Gentec-EO M-LINK - Manual (Page 15)

M- LINK User’s Manual Revision 3.0 9
1- Install the power or energy detector head on its optical stand.
2- Turn the M-LINK off (unplug it) and connect a supported head to the M-LINK using the
Detector INPUT DB15.
3- The M-LINK reads the head when a new one is connected. Power down is not required but you
need to restart the application.
4- To avoid any information loss, be sure not to insert a head while the M-LINK is being powered-
up or while you send the Reset Device command.
5- Slide the latch to the left to lock the connector into place.
6- Switch the M-LINK ON (plug it in).
7- Power heads default the M-LINK to power measurement; energy heads default the M-LINK to
energy measurement.
8- Remove the head’s protective cover.
Put the detector head into the laser beam path. The entire laser beam must be within the
sensor aperture. Do not exceed maximum specified densities, energies or powers. For the
most accurate measurement, spread the beam across 60% to 80% of the sensor area.
Attention: Power heads can be used with both CW and pulsed lasers.
Energy heads can only be used with pulsed lasers.
9- For power heads (using the M-LINK), go to step 8. For energy heads, go to step 13.
Adjusting the zero (steps 8 to 10)
10- Block off laser radiation to the detector.
11- The power read by the PC M-LINK when no laser beam is incident on the detector may not be
exactly zero. The detector is either not thermally stabilized OR there was a heat source in the
field of view of the detector when you turned on the M-LINK.
12- To reset the zero, wait until the reading has stabilized, right click and select Zero Offset. You
are now ready to make an accurate measurement.
Notes:
• Refer to specific power detector documentation for complete installation and operating
instructions.
• The power detectors are thermal sensors sensitive to temperature variations.
For high-precision measurements, we recommend:
• Allowing the power detector temperature to stabilize before zeroing the M-LINK.
• Not touching the detector head when handling the power detector. Touch the stand.
• Avoiding forced airflow or drafts around the detector.
13- Apply the laser beam to the detector head. The laser beam average power or energy will be
displayed on the computer screen.
14- If the USB drivers and/or PC M-LINK have not been installed, install the USB drivers (see 3.1.1)
then install PC M-LINK (self-directed).
15- Start the PC M-LINK software on the PC. Click Start / Programs /GENTEC-EO/ PC M-LINK.