Gentec-EO BEAMAGE SERIES User manual

Beamage User Manual Revision 10 1

Beamage User Manual Revision 23 2
WARRANTY
First Year Warranty
The Gentec-EO Beamage series beam profiler carries a one-year warranty (from date of shipment) against
material and/or workmanship defects, when used under normal operating conditions. The warranty does not
cover damages related to battery leakage or misuse.
Gentec-EO Inc. will repair or replace, at Gentec-EO Inc.’s option, any Beamage that proves to be defective
during the warranty period, except in the case of product misuse.
Any attempt by an unauthorized person to alter or repair the product voids the warranty.
The manufacturer is not liable for consequential damages of any kind.
Contacting Gentec Electro-Optics Inc.
In case of malfunction, contact your local Gentec-EO distributor or nearest Gentec-EO Inc. office to obtain a
return authorization number. The material should be returned to:
Gentec Electro-Optics, Inc.
445, St-Jean-Baptiste, Suite 160
Québec, QC
Canada, G2E 5N7
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Website: gentec-eo.com
CLAIMS
To obtain warranty service, contact your nearest Gentec-EO agent or send the product, with a description of the
problem, and prepaid transportation and insurance, to the nearest Gentec-EO agent. Gentec-EO Inc. assumes
no risk for damage during transit. Gentec-EO Inc. will, at its option, repair or replace the defective product free of
charge or refund your purchase price. However, if Gentec-EO Inc. determines that the failure is caused by
misuse, alterations, accident or abnormal conditions of operation or handling, it would therefore not be covered
by the warranty.

Beamage User Manual Revision 23 3
SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not use a Beamage if the device or the detector looks damaged, or if you suspect that a Beamage is not
operating properly.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy. If not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, it may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, try to correct the interference by taking one or more of the
following steps:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase the distance between the equipment and receiver.
•Connect the equipment to an outlet that is on a different circuit than the receiver.
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Caution: Changes or modifications not expressly approved in writing by Gentec-EO Inc. may void the
user’s authority to operate this equipment.
SYMBOLS
The following international symbols are used in this manual:
Refer to the manual for specific Warning or Caution information to avoid any
damage to the product.
DC, Direct Current

Beamage User Manual Revision 23 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. BEAMAGE SERIES –USB 3.0 BEAM PROFILING CAMERAS ....................................................................6
1.1. INCLUDED WITH YOUR BEAMAGE CAMERA ......................................................................................................6
1.2. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................6
1.3. SPECIFICATIONS...........................................................................................................................................7
1.4. MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION......................................................................................................................... 11
1.5. SPECTRAL CURVES ................................................................................................................................... 14
2. QUICK START PROCEDURE....................................................................................................................... 17
3. USER INTERFACE........................................................................................................................................ 19
3.1. MAIN CONTROLS ....................................................................................................................................... 20
3.2. MULTIPLE BEAMAGE MODE......................................................................................................................... 20
3.3. CAPTURE CONTROLS................................................................................................................................. 21
3.3.1. Camera Status................................................................................................................................. 21
3.3.2. Capture ............................................................................................................................................ 22
3.3.3. Subtract Background ....................................................................................................................... 23
3.4. BUFFER CONTROLS................................................................................................................................... 25
3.4.1. Image Index ..................................................................................................................................... 26
3.4.2. Exposure Time................................................................................................................................. 26
3.4.3. Previous and Next Image................................................................................................................. 26
3.4.4. Clear Buffer...................................................................................................................................... 27
3.4.5. Animate............................................................................................................................................ 28
3.4.6. Buffer Size........................................................................................................................................ 28
3.5. COMPUTATIONS......................................................................................................................................... 28
3.5.1. Filters ............................................................................................................................................... 28
3.5.2. Normalize......................................................................................................................................... 30
3.5.3. Trigger.............................................................................................................................................. 30
3.6. FILE CONTROLS......................................................................................................................................... 31
3.6.1. Open ................................................................................................................................................ 31
3.6.2. Save Current Image......................................................................................................................... 31
3.6.3. Save All Images in Buffer................................................................................................................. 32
3.6.4. Start Data Acquisition ...................................................................................................................... 32
3.6.5. Print Report...................................................................................................................................... 33
3.7. STARTUP CONFIG CONTROLS...................................................................................................................... 37
3.8. ADVANCED COMPUTATIONS........................................................................................................................ 37
3.8.1. Show/Hide Options .......................................................................................................................... 37
3.8.2. Divergence....................................................................................................................................... 38
3.8.3. Relative Position .............................................................................................................................. 38
3.8.4. Camera Lens Calibration................................................................................................................. 38
3.8.5. Fixed Crosshair................................................................................................................................ 39
3.8.6. Pipeline ............................................................................................................................................ 39
3.8.7. 2D High Resolution.......................................................................................................................... 39
3.9. BEAMAGE-M2 MODE.................................................................................................................................. 40
3.10. M2 FILE................................................................................................................................................ 40
3.11. SOFTWARE INFO.................................................................................................................................... 40
3.11.1. Color Legend................................................................................................................................ 40
3.11.2. Contact Support ........................................................................................................................... 41
3.11.3. About............................................................................................................................................ 42
3.11.4. Help.............................................................................................................................................. 43
4. HOME AND SETUP PANELS ....................................................................................................................... 44
4.1. HOME ....................................................................................................................................................... 45
4.1.1. Main Controls................................................................................................................................... 46
4.1.2. Measurements ................................................................................................................................. 46
4.2. SETUP ...................................................................................................................................................... 49
4.2.1. Exposure Time................................................................................................................................. 50
4.2.2. Image Orientation ............................................................................................................................ 50

