The real performance was inside all along.
Lightsmith is a hardware and software control system platform designed to be a total solution and unlock the full potential of your vacuum coating systems.
Extend the productive life of your tools. Gain insights from the improved data collection and analysis. Experience the productivity enhancement that Lightsmith brings to your coating floor.
More Flexibility. Less Downtime.
Lightsmith can be configured to interface to just about any equipment you’d like to use. Install the devices you want on your system, not just what the legacy control system expects.
Instead of waiting tool-down for a long-lead part, select an available part. Lightsmith will get you up and running quickly.
More Data. Better Quality.
Use Lightsmith software to clearly see all the data from your coating runs. Refine your process with more precision than ever.
Having quality issues? All the additional data and user-friendly interface will aid in identifying process anomalies; reducing part loss and increasing system throughput.
One Platform. More Power.
A coating floor with a diverse array of coating systems all upgraded to Lightsmith will gain a unified look and feel for operators, enabling more efficiency and streamlining training. Use the interface flexibility to standardize equipment across your systems. Export the run data from all your machines in the same format for powerful comparative analysis.
What’s in the Upgrade?
Clear Status and Control
Know what your system is doing and change setpoints on-the-fly. Lightsmith makes it clear and easy.
Powerful Data Analysis
Lightsmith software logs everything that happens on your system. Quickly recall and visualize the data you want.
Endlessly Creative
Build and save thin-film coating designs for any application, or import your pre-made designs from a wide variety of industry standard formats.
Fully Automated
Start your process and walk away with confidence. If the run pauses because of a fault, Lightsmith has tools to remember where the run stopped and help you get back on track without losing the run.
Built on Open Frameworks
Lightsmith software is built on top of proven open platforms to allow control customization and specialized data analysis.
The Interface Hardware that Makes it Possible
Elegant Wiring
The Powerswitch, a central module hub, powers and communicates to task-specific modules mounted around your system, creating a complete control platform without the wiring mess.
Power & Communicate
Gauges, valves, motors, and more are powered and controlled directly from the module designed for them.
Modules communicate with EtherCAT using standard Cat5e cables. But we took it one step further: Using PoE++ circuitry, each Cat5e cable can now also transmit up to 90W of power.
A Clean Interface Solution
Each module is tailored to the specific interface task it performs. Modules may even be daisy-chained together, drastically reducing cable clutter around the tool. Many modules are tailor-made to directly interface to common hardware in the industry.
Designed with Industry Standard Protocols
Modules communicate using EtherCAT, a fast, simple and flexible Ethernet fieldbus technology. Easily incorporate other off-the-shelf EtherCAT devices into your system, too.
Easy System Changes
Need to add or change equipment on your system for more functionality? Easy, just add another module. Modules can be connected in any order, with both power and communication passing seamlessly to downstream devices. Adding or changing modules is simple, making changes easy as needs evolve.
Fieldbus Flexibility
Have USB and Ethernet devices to use on your coating system? No problem. What about RS-232 and RS-485? Yep, that too. A Lightsmith control system upgrade can integrate with fieldbuses young and old.
Got Some Unusual Components?
Have an odd power supply or an unusual target rotation assembly? We’re more than happy to work with you to determine how best to interface to your uncommon component. With a broadly-skilled team of hardware, firmware, and software engineers, and it’s in our wheelhouse to figure it out. Maybe even design a new module for the interface.
Have a System with E-Guns?
We’ll install a Firescribe as part of the upgrade. Firescribe is a sweep controller that integrates seamlessly to Lightsmith through the same EtherCAT communication chain as the other modules.
With a Firescribe, sweep patterns are designed and selected from within Lightsmith