Instrument Control (GPIB, Serial, VISA, IVI)

[MagnusBL]

Hi everyone

I am a labview newbie, trying to control an actuator through the newport SMC100 motion controler, using the RS232-USB kit. The system works fine as I can control the actuator through the Newport software. I have installed the Newport SMC100 labview drivers. The problem is I don't know really where to start with the block diagrams. What is VISA? How do I connect things? what do axes refer to? What com port to use? Does it work with the USB converter? Can I see the device in MAX? Anyone who has some sample code to share or pointers to resources would be greatly appreciated.

Magnus

[remvu]

Hello,

Have a look on this ftp and download what you need, there is a complete exemple to use the SMC100.

ftp://download.newport.com/MotionControl/Current/MotionControllers/SMC100/Software/

Message Edité par remvu le 03-06-2009 03:40 AM

[RipRock99]

Hello MagnusBL,

I struggled greatly to try and solve the same issue - but especially because the examples given in the library don't always work, giving some of the errors referenced in other posts on this board (especially the dread Error -1073807298; see this).  After much trial and error, including port monitoring using portmon, I found that labview was giving the same calls to the device as the supplied windows code, but needed to repeatedly check and clear errors after doing a reset command.  The following screenshot shows what I did to get it to work, and I have included the VI below.  YMMV.  And my coding may be sub-optimal.  Improvements appreciated.  Finally, I am driving a micrometer (hence the rotate light).

Good luck,

RipRock99

 

[Z10]

Hi RipRock99,

                        I'm using your code but I change the VISA to serial because of usual VISA code. Your code is totally fine with me. I put the increment and multiply by 10 in first sequence between absolute move and tell current but it did not work. I wanna rotate the stage with increment with 10 and delay the position for a second in each increment in order to make the measurement.

Thank you

Z10

[RipRock99]

Hmm - without going back and breaking open my hardware and software, I don't know the answer.  I am unfamiliar with the increment routine.  If you figure it out, post it here for the record!

[Z10]

still trying

[Kindly-Wisher]

Dear RipRock99,

I am using your code,  i have just one question.

In the front panel i can only enter the "position" "mm unit", i cant enter any decimal number: for example i want  to go to 1,8mm or 1,03mm positions, it does not work! SMC 100 can go only to exact positions like "1" , "2",  "3",  "4" .....  "25"

Please reply..

Best Regards..

[Albert.Geven]

how about using a real decimal point. If your system has e.g. a decimal comma instead of a decimal point, check how the routines handle this.

I don't know any instrument up to now that uses a local decimal separator but I'm used to old instruments.

[Kindly-Wisher]

Thank you so much Albert.Geven

Your idea helped me to solve the problem.

Best Regards from Turkey!