Novanta ventus with mpc6000 User manual

ventus with mpc6000
User Manual
Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE |2
Table of Contents
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................1
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................2
Warranty Information...................................................................................................................................3
EU Declaration of Conformity......................................................................................................................4
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................5
Laser Safety................................................................................................................................................5
System Specifications.................................................................................................................................6
PSU Configuration Drawings.......................................................................................................................8
Laser Operation..........................................................................................................................................9
Cooling Requirements and Power Consumption.......................................................................................15
Power Consumption..................................................................................................................................16
Laser Maintenance....................................................................................................................................17
Liability......................................................................................................................................................17
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Before contacting us for assistance, review appropriate sections in the manual that may answer your questions.
After consulting this manual, please contact one of our worldwide offices between 9 AM and 5 PM local time.
Should the laser fall below acceptable specification performance, please contact our service and support team
on [phone] or submit a service request through our website here. We will provide initial assistance to
rectify the problem remotely. If this is not possible, we will provide you with a Return Material Authorisation
(RMA) Form and instruction on how to package and return the laser safely to us for assessment.
For our commitment to the ‘Waste Electrical’ compliance requirements we recommend you to return your
systems back to the manufacturing site at end of life.
This take-back service will enable us to put the systems beyond use and disseminate the parts into recycling
waste streams.
PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE LASER WITHOUT PRIOR CONTACT WITH AND AGREEMENT FROM OUR
SUPPORT TEAM.

WARRANTY INFORMATION PAGE |3
Laser Quantum UK
Emery Court, Vale Road
Stockport, Cheshire
SK4 3GL
UK
TEL: [phone]
Laser Quantum USA
47673 Lakeview Blvd
Fremont
CA 94538, USA
USA
TEL: [phone]
Laser Quantum Germany
Max-Stromeyer-Str. 116
78467 Konstanz
Germany
TEL: [phone]
Warranty Information
Laser Quantum provides a return to base warranty across all our product ranges. See contact details in the Support
section.
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 instructions laid out in the Operating Manual
•Opening the product or breaking the warranty seals
•Operation in any hostile environment as outlined in the Operating Manual
•Any damage due to operation in unclean environments
•Any substantial mechanical shock
•Any damage through static discharge (this will not occur under normal operation)
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.

EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY PAGE |4
EU Declaration of Conformity
Declaration of Conformity
Laser Quantum declares that the product:
Name: ventus Description: 532 nm, 561 nm, 660 nm 671 nm DPSS laser
has been manufactured in conformity with the following standards:
•IEC/BS EN60825-1:2014 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
•BS EN 61010-1:2010 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement and laboratory use.
General requirements
•BS EN 61326-1:2013 Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use. EMC requirements.
General requirements
•RoHS: 2011/65/EU Restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic
equipment
Warning: Serious Personal Injury
Failure to read this manual carefully before operating the laser may result in catastrophic damage to the
system which may void the warranty.

INTRODUCTION PAGE |5
Introduction
The ventus is a Diode-Pumped Solid-State (DPSS) laser system emitting light in the visible region of the spectrum at
532 nm, 561 nm, 660 nm or 671 nm, depending on the variant ordered. It is a Class 3b or Class 4 laser product. This
manual describes the set-up requirements and operational procedures to ensure safe operation of the system.
Operational Requirement: Electrical Specification
The mpc6000 Power Supply Unit (PSU) requires:
Input Voltage 12 V DC Acceptable range 11 V to 14 V (Ripple 1% peak to peak)
Input Current 8 A Minimum of 8 A must be available from the external source
Important Note: The centre pin of the input connector is positive, and the external DC source output shall
not be referenced to mains ground.
Operational Requirement: Environment
Optimal Operating Temperature Range –Laser Head 22ºC to 37ºC
Maximum Operating Temperature –Laser Head 40ºC
Maximum Operating Temperature –PSU 40ºC
For optimal performance, the laser head should be mounted onto an appropriate heatsink in a stable environmental
temperature. The heatsink requirements will depend on the ambient temperature of the operating environment and
the operating power of the laser (section 6).
In the event of the laser head or PSU over-heating, a controlled shut down of the system will occur (Section 6). The
system can only be restarted once it has been cooled to a safe temperature.
Temperature Range: 5ºC to 45ºC
Humidity: Non-Condensing
Laser Safety
Warning: Serious Personal Injury
Use of controls or procedures or performance of procedures other than those specified herein may result in
hazardous radiation exposure. Use laser ONLY for the originally intended requirement such as for
scientific research, industrial application or for oem integration.