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4.2.3. Image Averaging.............................................................................................................................. 51
4.2.4. Active Area....................................................................................................................................... 51
4.2.5. Pixel Addressing .............................................................................................................................. 51
4.2.6. Gain.................................................................................................................................................. 52
4.2.7. ADC Level........................................................................................................................................ 52
4.2.8. Pixel Multiplication Factor (PMF)..................................................................................................... 52
4.3. DATA ACQUISITION.................................................................................................................................... 53
4.4. DIVERGENCE............................................................................................................................................. 55
4.5. RELATIVE POSITION................................................................................................................................... 57
4.5.1. Setup................................................................................................................................................ 57
4.5.2. Measurements ................................................................................................................................. 58
4.6. CAMERA LENS........................................................................................................................................... 59
4.7. FIXED CROSSHAIR..................................................................................................................................... 60
4.7.1. Center Setup.................................................................................................................................... 60
4.7.2. Orientation Setup............................................................................................................................. 64
5. DISPLAY PANEL........................................................................................................................................... 65
5.1. 3D DISPLAY .............................................................................................................................................. 65
5.1.1. 3D Display: Controls ........................................................................................................................ 66
5.2. 2D DISPLAY .............................................................................................................................................. 67
KEYBOARD CONTROLS:........................................................................................................................................ 68
5.2.1. 2D Display: Controls ........................................................................................................................ 68
5.3. CROSSHAIR DISPLAY ................................................................................................................................. 69
5.3.1. Crosshair Display: Controls ............................................................................................................. 69
5.3.2. Gaussian Fit..................................................................................................................................... 70
5.4. BEAM TRACKING DISPLAY.......................................................................................................................... 71
5.4.1. Beam Tracking Display: Controls .................................................................................................... 72
6. M2MODE........................................................................................................................................................ 73
7. THIRD PARTY COMMANDS......................................................................................................................... 74
7.1. PC-BEAMAGE LABVIEW VIS AND .NET COMMANDS...................................................................................... 74
7.2. LABVIEW EXAMPLE .................................................................................................................................. 79
7.3. .NET EXAMPLE .......................................................................................................................................... 81
8. BEAMAGE SDK............................................................................................................................................. 83
9. TROUBLESHOOTING AND TIPS................................................................................................................. 84
10. DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY .......................................................................................................... 88
11. UKCA DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY............................................................................................... 89
APPENDIX A. ISO11146 AND ISO11670 DEFINITIONS .................................................................................. 90
APPENDIX B. M2QUALITY FACTOR THEORY ............................................................................................... 93
Understanding the M2Factor.......................................................................................................................... 93
Propagation Parameters ................................................................................................................................ 93
Practical Measurement................................................................................................................................... 95
APPENDIX C. THE PC-BEAMAGE SOFTWARE.............................................................................................. 96
APPENDIX D. BEAMAGE-3.0 DRIVER INSTALLATION QUICK GUIDE........................................................... 98
APPENDIX E. BEAMAGE FIRMWARE INSTALLATION QUICK GUIDE....................................................... 102
APPENDIX F. CHECK THE UPDATE OF PC-BEAMAGE .............................................................................. 104
APPENDIX G. RECYCLING AND SEPARATION PROCEDURE FOR WEEE ............................................... 107
APPENDIX H. COMPLETE LIST OF SAVED SETTINGS ............................................................................... 108
APPENDIX I. SATURATION LIMIT FOR BEAMAGE WITH ND4.0 FILTER................................................... 109

