Motion Scope Quick-Start Guide

Quick-start Description

This section will guide you through the most basic steps of using Motion Scope. It does not describe how to utilize advanced features, but it should prove helpful to new users. Three quick-start scenarios are presented below:

Scenario A: How to use the built-in Demo feature. No XMP controller required.

Scenario B: How to use Motion Scope motion data from XMP controller configured for stepper motors with simulated (step loopback) feedback.

Scenario C: How to use Motion Scope with Motion Console or application. Motion data from XMP controller with real motion system.

Select a scenario (e.g., "B"), then follow the steps labeled with that letter below.

1. Launch Motion Scope

Double click on the Motion Scope icon to launch the utility. A pane is displayed for XMP Controller 0:

Motion Scope start-up screen.

If you wish to close this pane, click on the Close icon in the upper-right corner.

2. Open and Configure a New Pane

If a pane is not already visible, the Motion Scope screen will appear blank, as shown here:

To open a new (or additional) pane, click on the File / New menu option. You will be presented with the Pane Mode panel:

The Pane Mode panel identifies the source of signal data to be plotted. Depending upon your scenario, use the following list as a setting guide:

To Quickly Demonstrate Motion Scope's Features

If you wish to quickly demonstrate Motion Scope's features without connecting to real signal data, use the built-in Demo option. You should set your Pane Mode options as follows:

Data Source	Demo
Acquire Cycle	50 ms (default setting)
Redraw Time	200 ms (default setting)

To Use Motion Scope Using Simulated Feedback Data

Motion Console can be used to generate simulated data, which is then viewed using Motion Scope. The simplest way to do this is to run Motion Console on the same platform where Motion Scope is installed. Set your Pane Mode options as follows:

Data Source	Device (MPI)
Controller Number#	0
Acquire Cycle	50 ms (default setting)
Redraw Time	200 ms (default setting)

NOTE: The Motion Console set-up for generating simulated feedback data is included below in Step #3.

To View Real Signal Data with Motion Scope

If you intend to use Motion Scope to view real motion control data, set your Pane Mode options as follows:

Data Source	Device (MPI) (if controller card resides within same platform where Motion Scope is installed)
Controller Number#	# of contoller card (On platforms running a single control card, set this to 0; otherwise, enter the number of the active controller.)
- OR -
Data Source	Client (MPI) (if controller card resides on a remotely networked platform, separate from where Motion Scope is installed)
Controller Number#	# of contoller card (On platform where control card resides)
Port	of platform where controller is installed
Server	IP address of platform where controller is installed
Acquire Cycle	50 ms (default setting)
Redraw Time	200 ms (default setting)

The Motion Console set-up for generating fake signal data is included below in Step #3.

Click the OK button to enter settings into the Pane Mode panel and close.

3. Configure Trace Settings

At this point, you have a blank pane with no traces. The next step is to tell Motion Scope which signal data to trace. This is done using the Pane / Traces menu item.

To Quickly Demonstrate Motion Scope's Features

If you have configured the new pane to run the built-in Demo (from Step 2-A above), you have only four sources of signal data available to you. All of them are "fake" and exist only in your computer's memory. Now, let's look at them.

Click either on the Pane / Traces menu item, or use the Traces button at the top-middle of the display pane to access the Select Traces Set panel:

In the left column of the panel are listed the four sources of signal data available to you. They consist of:

ActualPosition
ActualVelocity
PositionError
ControlOutput

Remember, the displayed signals consist of "fake," archival data for demonstration purposes only. They do not correspond to anything real on your motion controller.

To select demo data for tracing, click on the signal(s) to be plotted, then click on the Add==> button near the bottom-left corner of the panel. The selected signal(s) will be listed to the right, within the "Trace Set for Pane" window. If you make a mistake, or want to deselect a signal, highlight the signal with your mouse, then click on the Delete button on the right side of the pane.

Click the OK button to close the Select Traces Set panel.

