Hello everyone. This is Aaron Mcdonald
Technical Support Manager for Pangolin Laser Systems. In today's tutorial
I'll be showing you how to set up a Beam attenuation map or BAM for short.
inside our QuickShow software. Well we'll be using QuickShow for this
demonstration.
The same principle shown here also apply for Beyond and LD2000 software programs.
First let me explain what a beam attenuation map is
and how you might use it at your laser show. As we know
lasers are a beautiful effect but they must be controlled safely.
The beam attenuation map is a safety tool inside of Pangolin software,
allows you to reduce your laser output within a specified area.
The BAM primarily
used to reduce laser output when projecting beams into an audience area.
For audience scanning it is just one of the many safety tools we offer here at Pangolin.
The BAM can also be used in cases where you have sensitive equipment nearby
that you do not want exposed to high power laser output. For example a video
projector
or camera. The BAM is configure like a map,
so that you can specify specific areas where you want laser output and you can
also specify the output power within a specified areas.
The BAM is very customizable and easy to use.
To set up the BAM in Quickshow
you first go into the projections zone settings. Under the settings button
at the top for the quick show interface. Click the beam attenuation map
tab. A safety notice will appear for you to read.
Click OK to close a notice and
open the BAM settings. Click the checkbox
to enable the BAM. Choose
the desired attenuation percentage. Forty-percent gain attenuation map, all
allow forty percent of the laser output
in the maped area. Which is turning the laser power down
by 60 percent. Then choose the method
of drawing a map. I usually choose the rectangle
drawing tool. Draw the area the map you want.
In this demonstration we'll pretend we're at a venue
with the laser beam will be projected into an audience area. And as such we
want to reduce the laser output
in those crowd areas accordingly.
Please note: While we'll be using audience scanning as the example in
today's tutorial
we will only be demonstrated how to set up a beam attenuation map
from with our software. Setting up a BAM is one small item in a list of laser
safety procedures
must be completed before audience scanning is performed with a live audience.
We will not attend to discuss the various other laser safety procedures
involved in setting up a safe audience scanning laser show
in today's tutorial. Please consult your local certified laser safety officer
or LSO to make sure your laser safety process
ensures no laser output entering an audience area
is higher than your local defined maximum permissible exposure
or MPE limit and conforms to your local laws.
Again we will only be demonstrating how to set up a BAM
within our software. We will not attempt to discussed the various other laser safety
procedures involved in setting up a safe audience scanning laser show
in today's tutorial. To see the area you have mapped out in laser,
turn your laser on and click one of the two test patterns
next to the zone you identify you're working with. So that your laser displays the test pattern.
You should now see
the beam attenuation map reflected in your laser output.
If your laser is not attenuated
enough, you can go back to the BAM settings,
choose another attenuation level and draw your map accordingly and see it
in the laser.
Click OK to
close the
projection zone settings.
At this point, your beam attenuation map is set.
Although it will not show up in the Quickshow preview window
until you make a configuration setting change. To view the BAM,
in the preview window, you will be going to the configuration settings.
Again under the settings button at the top of the QuickShow interface.
Click the laser preview tab and then put a check box
in the "Apply zones beam attenuation map" option.
Click OK to save the settings.
Now when you click a queue you will see that the attenuation map
reflected in the preview window.
This concludes today's tutorial. To recap we´ve explained what a beam attenuation
map is.
What you can use it for. And how to set up a simple BAM
to protect an audience area or sensitive equipment.
If you have any further questions about beam attenuation maps or anything
else,
please feel free to contact us at any time. We're happy to help.