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1. BEAMAGE SERIES –USB 3.0 BEAM PROFILING CAMERAS
1.1. INCLUDED WITH YOUR BEAMAGE CAMERA
The following items are included with BEAMAGE:
Description
Part name
Part number
Beamage series camera with ND4.0 filter mounted
Beamage
See website
3 m USB-3 cable
B3-USB
103642
Calibration certificate
SM1-BNC adapter
Transport case
The following items can be purchased separately:
Description
Part name
Part number
UV Converter
BSF
See website
IR Adaptor
IR Adaptor
201061
Camera lens
CL-25
CL-50
202343
202344
UV filter
UG11-UV
202602
IR filter
B3-IR-FILTER
202855
Beam attenuator (See BA series)
BA Series
See website
Stackable ND filters (0.5; 1.0; 2.0; 3.0; 4.0 & 5.0)
ND filters
See website
3 m USB-3 cable
B3-USB
103642
Powered USB-3.0 hub
USB3.0-HUB
202829
Stand
STAND-D-233
200428
1.2. INTRODUCTION
Gentec-EO introduces the Beamage beam profiler series. Its sleek and thin design allows the Beamage
to fit between tight optical components. Its USB 3.0 connection and improved algorithm allows very fast
frame rates. The Beamage-3.0 2.2 MPixel CMOS sensor has a large ⅔” optical format with a small
5.5 µm pixel pitch allowing high resolution on large beams. For larger beams, the Beamage-4M
impressive 4.2 MPixel CMOS sensor and its very large 1’’ optical formal is the ideal solution. Both beam
profilers are available in the IR version allowing measurements between 1495 and 1595 nm. The newest
member of this series is the Beamage-4M-FOCUS, specifically designed for extra-large beams. Its
bounded fiber optic taper extends the sensor surface to 20.5 x 20.5 mm effective size. Most importantly
the innovative and improved PC-Beamage software is simple and intuitive to any new or expert beam
profiling user.
All screenshots in this manual with the words "Beamage-3.0" can be
interpreted as "Beamage-4M".

