Improving Control of Two Motor Controllers

Toland, Ronald W.

A computer program controls motors that drive translation stages in a metrology system that consists of a pair of two-axis cathetometers. This program is specific to Compumotor Gemini (or equivalent) motors and the Compumotor 6K-series (or equivalent) motor controller. Relative to the software supplied with the controller, this program affords more capabilities and is easier to use. Written as a Virtual Instrument in the LabVIEW software system, the program presents an imitation control panel that the user can manipulate by use of a keyboard and mouse. There are three modes of operation: command, movement, and joystick. In command mode, single commands are sent to the controller for troubleshooting. In movement mode, distance, speed, and/or acceleration commands are sent to the controller. Position readouts from the motors and from position encoders on the translation stages are displayed in marked fields. At any time, the position readouts can be recorded in a file named by the user. In joystick mode, the program yields control of the motors to a joystick. The program sends commands to, and receives data from, the controller via a serial cable connection, using the serial-communication portion of the software supplied with the controller.

Document ID

20110016837

Acquisition Source

Goddard Space Flight Center

Document Type

Other - NASA Tech Brief

External Source(s)

http://www.techbriefs.com/index.php?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=/Briefs/june04/GSC-14744-1.html

Authors

Date Acquired

August 25, 2013

Publication Date

June 1, 2004

Publication Information

Publication: NASA Tech Briefs, June 2004

Subject Category

Report/Patent Number

Distribution Limits

Public

Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

Name

Type

20110016837.pdf

STI

No Preview Available

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Available Downloads

Related Records