PAGE |6
The ventus is a Class 3b or Class 4 laser product, this is denoted by the laser warning label affixed
to the laser head. A further label also appears adjacent to the laser aperture.
A further label also appears adjacent to the laser aperture:
When operating the laser, those in the environment must adhere to the following instructions to avoid eye damage
and prevent the risk of fire:
•Laser safety goggles must be worn at all times when the laser is in operation.
•Always ensure the beam is safely collected in a suitable beam stop or that the laser is disabled when not in
use.
For a full description of laser safety procedures, the user is referred to Declaration of Conformity standards plus:
•FDA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21 Subchapter J section 1040.10 Laser products
•American National Standards for Safe Use of Lasers –ANSI Z136
System Specifications

SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS PAGE |7
A full list of parts supplied with the laser systems appear in Section 3 along with the dimensions (mm) and weights
(kg). These measurements should be referred to whilst integrating the system.
Parts List
The ventus laser system comes complete with:
•ventus laser head
•mpc6000 Microprocessor Controlled Power Supply Unit (PSU)
•Umbilical Cable –to connect the laser head and PSU
Depending on the purchase specification, some or all of the following items may also be included:
•External Power Supply Source (Mains AC to 12 V DC Desktop Module)
•IEC Mains Lead
•PSU Key Set –to operate the interlock key on the PSU control panel
•Interlock dongle –to enable the laser system (Green spot on casing and Green LED)*
•RemoteApp™software suite & Operating Manual –delivered on a USB flash drive
Important Note: If a red spot interlock dongle has been supplied, Section 5 is amended to include an
additional safety warning which must be taken into consideration before operating the laser.
System parts and accessories that meet manufacturer’s specification MUST only be used. DO NOT replace the IEC
Mains Lead with alternative inadequately rated leads.
Weights and Dimensions

PSU CONFIGURATION DRAWINGS PAGE |8
ventus laser head Weight: 1.2 kg
mpc6000 PSU Weight: 1.5 kg
PSU Configuration Drawings

LASER OPERATION PAGE |9
Figure 4-1
Figure 4-2
Laser Operation
Warning: Serious Personal Injury
The Ventus laser contains components which can be damaged if exposed to an electro-static discharge. Ensure the
connector pins on the back of the laser head are never exposed to an electro-static discharge.

LASER OPERATION PAGE |10
The ventus system behaves as a travelling-wave cavity which ensures inherent single-longitudinal mode (SLM)
operation. The resultant single mode is actively locked to the peak of the gain profile using a locking process within
the cavity and feedback electronics in the power supply; such action maintains the single mode in its optimum
frequency position.
In order to generate a locking signal, the mode is oscillated in frequency-space at 380 Hz and a small proportion of
light is fed back to the processor which in turn optimises the mode position. It is possible to turn this oscillation off
once the laser has completed its locking routine, resulting in a longer, time averaged coherence length. The
command to turn off this feature is in Section 5.6
Important Note: The locking process should be used for prolonged periods of laser use.
Switching the laser “on”
1Ensure the mpc6000 is not powered (i.e. 12 V DC source is switched off).
2Connect the Laser Umbilical Cable to the port marked ‘Laser Umbilical’ on the mpc6000 before connecting
the other end to the laser head. Tighten the locking posts on the screws at both ends so they are finger tight.
3Switch on the 12 V DC source, this should illuminate the mpc6000 green power LED. At this stage the
thermal control circuitry is activated but no laser emission should occur.
4The analogue Control port (see Figure 4-2) is multi-functional as it has connections for Interlock, Enable
Switch and Laser Power Control/Modulation. The Interlock must be closed to allow the laser to operate and
this can be achieved using the supplied green-spot Interlock Dongle.
5With the Key Switch turned to the ‘on’ position, a momentary press of the Enable button will start the laser.
6Using the Encoder and Menu Up/Down buttons (see Fig 4.1) the operation current or power can be adjusted
(see Section 5: Front Panel Controls).
7The laser can be operated in either Power mode or Current mode, the selection of either mode is described
in Section 5.
Power Mode
The laser power is constant and a feedback control loop maintains the power at the level requested by the operator
via the Front Panel LCD.
Warning: Serious Personal Injury
If a red spot Interlock Dongle has been supplied with the laser system this will over-ride the need to press the
Enable button. Turning the Key Switch to the ‘on’ position will start the laser

LASER OPERATION PAGE |11
Current Mode (where available)
The pump diode current as selected by the operator is a percentage of the total pump diode current available. The
requested current remains constant, however the power may drift due to environmental changes.
Switching the laser “off”
The laser is switched off by turning the Key Switch to the ‘off’ position or disabling the interlock connection.
Front Panel Controls
On the front panel of the PSU:
‘Up’ button is marked ‘Down’ button is marked
In order to adjust the laser output, the user must first select the parameter mode displayed on the LCD screen by
pressing the menu down button. This action changes the text to the navigation colour blue. Depressing the menu
down button again will change the text to the selected colour red. The rotary encoder allows the selection of the
required parameter (power or current). Once selected, depressing the menu up button once will return the parameter
back to the navigation colour blue. The laser is now operating in the selected mode.
Using the rotary encoder select the parameter power or current, depending on selected mode. Depressing the menu
down again will change the selected colour red. The value can then be changed using the rotary encoder. The value
will change faster if the rotary encoder is depressed whilst rotated.
Once the desired value is reached, depressing 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 laser head and power supply 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
Control Port - Functionality
The MPC6000 can be operated directly via the control port (see Figure 4-2) by applying 0 to 5 V, interlocks and push
button in accordance with the diagrams in this section.

