Traces
"Traces"
refer to the actual signal data plot(s) generated on a display
pane. The Traces menu item may be selected either by
clicking on Pane / Traces in the pull-down menu, or by
clicking on the Traces button on the main display. This
displays the Select Traces Set panel:
On
the left side of the panel are listed some of the possible signal
data which can be traced. They are selected by clicking with
the mouse, then clicking on the Add==> button below.
- To
select all signal data between two listings, hold
down the Shift key while selecting with the mouse.
- To
select two or more signal data, hold down the Ctrl
key while selecting each with the mouse.
Trace
Ordering-- Once a list is defined in the "Trace Set
for Pane" window, you may order the arrangement by using
the Trace Ordering switch. There are three menu items:
UserName--
Orders the list by user name.
MapName--
Orders the list by map name.
Address--
Orders the list by memory address (as ordered within the controller's
firmware memory). TIP: click this menu item again to
reverse the order.
Modify
Trace
Modify
Trace menu items create, edit and close individual traces.
These menu items are accessed on the right side of the Select
Traces Set panel:
New
and Edit-- Clicking on either the New or Edit
button displays the Edit Trace Properties panel.
If no trace is currently listed or selected within the "Trace
Set for Pane" window, only the New button may
be used.
Name--
Name assigned to the new or edited trace. Trace names can
be assigned to correlate to specific axes, such as "X,"
"Y," etc.
Address--
Hexadecimal memory address to be assigned to the selected
trace.
Note
|
An Address
must be specified for each Name. To determine the memory
address of signal data, use the VM3 utility (described
in Chapter 4 of this manual). |
In the example below, SystemData.SampleCounter
is shown on the VM3 screen with its hexadecimal address. When
this address (0x00028010) is entered into the Address
field of the Edit Traces Properties window, it may
be plotted on the Motion Scope grid. The data's name (SystemData.SampleCounter)
is manually entered into the Name field. Configure
the Trigger window, then plot the data. Notice that
the plot of SystemData.SampleCounter, which records
time, is a constantly increasing line.
Bitmasking--
Allows bitmasking of current trace address. The following
fields are used:
Masking
Enabled-- When enabled, the data is masked.
Mask--
Bit pattern to be masked (bitwise ANDed with mask).
Normalize
Right-- If a Mask has zeros in its lower-order
bit(s), the data value is shifted to the right. This is especially
convenient for viewing binary, two-state values.
Data
type-- Specifies the data type of the value stored at
the Address. The following data types are selectable:
long--
Data is a long integer (32 bits).
float--
Data is a floating decimal point value (32 bits).
unsigned
long-- Data is an unsigned, long integer (32 bits).
Display
as hex-- When selected, data stored at the Address
is displayed in hexadecimal form. If not selected, data stored
at the Address is displayed in its default format.
Units--
Units applied to the vertical (Y) axis of the display pane.
The following units are selectable:
Counts--
Encoder counts.
Counts/sec--
Encoder counts per second.
MilliSecs--
Milliseconds.
MilliVolts--
Millivolts.
None--
No units are applied to the vertical axis.
OK--
Enters settings and closes the Edit Trace Properties panel.
Cancel--
Closes the Edit Trace Properties panel without changing settings.
Note
|
Demo traces
(available from the Pane / Mode menu item) cannot be edited. |
Status
Banding
The
Status Banding menu item within the "Select Traces
Set" panel turns on-off separate trace bands at the top
of the pane for monitoring IN_COARSE and IN_FINE status on
a single axis. Two color schemes are used: green = FALSE;
red = TRUE.
In
above, the Status Banding menu item has been enabled
for the axis indicated by the Axis field. Command velocity
(trapezoidal profile) reveals motor movement. As the command
position (curved profile) crosses the IN_COARSE position value
at , the
IN_COARSE band (topmost band) changes color from green-FALSE,
to red-TRUE. (Meaning, the position of the axis is now within
the IN_COARSE envelope of the target position.) As the axis
reaches the target position, it enters the IN_FINE envelope
at , and
the lower (IN_FINE) status band changes color from green-FALSE,
to red-TRUE.
Note
|
The IN_COARSE
status band remains green-FALSE for all conditions if
the servo-stepper system is not commanded (e.g., dead
or disconnected). Green can be interpreted as "not
in position," which usually, but not always, means
"moving." |