GPIB motion control issue

[Beach_Comber]

I need to check when the probes are not moving on a SUSS Microtec PH600 XYZ motorized translation stages.  I query the controller with ReadProbeStatus using VISA Write to sent the command then VISA Read to read it back with a 120ms delay between write/read.  It works most of the time but sometimes it fails and the only way I know how to restore this function is to quit Labview and restart Labview then the ReadProbeStatus will work again for a while.  What does Labview do to the GPIB port when it starts?  Can I add this to the program to clear this error?  Should I try some lower level function?

Thanx,
Karl

[Dennis_Knutson]

You did not include your subVI. Do a Save With Options>Development Distribution to create an LLB and post that.

[Beach_Comber]

Whoops!

[Beach_Comber]

Here is the rest of the code

[Dennis_Knutson]

I don't see anything particulary wrong in the code but I'm not familiar with the instrument and don't know the command set. Is there any kind of error code generated when it fails? If the instrument has an error query command, you can try running that after every write to verify that there's not a lot of errors in the instrument's buffer that needs to be cleared.

[Beach_Comber]

Dennis,

THe SUSS PA200 is a 488.2 non-compliant instrument.  I have had to install a second PCI-GPIB controller in the PC because the prober will not coexist with other instruments that are on thew same controller bus as the PA200. 

Whatever labview does when it starts puts the controller the PA200 is connected to back into a state where it will send data from the status query.  I am wondering if I should try to reset the controller to recover from this fault.  I have tried a few lower level GPIB functions like GPIB Initialization and GPIB clear to no avail so far.

Thanx,

KArl

[cpschnuffel]

Hi Beach Comber,
as I read in the forum, you control a PA200 via LabVIEW. I'm looking for the protocol specification to control an old PA200 together with four PH500 (probe heads) via 2xRS485 (not GPIB). Do you control the device via the SUSS LabVIEW driver or have you written your own driver (based on the protocol specification) ? Do you know somebody (maybe yourself ;-)) who can help me ?

With kindest regards

cpschnuffel

[Beach_Comber]

Hello cpschnuffel,

I am using V4.0.0.2 of Proberbench 1999, and am not using their Labview driver.  Their are some issues using this controller and as far as I know there is no protocol specification.

I am using VISA write/read and GPIB and control much of the motion control of the PH600s, the Scope, chuck, TrioTech 8" thermal chuck controller, cameralink JAI camera and a PXI1042 with 5 NIHSDIO 6552s etc., etc.  This system does completly automated data collection on a variety of digital and analog tests.

Anyway from my experience, one of the most important things you will need to do is make sure you use delays between commands as  was advised from a SUSS apps engineer.

If you decide to use GPIB, be aware that the SUSS controller is not GPIB 488.2 compliant and will not co-exist with other instruments and I had to install a GPIB controller just for the SUSS controller.

I have written a lot of code to control this prober.

[cpschnuffel]

Hi Beach Bomber,
"protocol specification" in my last message means the available commands to control the PA200 and the PH500s. For controlling the device via RS485 instead of GPIB (the device I have to program is connected via 2xRS485 to the PC; one RS485 for the PA200, the other for the four PH500), I additionally need the baud rate, parity etc. used. Do you know something about that ? Are the control commands the same for GPIB and RS485? If you have programmed the PA200/PH600 via VISA, can you send me a list of commands available ? Our documentation for the PA200/PH500 does not include any information about that
You told me something about delay times that have to be regarded when communicating with the device. It would be GREAT if you would have something in written form about that you could send me.

Thanks in advance and with kindest regards

cpschnuffel
 

[cpschnuffel]

Hi Beach Comber,
ooops - I take your non-answering as "too much work"...
PLEASE! You will help me A LOT, if you could send me the commands for controlling the PA200 and the PH500/600, even if these are the commands for GPIB. I asume that there is no great difference between GPIB and RS485 commands.
By the way: In the meantime I contacted SUSS Germany, and they are unable to help me! The system would be too old, and if I would have callbacks, this would be too much work for them and so on and so on... So you are one of the last chances for me!

Another chance is the eMail address of your SUSS contact person. Perhaps he can help me...

cpschnuffel