SS4544 SyncroStep Motion Control System
Application Note 110 - ssLASER.ini Setup ME/98
Testra Corporation  1201 N. Stadem Drive Tempe, AZ 85281 Ph:(480)560-6141 Fax:(480)8907-2876
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Revised 2/3/9



OVERVIEW
    This application note discusses what has to be done to setup a your sslaser.ini when using the Windows 98/ME printer driver sslaser.drv in the ssLASER turnkey application with LExxx loaded in the ss4544.  The ini file contains setup information for the driver.  It will also contain default information from the last time the driver was used, so that when started the user will have a familiar configuration.
    This application note is a work in progress, and is being expanded upon based upon questions from the field.   If you have a question do not hesitate to ask via email at  support@testra.com  and the answer will be incorporated into this application note and returned to you.


WINDOWS SERIAL SETTING
     The settings for the COM channel you are going to use for your laser printer dirver  should be set as follows:
Bits Per Second - 38400 (This may also be set to 57.6k or 115.2k but must be set to match in ssLASER control panel)
Data Bits            - 8 bits
Parity                 - NO
Stop Bits            - 1
Flow Control      - Hardware

Advanced Port  - FIFO OFF (Remove Check Mark) or set sliders LOW(1) for Transmit & Receive Buffers



TYPICAL SSLASER.INI
    The following listing is a typical sslaser.ini which will be found in the WINDOWS directory.   If there is no ini file present when the driver is first started, a default ini will be created when the driver is closed.   The default ini will most likely be missing information needed for top performance of your system.   It would be best if you copy the version supplied with ssDEMO to the WINDOWS directory prior to starting up the driver, as it has parameter statements in it that you would otherwise have to type in order to set correctly.  This file will be found in the temporary directory that you used to execute mkssdemo.exe in, or you can download sslaser.ini here.  The following sections will describe each of the settings in the ini and if applicable how to set the parameters for each control word in the ini.

[SSLaser]
Advanced=0
DmCompatible=1
InvertColor=0
MetricPage=1
Orientation=2
Override=0
PageHeight=5800
PageWidth=8100
MajorSteps=32000
MetricPage=1
MinorSteps=23000
SpeedMax=2500
MotionSystem=2
BandKBytes=256
CompressScans=1
GrayPowers=0,10,25,75,150,180,220,255,255,255,255,255,255,255,255,255
Halftone=1
LandRasterMargins=500,500,500,500,500,500,500,500,500,500
LandTweaks=13,13,13,14,14,15,15,15,15,15
PortRasterMargins=50,100,150,200,250,300,350,400,450,500
PortTweaks=10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10
PenPowers=50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
PenRates=0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PenSpeedsCips=2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500
NoMirror=0
Orientation=Landscape
RubberOK=1
Technology=2
Resolution=1
Rotary=0
RotorCircumference=11684
ScanResolution=1
Taper=0
Technology=0
Version=1.09
Exhaust=0
SoftwareControls=0
PenFlags=0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0



[SSLaser]


Advanced=0


DmCompatible=1


InvertColor=0


MetricPage=1


Orientation=2


Override=0


PageHeight=5800


PageWidth=8100


MajorSteps=32000
This parameter is needed to tell the system the x-axis dimension of your system.  The units are in plotter units which normally are 1000 per inch, and should match the XMAXPOS parameter that is set in your MPM created and checked out in ssDEMO.


MetricPage=1


MinorSteps=23000
This parameter is needed to tell the system the y-axis dimension of your system.  The units are in plotter units which normally are 1000 per inch, and should match the YMAXPOS parameter that is set in your MPM created and checked out in ssDEMO.


SpeedMax=2500


MotionSystem=2


BandKBytes=256


CompressScans=1


GrayPowers=0,10,25,75,150,180,220,255,255,255,255,255,255,255,255,255


Halftone=1


LandRasterMargins=500,500,500,500,500,500,500,500,500,500
    This parameter contains 10 entries separated by commas which represent points on a curve for zero to one hundred percent speed versus how much raster margin should be inserted before starting the rastering of an image while operating in landscape mode.  If you do not want to raster during acceleration, these numbers (plotter units) should be set to the distance need to accelerate to the speed at which you want to turn on the rastering.  For the best image the margin needs to be set so that acceleration is basically over.  This however will give the slowest results.  To go faster, you will have to cut this distance down so that you are rastering during acceleration and deceleration.  To get good results, you will have to carefully calibrate your laser to linearize  response to pulse width modulation for different power levels.  Additionally, if you are going to raster during acceleration/deceleration, your mechanics will have to be very stable, since vibrations will distort the resultant image.  In addition, the motor lag will vary during acceleration which currently has no method of compensation, so the image may be distorted.


LandTweaks=13,13,13,14,14,15,15,15,15,15
    This parameter has ten entries specified in plotter units separated by commas which represent points on a curve for zero to one hundred percent speed versus how much lag and backlash will be present in your system at that speed while operating in landscape mode.  This curve is used to adjust the raster lines so that alternate bidirectional  lines in the raster scan have their pixels in an image line up correctly.



PortRasterMargins=50,100,150,200,250,300,350,400,450,500
    This parameter contains 10 entries which represent points on a curve for zero to one hundred percent speed versus how much raster margin should be inserted before starting the rastering of an image while operating in portrait mode.  If you do not want to raster during acceleration, these numbers (plotter units) should be set to the distance need to accelerate to the speed at which you want to turn on the rastering.  For the best image the margin needs to be set so that acceleration is basically over.  This however will give the slowest results.  To go faster, you will have to cut this distance down so that you are rastering during acceleration and deceleration.  To get good results, you will have to carefully calibrate your laser to linearize  response to pulse width modulation for different power levels.  Additionally, if you are going to raster during acceleration/deceleration, your mechanics will have to be very stable, since vibrations will distort the resultant image.


PortTweaks=10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10
    This parameter has ten entries specified in plotter units separated by commas which represent points on a curve for zero to one hundred percent speed versus how much lag and backlash will be present in your system at that speed while operating in portrait mode.  This curve is used to adjust the raster lines so that alternate bidirectional  lines in the raster scan have their pixels in an image line up correctly.


PenPowers=50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50


PenRates=0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0


PenSpeedsCips=2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500


NoMirror=0


Orientation=Landscape


RubberOK=1


Technology=2


Resolution=1


Rotary=0


RotorCircumference=11684


ScanResolution=1


Taper=0


Technology=0


Version=1.09


Exhaust=0


SoftwareControls=0


PenFlags=0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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If you have comments or suggestions, email us at support@testra.com
Testra Corporation   1201 N. Stadem Drive  Tempe, AZ 85281  Ph. 480-560-6141  Fax: 480-907-2876