This document describes the changes made to the Lotem 800 Quantum software
in version 3.51.01, relative to version 3.50.05, and relevant procedures. Version
3.51.01 supports the Lotem 800 Quantum machine with a single or dual cassette.
It does not support multi-cassette or proofing functionality.
Important Notes:
Firmware versions:
This controller version requires the following firmware versions to be loaded
in the TMCE board and Thermal Head 2 (TH2). The corresponding file name is
in parenthesis:
TMCE firmware: 1.20-02 (QuantumFmw120-02.bin, or mcefirmware.bin)
Xilinx firmware: 1.25 (mcelca0125.bin, or mcelca.bin)
Head firmware: 1.01C (th2h101c.bin, or th2firmware.bin)
Boot Code: 1.09 (mceboot.bin)
Post Code: 1.03 (mcepost.bin
To obtain information about firmware versions loaded in the TMCE and TH2,
type the following commands in SPlot or Service Shell:
QUANTUM>> fw dir (or: list version all)
QUANTUM>> th2 "ver" After you load the correct firmware versions, a screen similar to the
following appears:
Note: The following calibration script should be used: Media Calibration Script: 0.9 (QuantumSeries.spt)
This version supports the Quantum F (slow) model, so a password-protected
drum speed limit was introduced to control the throughput. Note: This change requires a dongle on the TMCE board for every machine
running this version.
The diagnostic command feature may be used to display the current maximum
drum speed setting. The default maximum drum speed for expose is 180 RPM.
Imaging jobs that specify a mainscan image size larger than the imageable
mainscan region of the media are rejected. To send such non-standard jobs,
use the new image cropping functionality provided by the Brisque.
Data shifts and artifacts on the image are now greatly reduced, if not
diminished.
The problem with the plot process getting stuck during imaging (displaying
a "5230" error in the Brisque) was solved by combining new Xilinx
firmware (1.25) and fitting
nylon washers on the TMCE board.
The maximum mainscan size of the media to expose is 905 mm for Quantum 800,
and 950 mm for Quantum 850.
Fatal errors generated by the TH2 during imaging are trapped and fail the
plot. For example, a failure in the head cooling system prevents imaging the
plate.
The Focus Learn method was modified, so that focus holds for the correct
number of swaths at the start of the plot - previous firmware held incorrectly.
In addition, clamp shadowing is now performed more accurately.
The bugs in the calibration script (QuantumSeries.spt) that prevented the
script from restoring series plot parameters correctly were fixed.
The log system reliability is improved, making the log system less prone
to crashes. As a result, the following related errors should no longer appear:
The GUI freeze problem occurs less frequently.
The online help file, accessible by either clicking the ? button
in the Messages dialog, or by pressing < F1 >, is updated and improved.
The display of cassette, doors and plate films for a DLC-equipped machine
is fixed. The DLC cassette picture was removed. The DLC appears as a single
cassette yet all the relevant information is shown.
Image misalignments when exposing multiple passes on the same plate were
resolved by fixing the GC parameters rotation, TrackProfile and OrthoAdjust.
New Features
Throughput is 25 plates per hour, using a 2400 DPI machine exposing a full
format job on a 770 X 1030 X 0.3 mm plate running at 375 RPM.
Edge detection begins 5mm before the expected edge, rather than 12.5 mm
as before. The width of the initial search range remains the same. This change
was made for throughput reasons.
The carriage amplifier is checked for faults. If a fault occurs during initialization
or movement of the carriage, movement stops immediately, and an appropriate
error message is generated.
Head Install On Command uses the thickness of media loaded on the drum (set
mds command), rather than leaving the zstage at its current position. When
adjusting the screws for a 0.3 mm plate, the zstage should be in forward position.
To move the zstage, you no longer need to type zstage forward command after
head install on.
Added support for thermal compensation: The device reads the installed thermostat
and applies thermal compensation to the imaging process as required. The adjustments
are based on the media thermal expansion coefficients.
The value of the Carriage Steps parameter was changed to 200.
The value of the Drum MaxAcc parameter was changed to 8.000.
Added automatic support for Quantum 850: when you define the machine as
a Quantum 850 in the Lotem installation program, specific registry parameters
such as Drum Radius and Balance Weights Mass are set to their
correct default values.
A new loading system script parameter for 0.2 mm plates was added: Y
Down After Punch For 0.2 (mm, Relative). It is located in the Loading
System>Load Plate>From Cassette To Punch Entry Stage registry section.
