Hinds Instruments EXICOR 150AT User manual

USER MANUAL
Hinds Instruments, Inc.
P/N: 010-0000-001 UM Rev F

USER MANUAL
Hinds Instruments, Inc.
P/N: 010-0000-001 UM Rev F
Software Version 6.5

ii Exicor 150AT User Manual
Copyright © 2018 by Hinds Instruments, Inc.
THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES
WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ANY WARRANTY OTHERWISE
ARISING OUT OF ANY PROPOSAL, SPECIFICATION OR SAMPLE. All rights
reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, by photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Hinds Instruments,
Inc.
Information furnished by Hinds Instruments, Inc. is believed to be accurate and
reliable; however, no responsibility is assumed by Hinds Instruments, Inc. for its use;
nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties which may result
from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent
rights of Hinds Instruments, Inc.
In all respects, the English version of this manual is controlling.
Exicor
®
is a registered trademark of Hinds Instruments, Inc.
The Exicor 150AT is covered by the following patents:
U.S. Patents: (1) 6,473,179, (2) 6,697,157, (3) 7,002,685
Japan Patents: (1) JPN 4616746, (2) JPN 4629869
Exicor, Signaloc, PEMLabs, Hinds Instruments and the Hinds Instruments graphic
logo are trademarks of Hinds Instruments, Inc.
*Third-party brands and names are the property of their respective owners

Exicor 150AT User Manual iii
Table of Contents
Table of Contents.........................................................................................................iii
Table of Figures ...........................................................................................................vi
Table of Tables ...........................................................................................................viii
Operators' Safety Summary .........................................................................................1
Terms .....................................................................................................................1
Labels ....................................................................................................................1
Power Source ........................................................................................................4
Use the Proper Power Cord..................................................................................4
Do Not Operate without Covers ...........................................................................4
Laser Safety...........................................................................................................4
Mechanical Safety .................................................................................................8
Electrical Safety ....................................................................................................9
Emergency OFF Switch ........................................................................................9
Activating the EMO System.................................................................................................9
Recovering From an EMO Activation ................................................................................10
1 Overview of the Exicor 150AT Birefringence Measurement System .................... 12
Exicor 150AT Birefringence Measurement System Description...................... 12
General Dimensions............................................................................................15
3 Operating The System .............................................................................................20
System Initialization............................................................................................20
Warm-up Time .....................................................................................................22
Offset Measurements (Zeroing the System)...................................................... 22
Loading a Sample ...............................................................................................22
Scanning a Sample .............................................................................................23
System Shutdown ............................................................................................... 29
4 Software Interface ....................................................................................................30
Overview of the Graphical User Interface..........................................................30
Menu Bar ...........................................................................................................................31
File Identification Bar .........................................................................................................32
Interactive Scan Panel.......................................................................................................32
Automatic Scan Panel .......................................................................................................32
Birefringence Plot Area......................................................................................................33
Other Displays and Controls..............................................................................................33
Configuring the System......................................................................................35
System Parameters Window .............................................................................................36
Auto-Calibration Settings...................................................................................................38
Making Birefringence Measurements ................................................................42
Point Measurements..........................................................................................................42
Automatic Scans................................................................................................................44
Viewing Scan Results .........................................................................................51
Measurement/Graph Type.................................................................................................51
Legend...............................................................................................................................52
Zoom Controls ...................................................................................................................55
Scan Statistics ...................................................................................................................56
Adding Notes .....................................................................................................................56
Copying Files to the Clipboard ..........................................................................................57
Printing Files ......................................................................................................................58