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1.3. SPECIFICATIONS
The following specifications are based on a one-year calibration cycle, an operating temperature of 18 to
28°C (64 to 82 F) and a relative humidity not exceeding 80%.
Beamage-
3.0
Beamage-
3.0-IR
Beamage-
4M
Beamage-
4M-IR
Beamage-4M-
FOCUS
Sensor
Sensor
Technology
CMOS without coverglass
Sensor Size
11.3 x 6.0 mm
11.3 x 11.3 mm
20.5 x 20.5 mm
effective size1
Sensor Area
0.67 cm2
1.28 cm2
4.2 cm2
effective optical
aperture
Pixel Count
2.2 MPixels
4.2 MPixels
Pixel H x V
2048 x 1088
2048 x 2048
Optical Format
⅔”
1”
Pixel Pitch of
Sensor2
(Pixel Size)
5.5 µm
Shutter Type
Global
Wavelength
Range
350 - 1150 nm
1495 - 1595 nm
350 - 1150 nm
1495 - 1595 nm
350 - 1150 nm
Minimum
Measurable
Beam (ISO)
55 µm
70 µm3
55 µm
70 µm1
120 µm
ADC
12 bit (default) or 10 bit
Frame Rate
11 fps
(2.2 MPixel Full Frame)
20 fps
(1.1 MPixel
Active Area 2048 x544)
32 fps
(0.066 MPixel
Active Area 256 x 256)
6.2 fps
(4.2 MPixel Full Frame)
11.4 fps
(2.1 MPixel Active Area 2048 x 1024)
18.6 fps
(1.1 MPixel Active Area 2048 x 544)
32 fps
(0.066 MPixel Active Area 256 x 256)
RMS noise
1000:1 (60 dB)
1
With Pixel Multiplication Factor 1.8
2
For –IR models, optical resolution is larger (7 µm) because of the Point Spread Function (PSF) of the
Phosphor Coating. For the –FOCUS model, optical resolution is larger (12 µm) because of the Pixel
Multiplication Factor (PMF) and of the Point Spread Function (PSF) of the bound fiber optic bundle.
3
Minimum measurable beam is larger because of the Point Spread Function (PSF) of the Phosphor
Coating (for the –IR models) and of the bound fiber optic bundle (for the –FOCUS model)

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Minimum and
Maximum
Exposure Times
0.06 to 200 ms
External Trigger
SMA connector
1.1 volts to 24 volts, the rise edge response time is 300 ns
Trigger signal pulse width: min: 300 ns
Optional SMA to BNC adaptor (202273)
Damage Thresholds
Maximum Average
Power
1 W with ND filter
Maximum Power
Density
(1064 nm, CW)
10 W/cm2with ND4.0 filter
Maximum Energy
Density
(1064 nm, 10 ns
Pulsed)
0.1 J/cm² for ND4.0 filter only
(30 µJ/cm² on sensor)
Physical Characteristics
Dimensions
61 H x 81.1W x 19.7D mm
61 H x 81.1W x
46.5D mm
Weight
138 g
235 g
Distance from front
of case to sensor
7.8 mm
Default Attenuation
ND 4.0

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Measured and Displayed Parameters
Displays
3D, 2D, XY (crosshair), Beam Tracking, M2Curves
Beam Diameter Definition
4 Sigma (ISO) - ISO-11146-1:2005
FWHM along crosshair (50%)
1/e2along crosshair (13.5%)
86% effective diameter (D86)
Custom along crosshair (%)
Beam Center Definition
Centroid - ISO-11146-1:2005
First Encountered Peak
Displayed Measurements
Beam Diameter dσx and dσy
Effective Diameter
Ellipticity
Orientation
Centroid X and Y
Peak X and Y
Peak Saturation Level
Peak to Average Ratio X and Y
Divergence
Fitted Gaussian equations
Roughness fit along crosshairs
Gaussian fit along crosshairs
Mean Centroid Position
Azimuth
Beam Position Stability
M2Quality Measurement
Setup Options
Exposure Time (auto or manual)
Image Orientation (rotation and flip)
Image Averaging (temporal filter)
Active Area
Pixel Addressing
Gain
ADC Level
Magnifying Lens
Processing Option
Background Subtraction
Area Filters (triangular and flat spatial filters)
Normalized Display
Trigger
Buffer
Buffer size from 1 to 128 frames
Possibility to animate stored frames
File options
Save 1 or all images in buffer
Save in native format, text format, or binary format
Load native format files
Default and custom print report
Save 3D or 2D image in bitmap format
Save crosshairs in text format
Data Acquisition of measurements in text format and in native format

