Thermalyze Operation

Control

Description

The position of the motorized linear stage carriages can be controlled using the Linear Stage Control window (see Figure 1).  To open this window, click the Linear Stage Control item on the Test Setup menu (or press the  button in the Test Setup section of the Shortcuts toolbar) on the main Thermalyze window.

Each controller can operate one or two linear stages, enabling up to four stages to be controlled.

Figure 1: Linear Stage Control window 

File

Open Control Settings	Open Linear Stage Control parameters from a file previously saved using the Save Settings menu item.
Save Settings	Save all linear stage settings to file.

Setup

Linear Stage Setup	Open the Linear Stage Setup window.
Advanced Settings	Open the Linear Stage Advanced Settings window.
Troubleshoot	Open the Linear Stage Troubleshoot window.

Serial Communication

Connect/Close Port

Press this button to establish serial communication between the computer and linear stage controller.  After communication is established, click this button to close the com port.  A green indicator light illuminates when connection is successful.

Control Mode

Local	Choose this option to control the linear stages using the jog buttons on the front of the linear stage controller or a joystick.
Online	Choose this option to operate the linear stages using the homing, locations, jog, increment, and stop software controls in this window or the keyboard keys. Note: When Online is chosen, the jog buttons on the front of the linear stage controller are inoperable.

Homing

The stages which are moved is determined by the Enable Linear Stage checkboxes in the Linear Stage Setup window and the Homing settings in the Linear Stage Advanced Settings window. 

Limit Home	Click this button to move the carriages of all enabled stages to the homing limit switch and then set each controller stage internal position register to zero.  There is a limit switch on each end of the linear stages.  The limit switch used for limit homing is determined by the Invert Direction and Invert Home checkboxes in the Linear Stage Setup window.
Set	Click this button to set the controller internal position registers of all enabled stages to zero.
Go	Click this button to move the carriages of all enabled stages.

Locations

The stages which are moved is determined by the Enable Linear Stage checkboxes in the Linear Stage Setup window and the Locations settings in the Linear Stage Advanced Settings window. 

Set	Click this button to set to memory the current carriage positions of all enabled stages to memory.
Name	Enter a descriptive name for each location.
Go	Click this button to move the carriages of all enabled stages to a previously set location.
Clear	Click this button to move the carriages of all enabled stages.

Online Speed

Speed

Select the motor speed.  Set specific Low, Medium and High speeds [motor steps per second] in the Linear Stage Setup window.

Keyboard Control Indicator

Key Control

This indicator illuminates light green when the linear stages are able to be controlled using the keyboard.  Keyboard control is enabled when the Keyboard Control Enable box is checked in the Linear Stage Advanced Settings window and any control on the Linear Stage Control window has the focus (except for the Locations Name or Increment fields, which can accept keyboard input).  This indicator illuminates dark green when the Keyboard Control Enable box is unchecked.

Jog/Increment

There is a Jog/Increment group box for each linear stage.  Each group box title includes the name entered in the Linear Stage Setup window and the most recently read carriage position.  Carriage positions are read after each homing, move to location, jog, increment, and stop command when in Online control mode.  Carriage position units are steps and each motor rotation includes 400 steps.

Stop	Click this button to decelerate and stop all linear stage carriages. Tip: Because carriages must decelerate to a stop, carriage positions displayed in the Jog/Increment group box title may not be accurate.  After carriages have stopped moving, click the Stop button again to read the positions of all carriages.
Jog/Increment (Positive)	Click these buttons to jog or increment a carriage in the positive direction.  If the Invert Direction box is unchecked in the Linear Stage Setup window, the positive direction is away from the motor.  Which arrow buttons displayed (up/down, left/right, forward/back) are determined by the Orientation settings in the Linear Stage Setup window. Caution: When lowering a carriage, make sure that cameras, lenses or equipment connected to the carriages do not make contact with other hardware or equipment.
Jog/Increment (Negative)	Click these buttons to jog or increment a carriage in the negative direction.
Jog or Increment	Choose whether to jog or increment a carriage when the Jog/Increment buttons are pressed.
Increment	Enter the distance to increment a carriage when the Increment buttons are pressed.

Setup

Description

Prior to operating the linear stages, appropriate stage settings need to be written to the linear stage controller in the Linear Stage Setup window (see Figure 2).  To open this window, click the Linear Stage Setup item under the Setup menu of the Linear Stage Control window.

Figure 2: Linear Stage Setup window

File

Open Setup Settings

Open Linear Stage Setup parameters from a file previously saved using the Save Settings menu item in the Linear Stage Control window.

Computer Communication

Com Port	Select the computer serial com port used to communicate with the linear stage controller. Tip: To determine the name of the com port, open the Windows Device Manager and expand Ports (COM & LPT).
Baud Rate	Select the computer serial port baud rate. Tip: Use the maximum baud rate of 38,400 bits per second to minimize delays when reading and writing data to the controller.
Com Delay	Enter the delay [milliseconds] between serial port read and write commands to prevent a controller RS-232 overrun. Important: Sending a serial command to the controller before it has finished processing a previous command will result in an RS-232 overrun.  If this occurs, the yellow On-Line LED on the front of the controller will flash continuously and the controller power switch must be cycled to restore controller operation.
Online Connect	Check this box to automatically select Online Control Mode when the Connect button is pressed in the Linear Stage Control window.

