What was the challenge or problem to solve?
Our customer wanted to optimize a proces of laser engraving of components with complex geometries. To do this, the Product Development team was faced with a complex objective: to control the movement of the parts so that the area to be engraved was in the right position at each moment of the laser marking.
To perform this type of engraving on a surface, the laser must be perpendicular to the surface. When the part to be engraved is not flat, but has a complex geometry, the part must be moved as the marking is made. In addition, this movement must be performed with extreme precision and synchronized with the engraving process.
Before assembling an electronic circuit, it is necessary to have a clear idea of its design. In addition, it is necessary to make sure that the customer’s requirements are met and to determine the material that will be necessary for its manufacture. So, we started by designing the circuit on a paper sketch and specifying the necessary components. We then proceeded with the search and selection of the equipment and its components, both electronic and mechanical. After reviewing the material available in our laboratory, we acquired the rest of the components through our usual suppliers specialized in electronic components.
After this preparation phase, we tackled the actual circuit assembly. First, the microcontroller was programmed. A microcontroller is a device that allows simple, flexible and inexpensive programming for a wide range of tasks and, at the same time, a direct connection to the electronic circuit to be controlled. It is programmed in its own programming language based on C/C++. Specifically, this microcontroller was to control the magnitude and direction of the movement of the part.
Once the programming was done, we integrated in the circuit a motor with its corresponding electronics, including a driver to supply the current and two pushbuttons that triggered the change of position and the change of direction of the piece. These pushbuttons allowed us to freely control the movement and position of the part during laser engraving.
Finally, we checked the correct operation of the whole circuit, verifying that it complied with the requirements indicated by the customer.