Table Of Contents
iv Exicor 150AT User Manual
Managing Files.................................................................................................... 59
When to Re-save Files...................................................................................................... 59
File Formats ...................................................................................................................... 59
Creating a New File........................................................................................................... 60
Opening an Existing File ................................................................................................... 60
Using Macros ...................................................................................................... 61
Creating a Macro............................................................................................................... 61
Loading a Macro ............................................................................................................... 62
Unloading a Macro ............................................................................................................ 63
Editing a Macro ................................................................................................................. 63
5 Maintenance and Cleaning ...................................................................................... 65
System Performance Check............................................................................... 65
Consumables ...................................................................................................... 66
Fuse Types .......................................................................................................... 67
Laser Fuse ........................................................................................................................ 67
X-Y-Motion Stage Maintenance.......................................................................... 67
Ball Screws ....................................................................................................................... 68
Opening Covers .................................................................................................. 69
Cleaning the Optics ............................................................................................ 69
Cleaning the Cabinet .......................................................................................... 70
6 Troubleshooting & Help........................................................................................... 72
Diagnosing Common Errors .............................................................................. 72
Contacting Hinds Instruments ........................................................................... 74
A Technical Specifications......................................................................................... 75
General Description............................................................................................ 75
Power Requirements .......................................................................................... 75
General Specifications ....................................................................................... 76
Performance Specifications............................................................................... 77
Software Features............................................................................................... 78
Graphing ........................................................................................................................... 78
User Features ................................................................................................................... 78
B Exicor
®
150AT Limited Warranty ........................................................................... 79
Exclusions........................................................................................................... 79

Table Of Contents
Exicor 150AT User Manual v

Exicor 150AT User Manual vi
Table of Figures
Figure S.1 Laser Beam Path..............................................................................................6
Figure S.2 Compliance Labeling.......................................................................................7
Figure S.3 Rear Panel Connections..................................................................................8
Figure 1.1 Exicor 150AT Scanning Module ...................................................................13
Figure 1.2 Optical components of system .....................................................................14
Figure 1.2 General Dimensions.......................................................................................15
Figure 3.1 Hardware Initialization Screen........................................................................21
Figure 3.2 Sample Stage Top Plate..................................................................................23
Figure 3.3 Exicor Main Window at Startup ......................................................................25
Figure 3.4 Setting up a 100 X 100 mm scan ....................................................................26
Figure 3.5 Rectangular Scan In Progress........................................................................27
Figure 3.6 Completed Rectangular Scan.........................................................................28
Figure 4.1 Exicor Main Window Description ...................................................................31
Figure 4.2 Interactive Scan Panel ....................................................................................32
Figure 4.3 Automatic Scan Panel.....................................................................................33
Figure 4.4 DC Level Indicator...........................................................................................33
Figure 4.5 System Parameters Dialog Box......................................................................36
Figure 4.6 Auto Calibration Settings Dialog Box ............................................................39
Figure 4.7 Interactive Scan Panel ....................................................................................42
Figure 4.8 X-Y Motion & Fast Axis Angle ........................................................................43
Figure 4.9 Automatic Scan Panel for Rectangular Scans ..............................................45
Figure 4.10 Automatic Scan Panel for Circular Scans ...................................................46
Figure 4.11 Automatic Scan Panel for Center/Radius Scans.........................................47
Figure 4.12 Automatic Scan Panel for Stationary Scans................................................48
Figure 4.13 Automatic Scan Panels for Zones Scans ...................................................50
Figure 4.14 Measurement/Graph Type Controls .............................................................51
Figure 4.15 Data Plot Legend (all types shown) .............................................................53
Figure 4.16 Legend Settings Window..............................................................................54
Figure 4.17 Statistics Dialog Box.....................................................................................56
Figure 4.18 Example of "Copy Graph".............................................................................58
Figure 4.19 Edit Macro Dialog Box .................................................................................61

Table Of Contents
Exicor 150AT User Manual vii
Figure 4.20 Shaded Areas Show Macro Regions to Be Scanned ..................................62
Figure 5.1 Fast Axis Orientation of Polymer Film Sample..............................................65
Figure 5.2 DC Level Indicator ...........................................................................................66
Figure 5.3 X-Rail & Y-Rail Lubrication ...........................................................................68
Figure 5.4 Direction of cotton swab wiping motion ......................................................69