The font size for the detector status (ON/OFF) in the Detector dialog can
be increased or decreased. For example, the detector status indication can
be enlarged to be viewed clearly from a greater distance away from the PC
monitor.
Different stroke shift parameters are used for each separation (CMYK) in
order to reduce the banding seen on the press in multiple separation jobs.
This feature requires front-end support. It is supported by Prinergy CS Expose
Version 74, and will be supported by Brisque version 4.05.
In the About dialog, information was added regarding electronic board versions
and hyper-links to all machine log files.
In the Properties dialog of every object, press <Ctrl + D>
to set the default value (instead of <D>). If you set an empty
value, a specific error message appears (instead of a general Windows error).
In the Punch, Media Definition and Cassette Definition dialogs, when you
create a new record, the file name is checked for validity. If an invalid
character is used (\ / : * ? < > | and space), an error message appears.
In the Media Definition dialog, when you press the New button to
define a new media, all fields are cleared and you must enter values in each
field. Use the Modify button only to modify values of an existing media.
In the Advanced Media Definition dialog:
The Perform Balance and Specific Gravity boxes are disabled,
to prevent accidental setting of these sensitive parameters.
A Save button was added.
If you change a setting and close the dialog without saving the changes,
a warning message appears.
Before performing the Preload operation in the Loading System dialog, a
message appears requiring you to verify that the grippers are positioned correctly.
Known Bugs:
When using a 605 X 724 X 0.3 mm plate or a 615 X 724 X 0.3 mm plate, balance
and/or gripper-related errors may occur, due to a problem computing the correct
location of balance weights and Tail Gripper position for this specific plate
size.
Workaround: repeat the balance operation, which should succeed in the next
one or two tries. For problems related to detecting the Tail Grippers, enlarge
the value of the side-to-side Width Tolerance parameter by a few milimeters.
When loading a plate after releasing the cassette and then reinserting it,
the error "Protector X Cassette Door is locked by Cassette Valve"
may appear. Workaround: Restart the Lotem application.
When trying to expose an image, the Expose Progress Indicator may get stuck
at 0% followed by an error message on the controller: Rcon error: Timeout
waiting for image data. The current plot fails, but the next ones are exposed
successfully.
When an image with an invalid size is sent for expose (for example, 10 mm
in the mainscan direction, which is too small) the following error message
appears: "Rcon error: The current command has been pre-empted",
instead of a more relevant message about the invalid size of the image. This
prevents performing an adequate Focus Learn.
Furthermore, this error interferes with all future expose-related actions,
even when an image with a valid size is sent.
To overcome this problem, shut down the controller, type the command reset
in SPlot or ServiceShell, wait for the command to complete and then restart
the controller.
Some expose-related error messages may not reflect the original cause of
the error, only a derivative of it. The error in the previous item is an example.
The error message is "Rcon error: The current command has been pre-empted".
This is a derivative of the original error message, which can only be seen
if you scroll up the SPlot log: "Rcon error: Image too small: Not enough
focus samples."
Therefore, you may need to look at the diagnostic monitor log in order to
understand the original cause or error.
Hardware Related Notes
From machine S/N 99114, an Air Pressure Sensor was added to monitor the
air pressure. It is not yet supported by the software.
From machine S/N 99114, a second Air Pressure Inlet was added to support
future connection to an MCU.
The connector that goes to the Thermal Compensation Detector is inverted.
The one that should be connected is a Two Pins Molex Connector with brown
and black wires instead of the Two Pins Molex Connector with yellow and black
wires. Switch between the two so that the machine works.
Appendix 1: Upgrade Procedures For Lotem 800/850
Quantum Version 3.51
This appendix describes software procedures and changes that must be made when
upgrading Lotem 800 Quantum in the field, from version 3.50.05 to version 3.51.00.
First: Load the new version with all the new firmware files. Second: Perform the Firmware Version procedures (see item 1 at the top
of this document). Third: Perform ATP or customer tests.
Adjusting Maximum Expose Drum Speed
For the Quantum "V" (fast) model, as opposed to the "F"
(slow) model, you must increase the maximum drum speed from the default 180
RPM to 400 RPM. For this purpose, the TMCE board must be equipped with a dongle.
Contact the Quantum PSS for the exact procedure.
