Laser Delineation System

This was my very first large project.

The Electro-Scientific Industries laser system shown at right was originally developed for precision resistor trimming, but in Honeywell’s defense business it was also used to cut conductor patterns on components destined for cryogenic infrared systems.  Defense technology was moving from film to all-electronic and this was leading edge.

When I started the project there was a prototype application for one single product.  The laser coordinates and parts handler control states were entered by hand.

I made a lot of improvements to the software system, as well as the larger engineering process around it.  

I developed code to accepted designs directly from the then-new CAD system, reducing design-to-production time from 1 week to 20 minutes.  After installing a larger mainframe, I connected these laser systems as well as other lab machines to the mainframe, for automated data collection and distribution from the production floor to the logistics teams.  We then removed all printers from the lab, reducing a significant source of particulate contamination.

The human interface was a CRT with camera view through the laser head, and interrupt-driven joystick and buttons, especially adapted for handicapped operators who were watching, inspecting, and sometimes correcting the work in progress.

The software suite was used on more than 40 products without modification.

The system pictured at right was built in the mid-1980s, and is shown for sale, refurbished, forty years later.  Electro-Scientific Industries is now part of MKS Instruments.