Exicor 150AT User Manual viii
Table of Tables
Table 4.1 Statistics, Notes, Offset, and Home & Reset buttons....................................34
Table 4.2 Summary of Where to Change System Parameters ......................................35
Table 4.3 Using Cursor Keys to Move the stage Position .............................................44
Table 4.4 Overview of High Speed Mode vs. Regular Speed Mode ..............................49
Table 4.5 Overview of Zoom Controls ............................................................................55
Table 5.1 Laser Fuse........................................................................................................67
Table 6.1 Diagnosing Common Errors ...........................................................................73
Table 6.2 Contacting Technical Support ........................................................................74

Exicor 150AT User Manual 1
Operators' Safety Summary
The general safety information in this summary is for operators of the Exicor
Birefringence Measurement System. Specific warnings and cautions may be found
throughout the manual where they apply, but may not appear in this summary.
Terms
DANGER statements identify conditions or practices that will result in personal injury
or loss of life.
WARNING statements identify conditions or practices that could result in personal
injury or loss of life.
CAUTION statements identify conditions or practices that could result in damage to
the equipment or other property.
NOTICE statements identify conditions or practices that are important in proper use
of the equipment to get the expected results.
Labels
The following IEC/EN Logotype label is placed on the back panel and sample base
plate. See #1 and #8 in figure S.2 .
LASER LIGHT
AVOID DIRECT EYE EXPOSURE
5 mW AT 633 nm
CDRH CLASS IIIa LASER PRODUCT
IEC/EN CLASS 3R LASER PRODUCT
CAUTION
The wording on this label is:
Caution, Laser Light. Avoid direct eye exposure. 5mW AT 633 nm. CDRH Class
IIIa laser product. IEC/EN Class 3R Laser Product.

Operators’ Safety Summary
2 Exicor 150AT User Manual
The system is marked with the following Protective Housing label on the back panel.
See # 2 in figure S.2.
CLASS 3R LASER LIGHT WHEN OPEN
AVOID DIRECT EYE EXPOSURE
CAUTION
The wording on this label is:
Caution, Class 3R laser light when open. Avoid direct eye exposure.
The system is marked with the following Laser Light label on the upper front panel.
See #3 in figure S.2.
AVOID EXPOSURE
Laser Light is emitted
from this aperture
The wording on this label is:
Avoid exposure, Laser light emitted from this aperture.
The X-Y-Motion Stage is marked in four places with the following Pinch Point label.
See #’s 4-7 in figure S.2.
CAUTION
PINCH
POINT
The wording on this label is:
Caution pinch point.
The system identification label below is placed on the rear of the Scanning Module.
See #6 in Figure S.1.

Laser Safety
Exicor 150AT User Manual 3
The wording on this label is:
Model No. _____, Serial No. _____, Manufactured: _____.
7245 NE Evergreen Pkwy
Hillsboro, OR 97124 USA
[phone]
Class IIIa per CDRH 21 CFR 1
040
Class 3R per IEC/EN 60825-1/A2:2001
Model:
Exicor
150AT
SN:
0231
Mf
d
:
April 2016
Electrical Ratings
100
-
240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 2A
Covered by the following patents:
USA 6,473,179; 6,697,157; 7,002,685
China ZL02820533-2
Japan JPN 4616746; JPN 4629869

Operators’ Safety Summary
4 Exicor 150AT User Manual
Power Source
This product is intended to operate from a power source that will not apply more
than 250 volts rms between the supply conductors or between either the supply
conductor and ground. A protective ground connection by way of the grounding
connector in the power cord is essential for safe operation. The user should supply
power to the system that will provide at least the following amount of current at the
corresponding supply voltage:
100-240VAC, 50/60Hz, 3A MAX
Use the Proper Power Cord
Use only the power cord and connector specified for your product to work with your
local power outlets. Use only a power cord that is in good condition.
Do Not Operate without Covers
To avoid personal injury, do not operate this product without all covers or panels
installed.
Laser Safety
The light source contained in the Sample Scanning Module is a low power (CDRH
Class IIIa, IEC Class 3R) Helium-Neon laser.
The laser is a fixed output device. No adjustments are possible.
The output from the Sample Scanning Module, after attenuation by the polarizer and
the PEM, is typically less than 3.2 milliWatts (mW.)
The maximum power output directly from the laser, between the laser and the first
optical element, is 5 mW at 633 nanometers (nm.)
2 to 5 mW levels of output power are to be found from the “laser pointers” used by
lecturers and from a variety of surveying and construction instruments.

Laser Safety
Exicor 150AT User Manual 5
CAUTION
Avoid direct eye exposure to the beam and to reflections from
shiny objects.
This or any other low power laser can cause a temporary
inability to see clearly, much as is experienced by exposure to
the flash of a camera.
Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures
other than those specified herein, may result in hazardous laser
light exposure.
Persons other than qualified maintenance personnel should not
unnecessarily remove covers.
See Laser Safety labels on pages 1 and 2.
Studies of the safe level of exposure to low power lasers can be found in:
•Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers, ANSI Z136.1, Laser Institute of
America, 407/380/1553.
•Ocular Damage Thresholds for the Helium-Neon Laser, Arch. Environ.
Health, Vol. 20, Feb. 1970, Lt Col Paul W. Lappin, BSC, USAF, Brooks Air
Force Base, Texas.
•Laser Pointers and the Human Eye – A Clinicopathological Study, Arch.
Opthalmol, Vol. 118, Dec. 2000, Dennis M. Robertson, MD, et al., Dept.
of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Operator’s Safety Summary
Exicor 150AT User Manual 6
Figure S.1 Laser Beam Path

Laser Safety
Exicor 150AT User Manual 7
Figure S.2 Compliance Labeling

Mechanical Safety
Exicor 150AT User Manual 8
Mechanical Safety
When power is on, avoid contact with the X-Y-Motion Stage and its supports/tracks
when it is in motion. Motion of the stage occurs during sample scanning and may
occur during setup. Turn off power to the Exicor 150AT when replacing or making
changes to the sample holder.
Figure S.3 Rear Panel Connections

Mechanical Safety
Exicor 150AT User Manual 9
Electrical Safety
Rear panel outlets, other than AC outlets, carry low voltage signals and controls.
Typical voltages are 0 to 4 volts with none exceeding 24 volts.
The Exicor 150AT contains no user-serviceable components. Refer any
maintenance or adjustment needs to Hinds Instruments, Inc.
Do not allow any liquids to get inside the equipment.
Maintenance of the other elements of the system should be referred to Hinds
Instruments, Inc. or other trained personnel.
Emergency OFF Switch
The Exicor 150AT has 1 Emergency OFF (EMO) switch. The switch is located on
the right side of the machine. The switch consists of a large red button on a yellow
background. The switch disconnects power to all system components except the
computer and monitor. Error! Reference source not found.3 shows the location of
the Emergency OFF switches.
Activating the EMO System
In the event that an unsafe event or condition is observed with the system, an EMO
switch should be activated by pushing or slapping the red button. Pressing any
EMO button will remove power to all system components of the Scanning Module.
Activating the EMO system will not harm the Exicor 150AT.
Activating the EMO system will not remove power to the computer, monitor, or third
party equipment located at the user station. The power cord acts as the emergency
disconnect device for the computer and monitor.
Data collected prior to the activation of the EMO system will not be lost, however any
scan running will be stopped when the EMO button is pushed.

Mechanical Safety
Exicor 150AT User Manual 10
NOTICE
If an unsafe condition is observed at the User station, the user
should remove power to the components in question by
unplugging the power cord from the power outlet.
Power should not be restored to the components or system until
the unsafe condition is corrected.
Recovering From an EMO Activation
Before attempting to restart the Exicor 150AT, first clear the condition that prompted
the EMO button to the pushed. Once the condition is made safe for the user and
equipment, the EMO button should be rotated to deactivate the EMO switch.
Once power is restored to the Exicor system, the software will need to be restarted
or the Home and Reset button on the UI will need to be clicked.
NOTICE
If the system will not turn ON after an EMO event, check that all
EMO buttons are rotated so the switch head is extended.
If the system still will not turn ON, contact Hinds Instruments.