MINNEAPOLIS -- CyberOptics swung to a second-quarter net loss of $1.2 million, down from net income of $143,000 a year ago. The net loss improved 43% from a loss of $2.1 million in the March quarter.

For the period ended June 30, consolidated sales rose 39% sequentially but fell 28.5% from a year ago to $9.3 million. The operating loss was down 40% sequentially to $1.2 million. The firm reported operating income of $98,000 in the second quarter 2012.

million or $0.17 per share in the second quarter, a significant improvement from the net loss of $2.1 million or $0.31 per share in this year’s first quarter. CyberOptics reported net income of $143,000 or $0.02 per diluted share in last year’s second quarter.

In a press release, chief executive Kathleen P. Iverson said, “We are now seeing the initial signs of a recovery in the global SMT market, although the impact of the sharp downturn in the personal computer market continued to affect our year-over-year results. It is encouraging to note that the great majority of our strong sequential quarterly sales growth was generated outside the traditional PC market, and sales of next-generation products aimed at mobile computing and other higher-growth segments contributed to this positive development. During the quarter, sales of inspection systems increased 55%, while sales of electronic assembly sensors rose 58%. We believe these improvements should continue in the third quarter as activity levels in our geographic markets continue to strengthen.”

CyberOptics guided for net third-quarter sales of $10.3 million to $11.3 million. The AOI and SPI maker ended the second quarter with an order backlog of $4.2 million, up 66% from the first quarter, on by order bookings of $11 million in the second quarter, up 66% from the first quarter. Higher sensor sales and a $1 million order from a major Asian ODM for SE500 solder paste inspection systems is also expected in the current quarter.