Define a new Area layout

Press the new area layout button to the left of the drop down list to start a new area layout. Enter a name in the text box.

Existing area layouts can be selected from the drop down list. Press the Area layout tab.

Add, remove or edit an area by clicking on the appropriate button.

21.4.1 Area layout tab - Add

Specify the shape of the area to be added from the drop down list and press the Next button. A number of areas can be defined over which the feature scan will be performed. These areas are:

Single stage point.

This 'area' is defined as a stage position and it can only have one field defined on it. It is equivalent to the Site of Interest used in Point and ID and AutoMate.

Move the stage to the single point that defines the area, wait for the stage to finish moving and press the Next button to specify the point.

Specify the name for the point and press the Finish button to add this point to the list of areas displayed on the Select Area tab.

Line

This is defined with two stage positions, the start and the end of the line. Fields for data acquisition are defined along the line as specified in the field layout.

Move the stage to the first point that defines the area, wait for the stage to finish moving and press the Next button to specify the point.

Move the stage to the last point that defines the area, wait for the stage to finish moving and press the Next button to specify the point.

Specify the name for the line and press the Finish button to add this line to the list of areas displayed on the Select Area tab.

Rectangle

This is defined by specifying four stage positions, one for each vertex of the rectangle.

Note that the rectangle can be irregular and need not be aligned with the stage movement axes.

Note that the rectangle must not have any concave sides. If it does, then the rectangle will be reduced to a triangle.

Note that if Z is different for each vertex then Z is adjusted so that fields lie on the plane defined by three of the vertexes.

Move the stage to the points that define the rectangle, wait for the stage to finish moving and press the Next button to specify the points.

Specify the name for the rectangle and press the Finish button to add this area to the list of areas displayed on the Select Area tab.

Circle

A circular area, such as a circular stub is defined by specifying three points on the edge of the circle. Note that if Z is set differently for the three points, then a tilted circle will be defined and field positions on the circle will be adjusted so that they lie on the surface of this tilted circle.

The points must be separated sufficiently that the circle can be defined accurately. When defining a circle, try to arrange the three points 120 degrees apart round the circle. While two points can be close together if the other is diametrically opposite small errors in the position of the two points can cause circle

definition errors.

21.4.2 Area layout tab - Edit

The position or name of an area can be edited in the area layout tab by selecting the area and selecting "edit". The Stage will move to the first position that is currently recorded as defining the area. The stage position can then be changed.

When 'Next' (or 'Finish') is pressed, the stage position is recorded and the stage will move automatically to the next point that defines the area.

more accurate if the final move to the position is made from the same direction as the backlash correction.

The stage may also be subject to mechanical positioning errors that can lead to inaccuracies in positioning and repositioning of fields and features. Note that backlash correction will help but cannot correct for all errors.

The points that define an area must all have the same tilt and rotate. If tilt or rotate changes then you will be prompted and given the opportunity to set the same tilt and/or rotate.

21.4.3 Defining the Field layout

For a point, a single field is defined as centered on the stage position of that point.

For other area types the fields can be laid out in a regular grid or randomly. The coverage of the area can be selected in two ways: the percentage of the area to be covered or the maximum number of fields to be used.

If All the Area/Line is selected, then the area is tiled with touching fields arranged to cover the whole area (or line). If a guard zone is selected then the fields will overlap by the guard zone distance. The

percentage area is 100% when the whole area is tiled with touching fields (or overlapping if a guard zone is specified).

If 'Random fields' are selected, then a random selection of the tiled field arrangement is defined to cover the required percentage or number of fields.

If 'Regular fields' are selected, then a grid (or line for a line) of fields are defined. The grid spacing is selected so the required percentage area or number of fields is covered.

Note that it may not be possible to use the exact number of fields as the specified number may not fit into the required area given the Y and X dimensions.

21.4.4 To define a new Area layout

Press the new area layout button to the left of the drop down list to start a new area layout. Enter a name in the text box.

Existing area layouts can be selected from the drop down list. Press the Area layout tab.

Add, remove or edit an area by clicking on the appropriate button.