KVANT Spectrum Series User manual

Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1
General Information .............................................................................................................................. 2
What is a laser and how does it work? ............................................................................................... 4
Laser Safety First!.............................................................................................................................. 6
Installation of the System ................................................................................................................... 7
ontrol System .................................................................................................................................. 8
Scanning System ............................................................................................................................... 9
onnection Diagram ........................................................................................................................ 11
Multiple System Interlock ................................................................................................................. 12
Switching ON sequence and User Interlock...................................................................................... 13
Maintenance .................................................................................................................................... 16
Item Checklist...................................................................................................................................... 17
Optional Accessories .......................................................................................................................... 19
System Overview................................................................................................................................. 20
Front View........................................................................................................................................ 21
Rear View ........................................................................................................................................ 22
Beam Alignment .................................................................................................................................. 24
Beam Alignment [Spectrum 20 | 20 LD]............................................................................................ 26
Beam Alignment [Spectrum 25 | 25 LD | 30 | 30 LD]......................................................................... 29
Technical Specifications..................................................................................................................... 32
Technical Specification [Spectrum 20].............................................................................................. 33
Technical Specification [Spectrum 20 LD] ........................................................................................ 34
Technical Specification [Spectrum 25].............................................................................................. 35
Technical Specification [Spectrum 25 LD] ........................................................................................ 36
Technical Specification [Spectrum 30].............................................................................................. 37
Technical Specification [Spectrum 30 LD] ........................................................................................ 38

Introduction
Thank you for purchasing this KVANT product.
To ensure proper operation, please read this manual carefully before using the product.
After reading it, keep it in a safe place for future reference.
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General Information
The following chapters explain important information about lasers in general, basic laser
safety and some tips about how to use this device correctly.
Please spend some time reading these information as some of them are critical for safe
and efficient operation of this laser display system.
*
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Caution
Please note that some other optical devices such as cameras, camcorders, video projectors etc. can be
damaged if exposed to excessive laser radiation.
Handling precautions
This laser system is a precision device that contains some sensitive opto-electronics components. DO
NOT drop it or subject it to physical shock.
Do not leave the laser system in excessive heat such as in a car whilst in direct sunlight. High
temperatures could cause some serious damage to the system.
The laser system contains precision electronic circuitry. Never attempt to disassemble the laser yourself.
If the laser is suddenly brought in from the cold into a warm room, condensation may form on the laser
and internal parts. If condensation forms on the laser body, do not use the laser as this may damage the
laser system. If there is condensation, wait until it has evaporated before using it.
This laser entertainment system is rated as a Class IV laser product and manufactured
in accordance to EN 60825-1:2007. Avoid eye or skin exposure to direct or scattered
radiation. Wear protective goggles of suitable optical density if necessary.
!
If the laser is operated in a situation where health or property injury may occur the
operation must be stopped immediately.
!
The manufacturer and its distributors cannot be held responsible for any damages
caused by improper use or misuse of this KVANT laser system. The owner/user is fully
responsible for using this product in accordance to laser safety regulations of the country
or state where the system is being used.
!
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What is a laser and how does it work?
What is a LASER?
The laser is a bunch of energy waves (streams of photons called radiation) with the same amplitude and
faze that are flowing in the same direction; meaning they are coherent – they stick together and form a
laser beam.
The width of a single wave is measured in nano-meters and defines the colour and visibility of the laser
beam. The visible spectrum of the human eye is roughly between 400nm and 700nm, going from violet
to a dark red colour. A human eye is most sensitive to a green light of around 555nm, meaning that a 1W
of green laser will always appear more visible than 1W of any other colour laser. 1W of quality laser light
is very powerful and although it doesn’t sound like much it can burn eye retinas, skin and clothes or even
start a fire!
What makes the laser visible?
Mainly it is the particles of dust in the air that the laser beam hits on its path. That’s why we “laserists”
use haze or smoke machines to make lasers more visible. Too much of the haze or smoke will kill it, but
the right amount will make all the difference between no show and a great show.
When outdoors, lasers mainly reflect off dust and mist in the air but due to unpredictable wind conditions
we can never make sure the hazers or smoke machines will be effective enough. And that’s why we use
high power lasers for outdoor shows – to substitute for the lack of dust, haze and smoke.
How far does it go?
Depending on the power output of the system and weather conditions, the laser can be visible for miles –
that is why we need to be cautious about aircrafts when performing outdoor shows. And if you get a
system that is powerful enough then yes, it can reach the Moon.
Colours
Standard full colour analogue lasers use three primary colours: Red, Green and Blue. By mixing those
together you can pretty much get any secondary colour:
Red +Blue = Magenta
Red +Green = Yellow
Green +Blue = yan
Red +Green +Blue = White
Of course the number and precision of the colours is determined by the modulation, stability and linearity
of the system. If the system is not stable enough, it will produce different colours every time it is used,
making it virtually impossible to match the colours of two systems at any one time. This is very often the
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case with systems from far east manufacturers and with re-branded lasers that are being presented as
European makes.