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PC Requirements
USB Port
USB 3.0 port for optimal performance
USB 2.0 port
Operating System
Compatibility
Windows 10 (for optimal performance)
Windows 8
Average RAM
Allocation
500 MB
Up to 1250 MB for 128 images in buffer
Recommended
Requirements
4 GB RAM minimum
8GB RAM for optimal performance
Intel i series processors (i3, i5, i7) or equivalent for optimal performance, other
processors will have lower specifications.
i7 for optimal performance
A computer with a SSD drive.
Beamage-3.0 is a new and a high end product. It needs an equally recent high end
computer to work. Computer hardware must be from 2015 or after. No computer or parts
bought before 2015 will be supported
Laptop computers need to be powered and any power saving settings must be disabled
when using the Beamage. For this reason, we recommend a desktop computer over a
laptop computer.
For Optimal
Performance
Close all programs except the PC-Beamage;
Keep a minimum of 1 GB RAM free when running the PC-Beamage;
Keep a minimum of 50% of free CPU power when running the PC-Beamage
Use an Image Buffer of 1
For Faster Frame
Rate
Use a USB-3.0 port;
Use a computer with high performances (refer to PC Requirements section 0);
Use Windows 10;
Follow the PC recommendations for optimal performance (refer to section 1.2)
Do not use Filters (refer to 3.5.1);
Do not use Image Averaging (refer to 4.2.3);
For a large beam, use Pixel Addressing (refer to 4.2.5);
For a small beam, use an Active Area as small as possible (3 times the beam diameter,
refer to 4.2.4);
Make sure you have a short and manual exposure time;
Do not stream multiple Beamage units simultaneously.
Close any other software on your computer.
Make a background subtraction;
Use 1/e2 beam diameter definition with 0 degree orientation;
Deactivate 2D High Resolution (Advanced tab);
Have a minimum of 30% of hard drive space available;
Unplug any other peripherical device on your computer;
Disable any power saving settings on your computer;
Multi Camera
Recommendation
When working with more than one camera, we strongly recommend using one USB3.0
port per camera and a recent high end computer for optimal performance
Internet Upgrades
Downloadable at www.gentec-eo.com/downloads

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1.4. MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION
Figure 1-1 Beamage series front and side views
Aperture
The aperture of the Beamage and the screw threads are C-MOUNT, allowing easy
connectivity with optical accessories such as attenuation filters, UV converters or lenses. The
sensor is centered with the aperture’s center.
Add or remove accessories in a clean room or very clean environment, and position
the front cover of the camera downwards when doing so.
LED Indicator
The LED indicates if the Beamage has been detected by the computer and if it is currently
streaming.
USB 3.0 Connector
The USB 3.0 connector is now more rugged with its threaded holes. Please note that only
USB 3.0 compliant cables can be used with the Beamage. Do not use at any time low-cost
USB-3.0 cables. USB 2.0 ports can be used, but it will lower the Beamage speed
performance.
In order to ensure reliable and stable communication with a Beamage, precautions
must be taken when handling the USB cable and its connector:
Connector screws: Screw until it is tight, but be careful not to screw too tight.
This could potentially damage the connector.
Do not apply pressure on the connector or pull the cable when it is connected.
We strongly recommended using the cable provided with the Beamage.
The maximum length for a USB-3.0 cable is 3 meters (9 feet and 10 inches).
For a longer distance, a good quality repeater is mandatory.
Avoid using low-cost USB-3.0 computer expansion card.
For optimal performance and stability, do not use any other USB device that
communicates intensive data and uses high power current on your USB port
when using the Beamage.