Verify Default Values of Head Parameters
Certain TH2 parameters may have been changed in the field to resolve problems
with previous firmware versions. Since the new firmware resolves most of the
original problems, these parameters must be reset to their default values.
Check the following values:
QUANTUM>> th2 "eng"
QUANTUM>> th2 "sys parm"
17 Swaths To Learn True 3 N/A
19 Swaths To Hold True 10 N/A
24 LEC Shadow True 975 N/A
25 TEC Shadow True 308 N/A
The third column is the enable status of the parameter. Verify that the enable
status of the above 4 parameters is True. The values in the 4th column
are automatically corrected when sending the first plot.
To change the enable status, perform, for example:
QUANTUM>> th2 "sys parm access 17 enable"
Re-calibrate GC Track Profile Parameters
Firmware 1.20 now uses the track profile data correctly, though it used the
data incorrectly in the past. To compensate for this new behavior, perform the
following procedure:
Save the GC configuration of the device by saving the diagnostic log responses
to the "set gc" and "set gc trackprofile" commands. Keep
this information handy in case you have to downgrade.
If any of the track profile data is non-zero, run the upgrade script, TrackProfileUpgrade.spt,
using either SPlot or ServiceShell. After installation, this script can be
found in C:\Tii\SPlot\Scripts\Tests on the machine PC. The script modifies
the TrackProfile values by subtracting the first entry from all of the entries.
After running the script, a dialog box appears with one of the following messages:
The track profile data has been updated
The track profile did not need to be updated
Note: If the machine has track profile data configured, and you do
not run this script, a constant main scan image shift compared to the previous
version of firmware could occur.
If any other message appears, restore the GC trackprofile data to the values
obtained in step 1.
Re-calibrate GC Scale and Offset Parameters
The new firmware uses the Mainscan Offset parameter differently. In
addition, the default leading edge clamp size was reduced from 8 to 6 mm in
the firmware. This might be especially relevant in the field for Mainscan Offset
in positive plates. You must check the Mainscan and Subscan offsets, as well
as the image size in both directions. If required, apply the relevant changes
to the following 4 GC parameters:
Mshift
Sshift
Mscale
Sscale.
Re-calibrate Drum Position for Edge Detection
Re-calibrate the drum position for edge detection to verify that the drum is
set to move to the correct position (center of the edge detection channel) during
the edge detection stage.
Appendix 2: Configuring Resolution Table
in Lotem 800 Quantum Machines
Description:
This appendix describes how to correctly configure the Resolution Table in
Lotem 800 Quantum machines. The Resolution Table contains information about the
resolutions that the Thermal Head can support. Thermal Heads can support only
one of the following two options: 2400 DPI (and 1200 DPI) or 2540 DPI (and 1270
DPI).
It is highly important to configure the Resolution Table correctly, since both
the Lotem controller and the Brisque/Prinergy use this information during the
expose process.
Relevant Commands
Use the Mode command to display the Resolution Table:
QUANTUM>> mode
Current Mode = 2540 DPI by 2540 DPI
Available Modes:
1: 2540 DPI by 2540 DPI
2: 1270 DPI by 1270 DPI
Use the Set Mode command to set the entries in the Resolution Table:
QUANTUM>> set mode X mscanresolution Y
QUANTUM>> set mode X sscanresolution Y
X represents the entry number in the table and Y represents the Main Scan
resolution or Sub Scan resolution, respectively.
After you type the Mode command, your resolution table must
look like one of the following examples, depending on the type of resolution
the machine supports (2400 or 2540 DPI):
For 2400 DPI head:
For 2540 DPI head:
Current Mode = 2400 DPI by 2400 DPIAvailable Modes:
1: 2400 DPI by 2400 DPI
2: 1200 DPI by 1200 DPI
Current Mode = 2540 DPI by 2540 DPIAvailable Modes:
1: 2540 DPI by 2540 DPI
2: 1270 DPI by 1270 DPI
To change the table entries, use the Set Mode command:
Update the first entry with the value of the resolution supported by the Thermal
Head. This value must be 2400 or 2540. For example:
QUANTUM>> set mode 1 mscanresolution 2540
QUANTUM>> set mode 1 sscanresolution 2540
Update the second entry with a value that is half of the value you used in
the first entry (1200 or 1270, respectively).
QUANTUM>> set mode 2 mscanresolution 1270
QUANTUM>> set mode 2 sscanresolution 1270