Scanning System
A scanning system is essentially two tiny mirrors, each moving on X or Y axis. By working together they
can “scan” the laser beam in all directions. Once a shape is scanned more than 20 times per second, it
appears static to the human eye. So any shape drawn by a laser is actually produced by one single laser
beam running around like crazy. Every scanning system has a mechanical limit of how fast it can move
its mirrors and therefore how many points it can display at any one second and that is usually
represented in Points Per Second at a certain scanning angle, i.e. 8 degrees.
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Laser Safety First!
Unless you are very competent with the use of lasers and about the laser safety, make sure you at least
follow these basic laser safety rules:
1. Never look directly into a laser beam.
2. Never look directly into laser aperture if the laser system is switched on.
3. Be aware that lasers can burn the eye retina, skin or cause fires if not used correctly.
4. Never perform Audience Scanning – that’s when laser beams and effects hit an audience directly.
Always project with the laser above audience head level – at least 3m above floor level.
5. When performing outdoors, avoid pointing the laser at aircrafts, buses, trains, etc.
6. Never leave the laser system unattended when it’s switched on.
7. Always check for reflective surfaces within the laser range – these can be very dangerous (i.e.
mirror behind the bar in a club could bounce the beam into bar attendant’s eye).
8. Never hesitate to use the Emergency STOP if you think there’s a fault within the laser system or a
potential danger to a person/object caused by the laser performance.
Before proceeding any further, please read the following safety page very carefully. It
could help you avoid dangerous and hazardous situations which could lead to serious
injury or property damage.
!
Any laser system classified as a Class 4 laser must be used with caution. If you are not
an experienced laser operator we would strongly recommend that you attend a laser
display safety course as soon as possible, and ideally before this laser system is used in
pubic areas. There are various places in Europe where you can attend quality training
and even a one day course will give you a good amount of valuable information to safely
start with.
!
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Installation of the System
Please follow these rules during the installation:
1. Do not connect the device to power supply during the installation.
2. Mount the system only to mounting point that is strong, secure and away from places where non-
authorised person could get an access to.
3. Always make sure the system is properly tighten down and that it cannot get loose and move as a
result of sound vibrations, cable pull or similar.
4. Always use a safety rope.
5. Ensure that all the cables have enough leverage just in case they get caught.
6. Ensure that the system is placed at least 20cm away from walls or any other objects including
drapes etc.
7. Ensure that the system is placed well away from any heat sources including spotlights, moving
heads, radiators, etc. Make sure there is a sufficient air-flow around the laser system.
8. It is essential that the fan openings are never covered during the laser operation.
9. Always follow the Laser Safety Regulations of respective country where the laser is being used.
The manufacturer is not liable for damages or a injury caused by improper installation of
the system.
The installation should be carried by a qualified installer who should follow the Laser
Safety Regulations of respective country.
!
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Control System
The overall performance of any KVANT laser system is also dependent on the control system that you
use for operating the laser as well as the correct device configuration in the laser control software.
There are many laser control options on the market but we mainly recommend control systems from
these two manufacturers:
Pangolin Laser Systems
Showtacle
This KVANT Spectrum laser display system is already equipped with one of the control
systems above.
*
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Scanning System
The product warranty does not cover the damages to the scanning system caused by improper
use of the scanning system or by incorrect programming. Therefore it is essential to understand
how the scanning works and where are the limits of it. In this manual we will explain only the
basics of it but it is the responsibility of every user to educate themselves so they can avoid
damage being caused to the scanning system and costly repairs.
A laser beam comes from a laser module and hits the two moving mirrors of the scanning system. These
mirrors are mounted on the scanner shafts and are moved by the scanner rotors, one on X and one on Y
axis.
An effect such as tunnel (circle) is displayed by a repetitive mechanical movement of the scanners. For
each scanning system and effect, there’s a maximal scan rate that is defined by mechanical load,
scanner mirror size and weight, complexity of displayed picture and size of the projection (an angle
under the laser beam is being projected). A different scanning systems have different scan- rate limits. It
is essential to operate the scanning system at scan-rates within its maximal limit at all times to prevent it
from overload damage.
How to establish correct Scan-rate and maximal number of points in an effect
Each effect (picture) contains a different number of graphical points which defines the actual shape of
the effect. The more points an effect contains, the lower the maximum scan rate will be in relation to the
scanning angle.
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As an example we’ll work with the star effect shown below and with the parameters of quality scanning
system:
Let’s say the star effect is made of 300 graphical points (including non-visible blanking points) and we
know that the maximal scan-rate of our scanning system is 35kpps @ 8 degrees (= 35.000 points per
second at 8 degrees projection angle). We also know that we display the star 35 times per second which
is a default frame rate of the control software we are using.
So we need to display 300 points 35 times per second = 10.500 pps. This means that we could display 3
of these stars beside each other within one single laser effect and that it would be quite close to the
scanner limit (3 × 10.500 = 31.500pps). This however applies ONLY if the scanning angle is not more
than 8 degrees on both axes! If we start to increase the size of the projection (scanning angle) it is
necessary to either lower the number of points within the effect or drop down the scan-rate in the control
software (FPS) to a safe level – which may result in flicker.
