Video guides to install CLAMIR

To focus CLAMIR, rotate the external part of the optic until the circle of the sample is defined.
To measure the pixels of the resulting circle, activate and display the ROI function.
Place the cursors that delimit the area in the limits of the circle.
In the Advanced Process Settings window, lower the Threshold value so that all image values are used in the calculation of the width.
Modify the value of “mm / pixel ratio” until the calculated width corresponds to the circle used.

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To adjust the proper threshold value, it’s convenient to see a signal comparable to a melt pool. The adjustment is made using the Advanced Process Settings window.
To remove non-useful values from the histogram, enable ROI.
Select a reduced region around the melt pool. A very precise zone adjustment is not required.
In the Histogram chart you should see now two well defined Gaussian curves.
Choose a Threshold value using the cursor, adjusting it to the Gaussian curve that represents the melt pool values.
In the “Melt Pool Area (px)” indicator it’s possible to see the number of pixels detected by CLAMIR as melt pool (i.e., those with a value above the defined threshold).
For auto detection, set the values of Start track area threshold and Stop track area threshold to 60% and 40% respectively of the value displayed in the Melt pool area indicator.
By activating the Threshold to Z scale control, the active pixels of the melt pool are highlighted in the image.

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To configure the voltage curve in a power out of the laser head, go to the Control menu.
To configure a curve with a power equivalent to 0 V positive, it is as simple as using the Max Power and Min Power controls.
Selecting in Min Power the power equivalent to that given by the graph for Vin = 0 V and in Max Power the equivalent for Vin = 10V.
It can be verified that the characteristic curve of the laser is similar to the one generated by CLAMIR.
In the event that the characteristic curve has power values ​​= 0 W for Vin other than 0 V, the tool is provided to indicate an intermediate point on the graph.
An intermediate point comparable to one of the characteristic curve can be selected, which will automatically generate a theoretical point Vin = 0 of negative power.
Then the maximum value would have to be adjusted, both using the cursor or the Max Power control.
Adjust until the graph generated by CLAMIR corresponds to the linear part of the characteristic curve.
In this case we adjust the generated graph until it passes approximately through the point Vin = 8.5 V and P = 5000 W.

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Para comenzar un proceso continuo hay que configurar la duración de los tracks, en este caso 2,5 segundos.
Configurar la duración con el laser apagado para considerar terminado el proceso, en este caso 6 segundos.
Los valores del proceso de threshold y autodetección ya deberían de estar configurados. Véase video ventana de proceso.
Configurar los valores de Reference Track Start y Reference Track End.
Estos valores sirven para determinar los tracks que estará en estado Set Point el sistema CLAMIR.
Los valores de los tracks previos al declarado por Reference Track Start el proceso no establecerá control pero tampoco los empleará para hacer la medición.
Los valores de los tracks desdeReference Track Start hasta Reference Track End serán los empleados para calcular el ancho de referencia.
Para lanzar el proceso, cambiar el modo de operación a continuo y encender el láser/iniciar el proceso.
El estado de control SET POINT en rojo indica los tracks que no esta empelado para el cálculo del ancho de referencia.
En el estado de control SET POINT en verde indica los tracks que esta empleando para calcular el ancho de referencia.
Una vez alcanza el track indicado por Reference Track End, el estado de control pasa a CONTROL.
En este punto el ancho de referencia pasa al calculado, y la potencia es ya regulada para tratar de mantener el ancho medido en el de referencia.
Si el ancho del melt pool varía, CLAMIR tratará de corregirlo variando la potencia que entrega.
Así se puede observar como las variaciones del ancho detectado son muy reducidas pese a forzarle un cambio muy significativo.
Para corregir un ancho menor al de referencia, CLAMIR entrega más potencia.
Para corregir un ancho superior al de referencia CLAMIR reduce la potencia entregada.
Cuando el proceso finaliza y el láser es apagado, CLAMIR detectará Laser Status off.
Pasado el tiempo configurado para dar por finalizado el proceso con CLAMIR sin detectar un láser, el proceso pasará al estado IDLE y dejará de controlar, dando por finalizado el proceso.

To start a continuous process you have to configure the duration of the tracks; in this example we will use 2.5 seconds.
Set the duration with the laser off to consider the process finished; in this example we will set 6 seconds.
The threshold and autodetection process values ​​should already be configured (see Video 2: Adjusting the threshold value).
Set the Reference Track Start and Reference Track End values. These values ​​are used to determine the tracks that CLAMIR will be in the SET POINT state.
The tracks before the Reference Track Start will not be processed for the calculation of the Reference width.
The values ​​of the tracks from Reference Track Start to Reference Track End will be used to calculate the Reference width.
To launch the process, change the operating mode to continuous and turn on the laser / start the process.
The SET POINT control status in red indicates the tracks that are not used to calculate the Reference width.
In the SET POINT control state in green it indicates the tracks you are using to calculate the Reference width.
Once the track indicated by Reference Track End is reached, the control status changes to CONTROL.
At this point the Reference width value is set with the calculated SET POINT, and CLAMIR starts controlling the laser power to maintain the Reference width value.
If the width of the melt pool varies, CLAMIR will try to correct it by varying the power.
Thus it can be observed how the variations in the width detected are very small despite forcing a very significant change.
To correct a width smaller than the reference, CLAMIR delivers more power.
To correct a width greater than the reference CLAMIR reduces the power delivered.
When the process is finished and the laser is off, CLAMIR will detect Laser Status off.
After a period of time equivalent to End process time without detecting a laser, CLAMIR state will change to the IDLE state and stop control, ending the process.

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The difference between a continuous process and a tracks process relies on the method to count the tracks.
In the continuous process, track detection is made by means of a timing, while in a process of tracks they are counted by means of the off and on of the laser.
A track will be counted with each rising edge of detection of a laser.
So in Process settings you only have to configure the duration of the laser off to consider the process as finished.
It is important that this value is greater than the time we expect to have between tracks with the laser switched off.
As in a continuous process, the reference tracks to be used in the calculation of the reference width must be configured.
When switching to tracks mode and starting the process with the laser head, it can be seen on the rising edges of laser detection ON is when the track count is increased.
The track processes may have small anomalies in the laser shutdown and ignition flanks.
These anomalies are caused by detecting that the width drop for a few moments before crossing the configured threshold and considering that the laser has shut down.
Likewise, when it is switched on, it happens that between considering the laser on and reaching the reference width CLAMIR will supply a peak of power that will in turn affect the width of the melt pool.
To correct the peaks of the rising edge, a delay in power control can be generated.
Using Laser ON delay, a delay is introduced before control starts after the laser is detected; during this time the power is kept constant.
This allows reducing or eliminating the anomaly of the rising edge.
In this case the process is slower on the rising edge than a laser and therefore the configured delay must be high.
As in the continuous process, at the end of the process and turning off the laser head the CLAMIR will terminate the process depending on the configured completion time.

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