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Disable any power saving settings on your computer. It could reduce the
power attribution on the USB port and the Beamage camera needs all the
power from the USB-3.0 port to provide a stable communication.
For a laptop computer, always power the computer when using the Beamage
camera.
SMA Connector
The SMA connector is used to externally trigger the Beamage. A SMA to BNC adaptor is
available.
Fixation Holes
¼”-20 holes are aligned with the sensor’s center allowing easy optical alignment.
Figure 1-2 Beamage-4M-FOCUS front and side views
Aperture
The optical aperture of the Beamage-4M-FOCUS is centered with the T-Mount threads on the
front casing. These threads and the included T-Mount to SM2 adaptor allow easy connectivity
with optical accessories such as attenuation filters.
LED Indicator
The LED indicates if the Beamage has been detected by the computer and if it is currently
streaming.
USB 3.0 Connector
The USB 3.0 connector is now more rugged with its threaded holes. Please note that only
USB 3.0 compliant cables can be used with the Beamage. Do not use at any time low-cost
USB-3.0 cables. USB 2.0 ports can be used, but it will lower the Beamage speed
performance.
In order to ensure reliable and stable communication with a Beamage,
precautions must be taken when handling the USB cable and its connector:

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Connector screws: Screw until it is tight, but be careful not to screw too tight.
This could potentially damage the connector.
Do not shake the cable when the Beamage is connected.
Do not apply pressure on the connector when it is connected to a Beamage.
We strongly recommend using the cable provided with the Beamage.
The maximum length for a USB-3.0 cable is 3 meters (9 feet and 10 inches).
For a longer distance, a repeater is mandatory.
Avoid using low-cost USB-3.0 computer expansion card.
For optimal performance and stability, use only the Beamage and do not use
any other USB device that communicates intensive data and use high power
current on your computer.
Disable any power saving settings on your computer, it could reduce the
power attribution on the USB port and the Beamage camera needs all the
power from the USB-3.0 port to provide a stable communication.
For a laptop computer, always power the computer when using the Beamage
camera.
SMA Connector
The SMA connector is used to externally trigger the Beamage. An SMA to BNC adaptor is
available.
Fixation Holes
¼”-20 holes are aligned with the sensor’s center allowing easy optical alignment.

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1.5. SPECTRAL CURVES
Figure 1-3 Spectral response of the CMOS sensor
Figure 1-4 Transmission of the ND4.0 filter

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Figure 1-5 Minimum measurable power and saturation power level

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Beamage-3.0 and Beamage-4M
Wavelength
UG11-UV
ND 0.5
ND 4.0
ND5.0
IR Filter
Minimum
(mW/cm2)
Saturation
(mW/cm2)
Minimum
(mW/cm2)
Saturation
(mW/cm2)
Minimum
(mW/cm2)
Saturation
(mW/cm2)
Minimum
(mW/cm2)
Saturation
(mW/cm2)
Minimum
(mW/cm2)
Saturation
(mW/cm2)
300 nm
0.0001
0.54
355 nm
0.00024
3.4
532 nm
0.000034
0.47
0.15
2000
1.9
632 nm
0.000035
0.49
0.10
1400
1.2
10000*
800 nm
0.000037
0.51
0.0080
110
0.042
590
1064 nm
0.00035
4.8
0.099
1400
0.59
8100
1150 nm
0.0043
61
0.97
10000*
5.7
1310 nm
0.55
6900
Beamage-3.0-IR and Beamage-4M-IR
1550 nm
3.04
520
62.0
10000
176
10000*
Beamage-4M-FOCUS
355 nm
0.33
4700
532 nm
0.000039
0.55
0.17
2400
2.2
632 nm
0.000029
0.41
0.086
1200
0.99
10000*
800 nm
0.000026
0.36
0.0056
78
0.030
410
1064 nm
0.0013
18
0.37
5200
2.2
1150 nm
0.013
175
2.8
•Minimum power is measured at an exposure time of 200 ms
•Saturation level is measured at an exposure time of 0.06 ms
•Do not exceed 1 W on the ND filter
•For higher densities please refer to the Beamage Accessories User Manual to correctly
attenuate your laser
* : Maximum saturation is limited to 10 W/cm² due to the filter’s damage threshold. You can request the
sensor’s maximum saturation intensity by contacting Gentec-EO.
.