LASER OPERATION PAGE |12
9-way Function Table and Pin-Out Diagram
Pin
Function
1
+5 V rail (source)
2
Interlock (connection 2) and Enable LED anode
3
Enable switch (connection 1)
4
Diode current enable (connect to pin 1)
5
Ground (GND)
6
Interlock (connection 1)
7
Enable LED cathode
8
Enable switch (connection 2)
9
Ground (GND)
The remote Interlock, Enable and Enable LED can be wired in accordance with the diagrams below [Fig 5-1 & Fig 5-
2], to be used as part of a laboratory interlock safety circuit. If either Interlock is broken the system will shut down, the
Enable button must be pressed to restart the system.
Connections to the control port shall be “potential free” i.e. isolated from mains voltage by a barrier rated at 3 KV
(e.g. Double Insulation, Etc).
The combined electrical resistance of the “Enable Switch”, “Interlock” and associated wiring shall be less than 5
ohms.
If a solid-state device such as on opto-isolator is used as the switching element(s), the total combined voltage drop
must not exceed 500 mV.
The current through the “Interlock” and “Enable Switch” circuitry is less than 100 mA. The LED current source is 10 V
via a 540 R resistor.
Figure 5-1 Figure 5-2 Figure 5-3

LASER OPERATION PAGE |13
RS232 Port –Functionality
Control of the laser can be achieved via the RS232 port using a terminal emulator such as HyperTerminal or PUTTY.
This allows the operator to:
•Turn the laser on/off
•Control the laser power
•Query for information such as laser head/PSU temperature
•Check the laser status
It is necessary to have the Interlock and Enable switches closed via the Control port in order to enable the laser, prior
to controlling the laser through the RS232 port. Pins 1 and 4 of the Control port must be shorted together to allow
maximum current to be set by the RS232 commands.
The RS232 port uses the standard 9-way connector pin configuration:
Pin 2 TXD: RS232 –Transmit
Pin 3 RXD: RS232 –Receive
Pin 5 GND –Ground
Port settings are:
Baud Rate: 19,200
Parity: None
Stop Bit: 1
Hand Shaking: None
The operator must wait for a response from the PSU before sending the next command. A response is any text string
(including null) followed by a carriage return, Line Feed.

LASER OPERATION PAGE |14
RS232 Port –Serial Commands
Serial Command
Function
OFF
Disables the laser, regardless of the interlock status
ON
Enables the laser subject to Interlock and Enable Switch status
CONTROL=CURRENT
Sets the Current mode on
CONTROL=POWER
Sets the Power mode on
CURRENT=###
This sets the current to the diodes as a % of the maximum e.g. to
set a current of 85% of maximum send CURRENT=85, followed by
striking the RETURN key.*
POWER=###
This sets the output power of the laser. For example, to set a power
of 2800 mW, send the string POWER=2800, followed by striking the
RETURN key
POWER?
Returns the power of the laser (read from the internal photodiode)
STEN=YES/NO
Enable (YES) or disables (NO) laser as default at start-up. This
serial command must be followed by WRITE
STPOW=###
### is the optical power in mW. Sets the default start-up power. This
serial command must be followed by WRITE
ACTP=###
### is in mW. Recalibrates the APC mode (See section 5)
WRITE
Stores APC calibration, STEN and STPOW in memory
LASTEMP?
Returns the temperature of the laser head in degrees centigrade
PSUTEMP?
Returns the temperature of the PSU in degrees centigrade
STATUS?
Returns the status of the Interlock
TIMERS?
Returns the timers of the laser and PSU:
PSU Time=#######.# Total time the system has been powered
Laser Enabled Time=#######.# Total time the diodes have been
powered
Laser Operation Time=#######.# Total time the diodes have been
powered >1 A
VERSION?
Returns the software version
* A minimum % current threshold level is required to achieve laser emission. This threshold varies from laser to laser
and is also dependent on the laser power.
The system has been tested for compliance using a 3m serial cable. If a serial cable >3m is used, compliance of the
system may be compromised unless optical isolation is used.
Important Note: Take extra care to remove back-reflections to the laser. Any magnitude of back reflection
may disturb the resonant cavity and will affect the APC feedback control loop.