Enable Linear Stages

Check boxes to enable linear stages.

Software Control Settings

Linear Stage # Settings

Name	Enter a descriptive name for each linear stage that will be displayed on the Jog/Increment group box for each stage in the Linear Stage Control window.
Orientation	Select the orientation of each stage.
Lead Screw Pitch	Select the pitch of the lead screw of each stage.
Invert Home	There is a limit switch near each end of each linear stage that can be used for homing.  Check this box to move the carriage to the opposite end of the stage. Note: If the Invert Direction box is unchecked, the carriage is moved to the limit switch near the motor when homing.  If the Invert Direction box is checked, the carriage is moved to opposite end of the stage.
Online Speed	Enter the Slow, Medium, and Fast speeds when jogging or incrementing.  Speed units are steps per second and there are 400 steps per motor revolution.  The speed of the carriage can be calculated as follows: Carriage Speed = Online Speed [steps/sec] * (1/400) [rev/step] * Lead Screw Pitch [distance/rev] Example: Carriage Speed = 1000 [steps/sec] * 0.0025 [rev/step] * 2 [mm/rev] = 5 [mm/sec]
Jog Limit	Enter the maximum distance that a linear stage can be jogged at one time using software or keyboard controls.  Moving distances greater than the Jog Limit will require repeated pressing of the Jog/Increment buttons or keyboard keys.
Backlash Comp	Check this box to enable backlash compensation. There is a small amount of clearance between the linear stage lead screw and carriage nut.  Whenever the carriage reverses direction, there can be a small amount of lost motion.  When Backlash Compensation is enabled, 20 steps are added to every move command in the negative direction.  Then the motor immediately reverses, moving 20 steps in the positive direction. Note: When the Invert Direction box is unchecked, negative stage movement is toward the motor.  When checked, negative movement is away from the motor.

Controller Settings

Linear Stage # Settings

Motor Size	Select the motor type and size.  The motor type and size is displayed on a label adhered to each motor. Caution: The exact motor type and size must be written to the controller before operating.  Incorrect controller motor settings can result in severe damage to the motor and controller.
Invert Direction	The state of this box determines the direction each carriage moves when the jog and increment buttons are pressed and when homing.  When the Invert Direction box is unchecked, positive stage movement is away from the motor.  When checked, positive movement is toward the motor.
Jog Speed	Set the Primary and Secondary jog speeds used when in operating the controller in Local control mode and controlling the linear stages using the jog buttons on the front of the controller or a joystick.

Controller Communication

Baud Rate	Select the stage controller serial port baud rate. Note: After changing the Baud Rate and clicking the Write All Settings button, the Computer Communication Baud Rate will be automatically changed to the new setting. Tip: Use the maximum baud rate of 38,400 bits per second to minimize delays when reading and writing data to the controller.
Read All Settings	Click this button to read settings from the stage controller and then populate the controls in the Controller Settings group box with the setting values.
Write All Settings	Click this button to write all settings in the Controller Settings group box to the stage controller non-volatile memory.

Advanced Settings

Description

The Linear Stage Advance Settings window (see Figure 3) provides settings for homing, locations, and keyboard control.  To open this window, click the Linear Stage Advance Settings item under the Setup menu of the Linear Stage Control window.

Figure 3: Linear Stage Advanced Settings window

File

Open Advanced Settings

Open Linear Stage Advanced Settings parameters from a file previously saved using the Save Settings menu item in the Linear Stage Control window.

Homing and Locations

Orientation Priority	Select the linear stage orientation that take priority when homing and moving to locations.  When homing, stages set to the priority orientation are moved first.  When moving to locations, stages set to the priority orientation are moved first when moving toward the home limit switch and moved last when moving away from the home limit switch. Note: The limit switch that designates home is determined by the Invert Home and Invert Direction settings in the Linear Stage Control window.
Homing	Check the boxes next to the linear stages to move when homing.
Location #	Check the boxes next to the linear stages to move when moving to a location.

Keyboard Control

Enable	Check this box to enable linear stage keyboard control when in Online control mode.
Stage # Positive	Select the key to jog or increment the stage carriage in the positive direction.  Pressing this key performs that same function as pressing the Jog/Increment (Positive) buttons in the Linear Stage Control window.
Stage # Negative	Select the key to jog or increment the stage carriage in the negative direction.  Pressing this key performs that same function as pressing the Jog/Increment (Negative) buttons in the Linear Stage Control window.
Speed	Select the keys to decrease and increase online speed.  Pressing these keys performs that same function as selecting the Speed options in the Linear Stage Control window.
Stop	Select the key to decelerate and stop all stage carriages.  Pressing this key performs that same function as pressing the Stop button in the Linear Stage Control window.
Key Control	Select the key to bring focus to the Key Control button in the Linear Stage Control window in order to use keyboard keys to control the linear stages.  Pressing this key performs the same function as clicking the Key Control button in the Linear Stage Control window.

Troubleshoot

Description

The Linear Stage Troubleshoot window (see Figure 4) can aid in troubleshooting linear stage controller operation.  Serial command characters sent to the controller and received from the controller are displayed, as well as the number of serial commands sent to the controller received from the controller.  To open this window, click the Linear Stage Troubleshoot item under the Setup menu of the Linear Stage Control window.

Figure 4: Linear Stage Troubleshoot window

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