From left to right: The CAD PC for the CAD software, the main body of the laser cutting machine (YASNAC), and the laser cutter control PC (YAGSCAN). This is the normal operating condition (no error, laser ON). Check the lamps.

Machine description: all machines are installed at the instrument preparation room at summit CB.

CAD PC	A PC running on the Windows NT. You will be here to run the CAD software. The software translates the slit definition file, and create a series of NC commands. The NC commands will be sent to the laser cutter control PC on the right.
Laser Cutter	A laser and a X-Y stage are installed here. A new carbon sheet will be installed in a holder, and the holder will be installed on the X-Y stage in it.
Laser Cutter Control PC	A PC controlling both the laser and the stage of the laser cutter simultaneously.

Instruction for the mask fabrication

1. Turn on the power of the main body of laser cutter, YASNAC.
The front panel at the lower part of the YSANAC. Press a green button at upper left.

2. Turn on the main power of LD YAGSCAN and turn the key to "ON" position.

The CRT shows some information, and the water pump starts running. Wait for the heating process of the YAGSCAN to finish (until the water temperature reaches around 27℃). It will take about 10-20 min. When the water temperature becomes high enough, the temperature warning message will disappear.

Note the front power panel in the middle, showing a power key and a breaker.

NOW GO IN FRONT OF THE LASER CUTTING MACHINE IN THE CENTER

3. A red lamp on the main body lights (a set of lamps of blue, yellow, and red) is lit and an error message will be displayed on the front panel. Press the buttons on the front panel of the main body, "RESET," then "ON," and then  "RESET" again in order to set it back to operate in normal condition. Do the latter sequence to set it back to the normal condition whenever the red lamp is lit.
The front panel. Reset button is at the right, and the ON button is at the left.

4. Insert a slit plate. First, install a sheet to the holder. Then install the holder to the laser cutter. Be careful with the direction of the plate. (The truncated corners face downward with the corner with a vertical cut on the lower left side and that with an acute cut like a beak on the upper right side.). There are some markers indicating the correct direction both on the holder and the cutter.

A carbon sheet stored within the holder can be seen on the X-Y stage inside the laser cutting machine.

5. The red lamp lights up (every time the plate entrance is opened.). Set it back to normal (see 3 above). 

6. Make sure that all the toggle switches on the lower left side on the main body are set to OFF: The dial above the toggle switches should be OFF and 100%.

Normally you do not have to touch all these switches/dials except for the MODE SELECT dial (see 7 below).

7. Set the MODE SELECT dial on the right side at JOG.

8. Depress the -Y button for about one second. (Retracts from the reference point set)

Note that the direction of +X, -X., +Y, and -Y is somewhat strange in this machine.

9. Set MODE SELECT dial at REFERENCE POINT.

10. Press +X and +Y buttons at the same time. Green lamps near the buttons light up when the stage is at the reference point.

11. Set MODE SELECT dial at TAPE.

Now the machine is in the standby condition for receiving commands. 

12. On the CAD PC at the left, start up the powercam software.

13.

作図	編集	入出力
補助	NC	CAM

Press CAM in the above display.

14.

図形処理				LASER	WIRE	TURN	TOOL	NC25	NC処理

Press NC25 in the above display.

15.

NC25開始

Press the button above and the screen will split multiple screens.

16.

ファイル入力

Press the button above and select a slit definition file (so-called *.sbr files).

設定

Then press the button above and an image screen shows up.

17.

Shown in the lower right hand side are:

初期設定

抽出設定

図形抽出

加工条件

CL計算

NC出力

複数出力

説明

Select 複数出力 so that the "NC output" window will show up.

18. Press 出力.
Enter the file name (._NC is the expansion name).
Always press Enter after entering and make the changes effective.
Then press 設定.

19. A new screen shows up.
Press XY at the top of the window, and apply X-Y 2 dimensional screen.
Press the play button, |> (filled triangle, actually), and you will the slit cutting sequence.

20. Minimize the new screen and return to the original screen.

21.

NC処理

Press the button above,

RS-232C

and the above button and enter the ._NC file that was made before in 19.
Press 設定; It will be ready to cut slits.

22. A new window with a title of "(File name)-nc-punch" shows up. Press the blue play button (NC output), |>.

NOW GO IN FRONT OF THE LASER CUTTING MACHINE IN THE CENTER

23. Press CYCLE START (Green button) on the right panel on YASNAC.

NOW GO IN FRONT OF THE CAD PC ON THE LEFT

24. The play button on PC shows in gray color during the process of cutting slits.
The job process (in %) will be displayed in a bar on the window, (File name)-nc-punch.
The play button will return to blue color when the cutting process is done.

NOW YOU MAY LEAVE THE MACHINE. CHECK THE SAFETY AROUND THE MACHINE

25. Slit cutting is complete.

Remove the slit holder from the X-Y stage. Remove a sheet from the holder.

26. More slits? Repeat from 4.