COOLING REQUIREMENTS AND POWER CONSUMPTION PAGE |15
RemoteApp
Using Laser Quantum’s unique RemoteApp software suite the laser can be controlled via the RS232 port. The
application is supplied on a USB Flash Drive and should install automatically. Alternatively it can be downloaded
from www.novantaphotonics.com. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the software onto the computer.
RemoteApp includes a comprehensive instruction manual which can be accessed via the ‘Help’ and ‘Contents’ tabs.
The RemoteApp can also be used if a remote connection is required by our Service & 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 during its use to ensure the APC 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 terminal emulator (section 5.5). The following
procedure must be followed:
1Select an intermediate power that the laser is capable of reaching. Set the laser to this power by typing the
command POWER=###. “###” represents this intermediate or characteristic operating power level.
2After a period of 5 minutes, measure the actual power using a trusted, external power meter
3Type the command ACTP= [external power meter reading in mW]
4Confirm that the laser has adjusted its power such that the external power meter now reads ### mW within a
few mW
5If necessary, repeat steps 3 and 4 until the calibration agrees
6Once accepted, type the command WRITE to store the new calibration
Cooling Requirements and Power Consumption
Cooling Requirements
The laser has a characteristic warm-up period before it reaches specification; this time depends partly on the
heatsink to which it is attached. However, the typical warm-up time is 10 minutes from switch on.
In order for the laser to perform to specification it must be adequately heatsinked. Operating the laser on an
inadequate heatsink will adversely affect its stability and may result in thermal shutdown of the laser or reduction in
optical power. Operating the laser on an Aluminum optical bench should produce optimum performance, although in
higher powered systems this alone might not be enough to effectively remove the heat away from the laser. The
user should consult section 6 of the user manual where the power consumption figures presented can be used as a
first approximation of heat-dissipation. An additional cooling aid might be required (e.g. TEC, forced air cooling,
water cooling). For further information on heatsinking, please consult your sales representative who will be able to
provide a heatsink solution.
ventus laser head
Once the maximum operational temperature for the laser head (see Section 1) has been reached, one of two things
will occur: To ensure the correct cooling arrangement the flow direction should be as follows:
1 The current to the diode will immediately be switched off and the laser system will need to be restarted once
the temperature has been restored to normal

POWER CONSUMPTION PAGE |16
2 If de-rating is enabled the current will gradually be reduced to zero in order to try to allow the laser head
temperature to stabilise. If the current does reach zero the system will need to be restarted. The effects of
de-rating are shown in the table below:
Current Laser
Head/Laser OVERTEMP LED
Colour of Laser and PSU text
on LCD
A set by user
Off
Orange
Begins to de-rate
Flashes
Flash Red and White
Reduced to zero
On
Flash Red and White
mpc6000 PSU
A similar arrangement occurs for the PSU once the maximum operating temperature (see Section 1) has been
reached.
Important Note: The indicator LED in this instance is marked ‘PSU OVERTEMP LED’.
Power Consumption
The power consumption shown is that which is drawn at the plug from the mains supply in both the Maximum and
Typical states. The Maximum power will usually be drawn at start up and the typical power is when all temperatures
are stabilized, and the system is operating at the specified power. Peak values are shown in all cases and
efficiencies will vary between systems of different wavelengths.
Maximum at 240 V supply –using the supplied External Power Supply Source:
120 W
At the 12 V input the MPC6000 can draw maximum of 8 A
Laser System:
Wavelength (nm)
Laser System Output (mW)
532
50
250
750
1500
660
50
125
375
750
671
50
80
250
500
Power Consumption (W)
(Maximum)
43
45
60
75
Power Consumption (W)
(Typical)
33
35
45
55
The power dissipation of the laser head is no more than 40% of the total power consumption. The values shown are
system power consumption.

LASER MAINTENANCE PAGE |17
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 cloth dampened with research
grade methanol, the laser window must be gently wiped.
•Always follow the instructions given in this Operating Manual
•Never touch the connector on the laser head with anything other than the Umbilical cable provided and
always follow the connection instructions in this Operating Manual
•Do not open the laser head or PSU; this will immediately invalidate the warranty
•Do not subject the laser head to mechanical shock; if severe this can cause mis-alignment of the laser cavity
•Do not allow the output window of the laser to be touched as this may damage the precision optical coatings
used. Avoid very dirty atmospheres where dirt may settle on the window
•Do not operate or store this laser system in very humid or damp environments
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.

LIABILITY PAGE |1
This page is intentionally left blank

Laser Quantum
Manchester, United Kingdom
Emery Court, Vale Rd.
Stockport, SK4 3GL, UK
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.novantaphotonics.com
###### Revision X
February 2023
©2023 Novanta Corporation.