the response of
the OVERTEMP LEDs:

Laser Head Current to laser Head Colour of ‘Laser’

Temperature OVERTEMP and ‘PSU’ text on
(ºC) LED LCD
<37 As set by user Off Green
37-40 As set by user Off Orange
40-45 Begins to de-rate Longer flashes Flash red and white
45 Reduced to zero On Flash red and white

The mpc6000 LCD and LED indicators respond in a similar way, with the orange
text occurring at 37ºC and current de-rating occurring at 40ºC.

If the temperature of the over-heated ventus laser head or mpc6000 psu

controller is restored, the current begins to increase again back to that set by
the user. If, however, the temperature reaches several more degrees than the
maximum shown in each table, the mpc6000 will trip out until the temperature
of the over heated component is restored. To restart the laser, the mpc6000
must be power cycled and the Enable button will then need to be pressed again.

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 Should the laser be required to operate on a poor thermal surface, fan assisted
cooling is recommended.

Power Consumption

Illustrated is the total steady-state power consumption of a ventus 532 laser

system. The power consumption curves shown are those which are drawn at
the plug from the mains supply for an associated ambient air temperature. This
indication of power consumption is only viable providing an adequate heat-sink
has been provided and will vary slightly from laser to laser.

50

45
Power Consumption (W)

40

35

30 500mW
250mW
100mW
50mW
25
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Ambient Temperature (°C)

The ratio of laser head power consumption to total power consumption (total
power consumption illustrated above) is 1:2.5. An indication of the power
consumed by the laser head alone can be found using this ratio.

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 A similar interpretation of power consumption can be applied for the other
ventus wavelengths; for example the 1500mW ventus 532 curve can be used
to estimate the total power consumption of a 350mW ventus 473; a 750mW
ventus 660; and a 500mW ventus 671.

Laser Maintenance
If the ventus is operated in a smoky or dirty environment, occasional cleaning of the
laser window may be necessary. To perform this procedure, the laser must be
turned off and, using optical lens tissue dampened with research grade methanol,
the laser window can be gently cleaned.

 Always follow the instructions given within this operating manual.

 Never touch the connector to the rear of the laser head with anything other than
the umbilical provided and ALWAYS follow instructions for the correct connection
of the laser head to the psu controller.
 Do not open the laser head or the psu controller; this will immediately invalidate
the warranty.
 Do not subject the laser or psu controller to mechanical shock; if severe, this can
cause misalignment of the laser cavity.
 Do not touch the laser window as this may damage the precision optical coatings
used. Avoid dirty atmospheres where dirt may settle on the laser window.
 Do not operate or store the laser device in very humid and damp environments.

CAUTION
Failure to observe these guidelines will constitute improper use of the system
and the warranty on this laser system will be invalidated

Liability
Laser Quantum accepts no liability for damage to persons or property caused by
incorrect or unsafe use of any of its products; this is the sole responsibility of the
user. Proper safety regulations for the use of these products must be observed at all
times.

Warranty
Laser Quantum provides a return to base warranty across all the product ranges (see
Support Section). The warranty period for your laser can be found on the invoice
provided with the system.

Warranty cover for the laser is subject to proper use, care and protection from
mistreatment. Examples of mistreatment include, but are not limited to, any of the
following:

 Any deviation from the operating instructions provided

 Opening the product or breaking warranty seals

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  Operation in any hostile environment as outlined in the instructions
 Any substantial mechanical shock
 Any damage through electrostatic discharge (this will not occur under normal
operation)
 Any damage due to operation in unclean environments
The definition of mistreatment and its applicability to the warranty is at the
reasonable discretion of Laser Quantum.

Laser Quantum’s obligation under this warranty is limited to the replacement or

repair of the product which having been returned to the factory is found to be
defective, and where the defect was not caused by factors external to the product.
Any replacement part/product is under warranty for the remainder of the initial
product warranty period.

Support
Should the laser fall below performance specification, please contact our service and
support team on +44 (0)161 975 5306 or email: support@laserquantum.com. They
will provide initial assistance and will then be able to advise whether the issue can be
rectified remotely with use of the ‘RemoteApp’ software. Once all avenues have
been explored and if the issue cannot be resolved, they will provide a Return
Material Authorisation (RMA) Form and instruction on how to package and return the
laser safely to us for assessment.

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE LASER WITHOUT PRIOR CONTACT AND

AGREEMENT FROM OUR SERVICE AND SUPPORT TEAM

Laser Quantum Ltd Laser Quantum Inc Laser Quantum GmbH

Emery Court 2033 Gateway Place Max-Stromeyer-Str. 116
Vale Road Suite 500 78467 Konstanz
Stockport San Jose Germany
Cheshire CA 95110
SK4 3GL USA
T: +49 7531 368371
Tel: +44 (0)161 975 5300 Tel: +1 408-467-3885 F: +49 7531 368372
Fax: +44 (0)161 975 5309 Fax: +1 408-467-3886

Email: info@laserquantum.com
Web: www.laserquantum.com

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