Strainoptics Laser GASP User manual

Strainoptics Laser GASP® or LCD GASP®
Quick-Start Guide
CAUTION: DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE LASER LIGHT.
Note: You have been provided a full instruction manual in addition to this Quick-Start Guide.
Please refer to the complete manual for further details on the initial setup, general operation, &
maintenance requirements of the GASP.
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1. SET UP GASP ON CAL-PLATE:
a. Remove the cal-plate from behind the foam in the lid of the carrying case & place it lengthwise on
table perpendicular to your body so the painted surface (the “tin side”) is facing up.
b. Remove the matching index fluid (“MIF”) and place a small amount (~10mm diameter) of MIF on the
clear, rectangular measurement location on the cal-plate.
c. THEN remove the GASP from the case and place it on the MIF so that the Six Screwheads (“C” in
the diagram above) are on top of the MIF in the window on the cal-plate with the camera head (“D”
above) facing you. This will ensure adequate optical contact of the prisms with the cal-plate.
2. TURN ON GASP: Turn on the power to both the laser and the LCD monitor separately.
a. Laser: with the battery pack (“A” above) power switch in the OFF position, plug the small jack for
the Input Head (“B” above) into the side of the battery pack. Turn ON the power switch.
b. Monitor (for LCD-GASP): push the power button on the back of the LCD screen to turn the monitor
on. Make sure “CH1”is displayed.
3. OBTAIN IMAGE ON CAL-PLATE: If you removed your GASP from the case carefully, you should not
need to adjust it to measure the surface stress of the cal-plate. If you do not see an image in the eyepiece
or on the LCD Monitor, follow the instructions below to obtain an optical image.
a. To maximize light intensity –With your eyes level to the cal-plate, you should be able to see the
laser light exiting the glass edge. Loosen the input head locking knob (“E”) and, while observing the
A. Battery Pack
C. Six Screwheads
B. Input Head
E. Input Head Locking Knob
F. Input Head Tilt-Adjust Knob
G. Mirror Pivot Lever
(not shown)
H. Compensator Assembly
I. Protractor Dial
J. Degree Indicator
D. Eyepiece Tube
or
Camera Head
(LCD & Auto-GASP)
LCD-GASP

Strainoptics Laser GASP® or LCD GASP®
Quick-Start Guide
CAUTION: DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE LASER LIGHT.
Placing a reticle line “very close” to the
edge of a fringe creates a sliver of light
between the two. This sliver of light
(negative space) is easily balanced for
uniformity along the entire edge of the
fringe. This will give the most consistent
indication of parallelism.
Placing a reticle directly
over the black fringe
does not give the best
indication of parallelism.
light intensity in the eyepiece or LCD monitor, slowly move the input head (“B”) backward or forward
until maximum light intensity is seen. Tighten the input head locking knob.
b. To optimize the laser light path –Slowly turn the input head tilt-adjust knob (“F”) while observing the
laser light exiting the cal-plate at the edge. Adjust the light path until it is as close to the top surface
of the cal-plate as possible, without losing light intensity.
c. While looking down into the eyepiece or observing the LCD monitor, slowly adjust the mirror pivot
lever (“G”) until a red laser light or alternating red and black lines (known as fringes) are visible. If
needed, slowly rotate the tilt-adjust knob (“F”) until the lines are well defined. If the image appears
cut off at either end, slowly slide the wedge compensator assembly (“H”) left or right to center the
image and maximize the viewing area.
4. MEASURING THE CAL-PLATE: Once a robust image of the cal-plate fringes is obtained, rotate the
protractor dial (“I”) until the reticle lines in the eyepiece are aligned parallel to the black fringe lines in the
image.
a. NOTE 1: The reticle lines do not have to be placed over the fringe lines. To ensure parallelism,
position the reticle lines slightly offset from the fringe lines and use the “negative space” between
the fringe line and the reticle lines to arrive at the proper position (refer to illustration below). Note
the angle of the protractor scale at the degree indicator (“J”).
b. NOTE 2: The fringes will slant to the left on the standard GASP, but will slant to the right on the
LCD-GASP or Auto-GASP to indicate compression.
5. ANGLE CONVERSION: To convert the angle reading to a stress value, use the angle vs. stress
table that came with your GASP. This conversion chart was designed specifically for your GASP
and is not interchangeable with any other instrument.
6. YOU’RE DONE! Now that you have obtained a fringe image of the cal-plate and successfully
measured its surface stress, you can repeat the steps above for your glass.
MEASURING YOUR GLASS: NOTE THAT YOUR GASP WILL ONLY WORK ON THE TIN SIDE OF
YOUR GLASS. TO VERIFY THAT YOU ARE MEASURING ON THE TIN SIDE OF THE GLASS, USE
THE UV LAMP THAT CAME WITH YOUR GASP (Strainoptics Part #UV-1301). To minimize the
possibility of damage to the Laser GASP’s prisms, be sure that the glass is free of abrasives.
If you are having difficulty using your GASP, please contact
Strainoptics at 215-661-0100 or [email protected] and we will
be glad to help!
Reticle lines
(Choose one to work with)
Fringe
Reticle not
parallel to fringe.
Negative Space