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2. QUICK START PROCEDURE
1. Install the PC-Beamage Software.
2. Install the USB Drivers. Make sure to follow the installation instructions (refer to Appendix B).
NOTE: The drivers must be reinstalled with each new software installation. If necessary, update
the firmware using the BeamageUpdater file (Refer to Appendix C).
3. Connect the Beamage to a USB3.0 or USB2.0 port.
NOTE: Make sure to secure the USB connector on the Beamage using the set screws. This will
ensure a stable communication.
4. Start your laser and align the beam in the aperture of the camera.
5. Start the PC-Beamage software. Select the camera from the list. The green LED button in the
Main Controls indicates that communication has been established.
NOTE: When using multiple cameras, you need to start multiple instances of the software one by
one and then select the desired camera in each. For example, if you have 2 cameras, first open
an instance of PC-Beamage and wait for the Beamage Selector dialog. Then, open another
instance of PC-Beamage and wait for the Beamage Selector dialog. Then, go back to the first
instance and select the appropriate serial number. Finally, go to the second instance and select
the remaining camera.
6. For a Beamage-4M-FOCUS, enter the Pixel Multiplication Factor (PMF) at the bottom of the
Settings tab. You must enter the PMF for every computer on which the Beamage-4M-FOCUS is
used.

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7. Press Start Capture.
8. Let the Auto Exposure algorithm find the correct exposure time. This should take a few
seconds. If the exposure time is 200 ms and your beam is underexposed, you need to remove
some attenuation. If the exposure time is 0.06 ms and the beam is saturated, you need to add
attenuation.
9. Remove the background radiation:
a) Click on Subtract Background.
b) A message box will appear. Once this message appears, block your laser beam and click
OK
c) Once the “Please wait” message disappears, you can unblock your laser beam.
10. The measurements appear in the Home tab on the right-hand side.
11. You may choose one of the following display modes from the Display Panel:
a. 3D Display;
b. 2D Display;
c. Crosshair Display;
d. Beam tracking Display.

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3. USER INTERFACE
Figure 3-1 PC-Beamage user interface
Main Controls
The top portion of the software is in a ribbon format and includes all the main controls. These
are grouped by family, including Capture controls, File controls, Startup Config controls,
Buffer controls, Data Computation controls (which include a very useful spatial filter and a
normalizing function), M2 controls and Information controls.
Display Panel
The left-hand side of the software is the display panel. Three displays are available: 3D, 2D,
and XY (cross-sectional graphs along the crosshairs).
Change Display
At any time, it is possible to change the type of display.
Analysis Panel - Tab Selector
Choose between the Home, Setup or Data Acquisition panel tab.
Analysis Panel –Controls
The right-hand side of the software contains the Home, Setup and Data Acquisition tabs. The
first tab (Home) allows the user to select the type of measurements to be performed, and also
shows the resulting measurements of the beam. The second tab (Setup) contains all the
measurement parameters, such as the Exposure Time, Image Orientation, Averaging, Active
Area, and more. The third tab (Data Acquisition) lets the user specify the desired acquisition
parameters.

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3.1. MAIN CONTROLS
Figure 3-2 Main controls
To give more room to the graphical display and less to the ribbon, you can minimize the ribbon by right-
clicking on it and choosing “Minimize the ribbon”. You can retrieve the ribbon at any time by right-clicking
on the upper portion of the window and unchecking “Minimize the ribbon”.
Figure 3-3 PC-Beamage interface with and without the main controls ribbon
3.2. MULTIPLE BEAMAGE MODE
It is possible to connect multiple Beamage units to a single computer. When you start the PC-Beamage,
the following window showing all the serial numbers of the connected cameras will appear. If numerous
Beamage are connected to the computer, please select the desired camera. To connect to another
Beamage simultaneously, you must first start all desired PC-Beamage instances one by one before
selecting the desired serial number for each instance. For example, if you have 2 cameras, first open an
instance of PC-Beamage and wait for the Beamage Selector dialog. Then, open another instance of PC-
Beamage and wait for the Beamage Selector dialog. Then, go back to the first instance and select the
appropriate serial number. Then, go back to the second instance and do the same. You can start
streaming after all the desired Beamage units have been connected to a PC-Beamage instance.