background image

Photoplotter FilmStar-PLUS
Instructions to Use

Page 12 / 16

This preview image is stored into the FPF file and displayed as preview when the FPF file is loaded 
into the program Run_Photo_USB2. This preview image has a low resolution (200 x 200 pixels), so 
many pixels need to be merged. In the field threshold you can set at what percentage of black dots the 
merged dot will be black or transparent. On the left the preview picture is rather light, because 75% of  
the pixels have to be black before the merged pixel will become black. On the right the  preview picture 
is rather black, because only 10% of the pixels have to be black before the merged pixel will become  
black. Note: The threshold has only effect on the preview picture, not on the real plot picture.

View_FPF

View_FPF is a simple image viewer 
for the plotter format FPF. You can 
load files, zoom into the image with 

F5

 (in steps 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 25, 

33,   50,   100%)   and   zoom   out   by 
pressing  

F6

.   You   can   adjust   the 

viewing section with the 

scroll bars 

on the right and below, or click in 
an area in the small  

preview  win-

dow

.

View_FPF also contains a measur-
ing function e.g to compare the bit-
map   dimensions   with   the   original 
Gerber data.
First   select   an  appropriate   magni-
fication,   then   move   the   cursor   on 
the first measuring  point  and click 
with   the   left   mouse   button.   The 
point is displayed as P1 in the bar 
at the bottom of the program (P1x = 
114.983   P1Y   =   67.504).   Proceed 
with the mouse to the 2nd measuring point and click the right mouse button. This  point is displayed as  
P2 in the bar at the bottom (P2x = 120.547 P2y = 67.443). Now you can read the distance in the X dir -
ection (dx = 5.564), the distance in the Y direction (dy = 0.060) and the diagonal (dz = √(dx2 + dy2)=  
5.564). All values in mm.

Bungard Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG, Rilkestraße 1, 51570 Windeck – Germany

Tel.: +49 2292 / 9 28 28-0, Fax: +49 2292 / 9 28 28-29

, E-mail: [email protected]

Threshold 10 %

Threshold 75 %

Summary of Contents for FilmStar-PLUS

Page 1: ...cs Windows routine for opening and saving of files higher resolutions in Gerber2Bitmap various cal ibration programs in Run_Filmstar 3 different plot speeds for either high precision or less time consumption Description The film is fixed on a rotating drum A highly focused red light laser diode is moving step wise alongside that drum driven by a precise stepper motor with worm and gear drive Of co...

Page 2: ...m 0 19685 mil 2 Finest space between 2 lines 10 µm 0 01 mm 0 3937 mil 3 Finest space between 2 areas 18 µm 0 018 mm 0 70866 mil 4 Finest inverse spot diameter transparent point in black area 25 µm 0 025 mm 0 98425 mil Safety Regulations Carefully read this instructions and especially the safety regulations before using the unit Also pay heed to the safety data sheets of the photographic chemicals ...

Page 3: ...processing temperature When handling chemicals wear personal protective equipment gowns gloves goggles The drum surface should be kept clean and dry To remove any remnants of the tape use a soft cloth moistened with a liquid detergent Do not use a spray The fixer contains silver and must be recycled Safety data sheets for the developer and fixer concen trates are available These are actually no da...

Page 4: ...d 209 While the Filmstar PLUS plots you can setup the photochemicals in the cuvette 1 mix developer 2 parts water one part developer 2 mix fixer 2 parts water one part fixer 3 the middle chamber fill with water After plotting has finished switch off the plotter remove the film in Dark Room condition and develop a minute and fix a minute Then rinse the film thoroughly and dry The result of your fir...

Page 5: ...main supply for the plotter and the safe light If you want to run the plotter directly from the PC then you need to establish a USB connection from the plotter inside of the Dark Room to the PC outside of the Dark Room We recommend vertical mounted tanks with cover for the chemical processing These need little in stallation footprint and the liquids have a small surface compared to their volume wh...

Page 6: ...ording to the film thickness There is another white arrow on the lower part of the drum housing that you should use for lateral positioning of the film After you fixed the upper edge of the sheet turn the drum by hand and sweep over the sheet so it goes tightly on the drum It is important that the sheet edges are parallel to the drum axis and that the upper and the lower sheet corners are facing e...

Page 7: ...plotting is completed or interrupted the drum stops to rotate and the laser head will return to its starting position Before you start a new plot please wait until the laser head has fully achieved its zero position on the left side of the drum Film Developing and Fixing In this chapter we assume that you are using the film and chemicals that we supplied and that you are treating the film in the D...

Page 8: ... any more Test Expose a piece of film for 2 seconds to normal daylight After max 1 minute of development at ambient temperature the film must be entirely black opaque If this is not the case the developer must be exchanged If you use the tank lid and take care not to pollute the developer it will have a life time of approx 6 months For frequent use the developer may be replenished with concentrate...

Page 9: ...m The plotting area shows the maximum film size that the plotter can handle Please set the value to what applies to your unit This is done in the menu Preference Plotting area In Preference Units you may set your preferred measuring unit metric inch A last but important setting that must be done only once is under P reference memory size Set this value according to the table below Computer RAM Set...

Page 10: ...h values the film will be structured more fine and the file size increases however enormous Since today s computers do well with large file sizes we recommend to choose a rather high resolution and reduce the resolution in the plotting process Annotation Standard Gerber If you have no Extended Gerber files you need to specify the measuring unit and the zero suppression for each Gerber file This is...

Page 11: ...pf is a simple converter that converts high resolution monochrome bitmaps into the FPF plotter format The bitmap format is univer sal but has the disadvantage that the files can be very large with a corresponding resolution For this reason we supply the converter Bit map2Fpf If your design program is not capable to pro duce Gerber files you can save your layout with the highest possible resolution...

Page 12: ...iles zoom into the image with F5 in steps 10 11 14 16 20 25 33 50 100 and zoom out by pressing F6 You can adjust the viewing section with the scroll bars on the right and below or click in an area in the small preview win dow View_FPF also contains a measur ing function e g to compare the bit map dimensions with the original Gerber data First select an appropriate magni fication then move the curs...

Page 13: ... the size of the software window To continue click on the triangular START button or press F5 In the next dialog please set the desired output resolution check the corresponding laser light intensity and chose whether you want to mirror or turn the image or make a negat ive plot The choice of plotting speed Slow Medium or Fast influ ences the drum speed and hence the plotting speed Depend ing on t...

Page 14: ...hen the plot starts The screen displays a pro gress bar To prevent accidental exposure of the film the display shuts off after a few seconds To light the display again press the sil ver button Configuration When you install the software for the first time the configuration will contain default values To get proper layouts it is absolutely necessary to run the plotter with the machine specific para...

Page 15: ... may measure the actual line spacing and enter the results into the columns Error on drum diameter and Drum lin earity As you will rarely need these micrometer range corrections we are not going more into details at this point If you need further assist ance please call our support We prefer the test grid which is generated with Tools Generate Test Grid to external produced test patterns because t...

Page 16: ...claims We cannot accept subsequent claims from damage or destruction of workpieces worked on in the ma chine because we have no knowledge or control over the operating conditions at your site This is valid in a general manner also for requirements from damage to articles buildings and persons as well as the environment We do not warrant that the function of the machine will meet the customer s req...

Reviews: