LaserOp Engraver

A laser engraver is needed to mark (engrave) the blank with reference marks which are then used to mark the lens visibly so the reference points can be easily located, for both power checks and edging purposes. Often, a symbol is also engraved indicating the design of the lens, the add power and index can be engraved – the lens could even include the name of the patient if desired.

To engrave anything on a lens, a template is first required, which describes the symbols and options to be engraved, and their location on the lens. In the case of the LaserOp engraver, these templates can be created using a utility called “cMark”, which is provided by LaserOp. The resulting template files are stored as files with the extension .LML; depending on the interface method, they may be stored locally on the engraver computer, on a shared folder on the network, or on the Shamir Prescriptor server. There is usually a different template (.LML) file for each different digital design, and a separate file for each eye (since the engravings will be reversed between the left and right eyes). For the LaserOp engraver, the template file is specified in the “LML basename” field on the Digital tab of each lens style.

An engraving is an etching of a design into the surface of the lens. The clarity of the etching is greatly affected by the material of the lens, any tints on the lens (imbibed or applied), and any treatments on the lens (again, whether imbibed or applied). The engraver allows many different "Material Parameter Sets" to be set up to allow for different depths and widths of etchings (as well as other parameters), for different combinations of materials and treatments. LaserOp technicians can assist a lab in determining the optimal combinations of parameters on the engraver for the materials used.

The Parameter Marking Set is set on the material file if OMICS is creating the .JOB file using LensMarkJobBuilder; if the LaserOp is connected via a serial VCA connection, it is controlled by the LMATID value.

There are 3 options for how a laser engraver can be incorporated into the DS processing at a lab:

- using .JOB files created by the LDS calculator (LaserOp laser only)

- using .JOB files created by Rx-Universe (LaserOp laser only)

- serial VCA interface

.JOB files created by LDS calculator

In this configuration, the Shamir Prescriptor looks after creating the .JOB files, placing them into a shared folder which the LaserOp engraver is configured to look in. Because the Prescriptor has no means of knowing when jobs are shipped, OMICS should be configured with the location of the .JOB files in the digital type setup. Note, the path for LMS and PRM files should be left blank in this case – only the path for the .JOB files should be set. OMICS is configured to check for a .JOB file when a DS job is shipped, if the .JOB path is set.

.JOB files created by Rx-Universe

If Rx-Universe is to create the .JOB files (when the LaserOp engraver is configured to check for .JOB files instead of being connected via VCA serial interface), the appropriate paths need to be set in the digital type setup, and the LaserOp programs need to be present in the OMICS60 folder (or wherever the default OMICS folder is located).

When interfacing the LaserOp Engraver in this way, ensure that all necessary fields are set up in OMICS. This interface is unlike interfaces with other Optical machinery; parameters are set up in OMICS, and OMICS then creates files which the engraver retrieves in order to engrave a lens. Rather than requesting information from OMICS (as other devices do), OMICS must prepare the files and leave the information on the network where the engraver can retrieve it at will.

There are 4 files shared between the engraver and OMICS - the LML or template file (describing what is to be engraved on the lens); a Parameter file specifying parameters to be replaced on a particular template for a particular job; the JOB file, created by OMICS and used by the engraver, and the back surface topography file, created by the digital calculation software.

For each digital surfacing type that will use the engraver, the location of the above fields must be set up in the Digital Surfacing Type file (described earlier in “Specify Calculation Interface”).

If the LML path and PRM path are both set, this will trigger OMICS to create the .JOB file using LensMarkJobBuilder.

The Marking Parameter Set can be set in two places – first, the default is set on the material file, on the Devices tab. For example, if a Marking Parameter Set name called “CR39” exists on the engraver itself, then “CR39” would be entered in this field on the Devices tab to tell the engraver to use that Marking Parameter Set for that material.

Exceptions can be set up by combinations of material and treatment (for treatments already on a lens, such as photochromatic and polarized), and for material and applied treatment (such as ARC, tinting, etc.).

Under "System Parameters", then "Digital Surfacing", select "LaserOp Engraver MATID". In this table, the lab should set up an entry for each combination of material and treatment/addon that should use a different material parameter set from the standard.

For example, to use material parameter set "CRARC" for CR39 lenses (P) with an addon called "ARC", set up an entry similar to the one below. When a digital surface job has an addon or pretreatment called "ARC" and is material "P", OMICS will specify CRARC to be used instead of the default "CR39" material parameter set.

VCA Interface

The third option is the connect the laser engraver to Rx-Universe using a standard VCA connection (either serial or TCP/IP). In this scenario, the engraver still needs to know what template and what Marking Parameter Set to use for a job.

With the LaserOp engraver, the template is sent in the ENGMASK label, and the basename comes from the “LML basename” on the lens style. Rx-Universe will take the basename, and append “L” or “R” to the basename for each of the left and right eyes, respectively

How the engraver determines the Marking Parameter Set is determined by “marking parameter set name” option under “VCA connection settings” (see left)

The default setting for “marking parameter set name” is {LMATID}-{ACOAT}-{TINT}. The dashes are important, so if a job had an LMATID of 12, with ACOAT and TINT both blank, the parameter set name would be “12--“ (including the dashes).

Since ACOAT and TINT are used differently by different devices, and since OMICS can include coatings and colors when it determines LMATID, the preference is to set the “Marking parameter set name” to just {LMATID}.

In Rx-Universe, the LMATID should be set using the VCA Label Table – care needs to be taken to ensure that all materials that will be engraved have the appropriate LMATID entry created for them.