From the example above we can also determine how many points this scanning system is able to project
if the scanning angle is not more than 8 degrees:
35.000 points / 35 Frames Per Second = 1.000 pps. This is the absolute maximum of how many points
we should be using when programming an effect if the scanning angle is not more than 8 degrees.
In the following pictures you see the same star effect scanned at different scan rates at full scanning
angle (60 degrees).
Picture 1: the scan rate and/or number of points is too low. The corner points are more visible
than the lines between them and the whole effect flickers. The scan-rate and/or number of
points needs to be increased.
Picture 2: the scan-rate and/or number of points is about right. The whole effect has more or
less the same intensity and does not flicker.
Picture 3: further increasing of the scan-rate and/or number of points results in the effect
starting to distort, firstly around corners only. This indicates that you are exceeding the maximal
scan rate of the scanning system! If you operate the scanning system at scan-rates higher than
the maximum scan-rate of the scanning system the scanners will get damaged irreversibly due
to overheated coils damaging rotor magnets.
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Connection Diagram
Please check that all the signal and power leads are correctly installed and that the safety keys are
inserted in all necessary positions.
Basic connection diagram
Both E-STOP Remote safety key and laser system safety key must be inserted and
switched to ON position in order to disable the interlock.
*
USA ONLY: Interlock onnector must be inserted in the E-STOP Remote as well in
order to disable the interlock.
!
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Multiple System Interlock
Multiple laser projectors may be daisy chained and controlled by a single E-STOP Remote. Any event
which enables the Interlock on any laser projector in the daisy chain will trigger the safety Interlock for all
the systems. After the event has been corrected the START button on the E-STOP Remote must be
pressed by the operator to disable the Interlock. After an Emission Delay period the laser projectors will
be ready for use.
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Switching ON sequence and User Interlock
1. onnect the system as showed on onnection Diagram.
2. Turn both E-STOP Remote and laser system safety keys to ON position.
3. Release the E-STOP button by pulling it upwards.
4. Open the aperture window by loosening the two bolts at the bottom of the aperture, adjust the
masking plate to desired position and tighten the bolts to secure it.
5. Press the Main Power switch located at the back panel.
6. Press the RESTART button on the E-STOP Remote.
What happens next?
1. The laser system starts up and performs a self-check during which you may hear the initial spin of
the cooling fans.
2. ScanFail safety indicator starts flashing and flashes for 60 seconds which indicates the Emission
Delay period.
3. The Interlock indicator stays switched off if the Interlock onnector or the E-STOP Remote are
connected correctly.
4. After 60 second Emission Delay period the laser system is ready to start output laser radiation.
Interlock Enabled, Laser Output Terminated
The Interlock is latched enabled and the laser projector’s beam output will be terminated if any of the
following events happen:
1. Power loss lasting greater than 2 seconds.
2. Mushroom emergency switch depressed.
3. #2 Key Switch on E-STOP Remote turned to OFF position.
4. #1 Key Switch on laser projector turned to OFF position.
5. Any other interruption to line No.1 of the cable leading to the E-STOP Remote.This includes any
user interlocks connected in series in the line No. 1 of this cable. Refer to onnection Drawing
below.
.
.
Please make sure that all laser display safety requirements are fulfilled in accordance
with laws of the country where this KVANT laser system is being used before switching
the system ON.
!
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Interlock Connection Diagram
.
.
.
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E-STOP Connection Drawing including User Interlock option
After the event has been corrected the START button on the E-STOP Remote must be pressed by the
operator to disable the Interlock and after an Emission Delay period the laser projector will be ready for
use.
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Maintenance
Aperture Window
To clean the aperture output window use a soft cloth and medical grade isopropyl alcohol. If necessary,
you can remove the aperture output window by loosening 4 socket bolts to clean the inside of the
aperture window as well.
Cooling Fans
Use compressed air for cleaning the front and back airflow slots of the laser system. There are cooling
fans located behind the slots and they are vital for correct operation of the laser system. Please always
ensure that they are spinning freely.
You should perform this service every 2 months if the laser is used regularly or even more often if it is
used in dusty conditions.
Internal Optics
The cleaning of the internal optical components should be performed by an authorised technician only.
Incorrect techniques or wrong choice of chemicals used for cleaning could cause serious damage to the
laser system. Due to the fact that the optical compartment is split and sealed from the rest of the laser
system it shouldn’t be necessary to perform this procedure more often than once a year.
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Item Checklist
Before starting, check that all the following items have been included with your laser system. If anything
is missing, contact your supplier.
Item Number of units Description
1 KVANT Spectrum Laser Display System
1 Emergency STOP Remote
1 3-pin XLR Emergency STOP Remote cable
1 A Power cable
1 User Interlock onnector
2 Set of Safety Keys
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1 ILDA Signal able
1 User manual D
1 Heavy duty flight case)
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