To Use Motion Scope Using Simulated Feedback Data

After you have configured the new pane to view simulated data from an XMP controller (from Step #2B above), Then you need to configure the XMP controller for step controller for step motor control with sinusoidal feedback:

Disconnect your XMP controller from all external motion control hardware. (i.e., leave the controller in the computer, but disconnect all external cables between the card and motion equipment.) This will allow you to practice with Motion Console and Motion Scope in complete safety.
Launch Motion Console.
Use the Object Explorer to map Axis 0 to Motion Supervisor 0 (MS 0).

Map Motor 0 to Filter 0 and Filter 0 to Axis 0.

Open the Motion Supervisor Summary / General Config tab page for Controller 0.

Set the Motion Type field to either Trapezoidal or S-curve.

On the Motion Supervisor / Actions page, switch Repeat Mode to Enable.

Open the Motor Summary / General Config tab page.

Set the Type field to Stepper.

Switch the Step Loopback field to Enabled.

Open the Axis Summary / Motion tab page.

Set Position 1 to 0.

Set Position 2 to 10000.

Set Velocity, Acceleration and Deceleration to 100000.

Your Motion Console panels should appear similar to those shown here:

Set Motion Console in "motion" by clicking on the Move to Farthest Position button You should see the Command and Actual Position fields on the Axis Summary panel count back and forth between the Position 1 and 2 values (simulating a back-and-forth motion). This will continue running until you click on the MS Summary panel's Stop icon.

If you experience difficulty, recheck your Motion Console settings. If the system appears to be hung, click on the Stop icon on the MS Summary panel and the Clear Fault button, then retry the Move to Farthest Position button.

With the XMP controller generating the simulated data, you are now ready to use Motion Scope to view the data. Click either on the Pane / Traces menu item, or use the Traces button at the top-middle of the display pane to access the Select Traces Set panel:

In the left column of the panel are listed the signal data available to you. Remember that for this example we have configured Motion Console to utilize Axis 0; therefore only Ax 0 signals will produce interesting traces. All other non-configured signals will generate flat, "dead" traces.

To select data for tracing, click on the signal(s) to be plotted, then click on the Add==> button at the bottom of the panel. The selected signal(s) will be listed to the right, within the "Trace Set for Pane" window. If you make a mistake, or want to deselect a signal, highlight the signal with your mouse, then click on the Delete button on the right side of the pane.

For this example, click on the Ax 0 Cmd Pos and Ax 0 TC. Velocity signals.

Click the OK button to close the Select Traces Set panel.

To View Real Signal Data with Motion Scope

If you have configured the new pane to view real motion controller data (from Step #2C above), you may now proceed to setting your hardware into motion and using Motion Scope to view controller data. We will follow a procedure similar to Step #3B above, except that you do not need Motion Console. The intent here is to establish a simple, repeated motion with your hardware, then trigger Motion Scope at the point of interest to you.

If Using Motion Console...
If you wish to use Motion Console to command motion, configure it now to operate your hardware. Motion Console is detailed in separate chapters of this manual. Ideally, you should establish a simple, repeating motion that can be examined over and over.

If Using a Motion Control Application...
If you wish to examine motion details as hardware is commanded by a motion control application, set your application up now. Again, a simple, repeating motion is preferred.

You are now ready to use Motion Scope to view the data. Click either on the Pane / Traces menu item, or use the Traces button at the top-middle of the display pane to access the Select Traces Set panel:

In the left column of the panel are listed the signal data available to you. Any signal data can be plotted, but only active signals will produce interesting traces. All other non-configured signals will generate flat, "dead" traces.

Click the OK button to close the Select Traces Set panel.

4. Configure Trigger

The next step consists of configuring the trigger to start Motion Scope. Because Motion Scope has a limited memory buffer, it cannot acquire and display data indefinitely. You must configure it to acquire data during the time of particular interest to you.

Triggering operates the same, regardless of how you have configured your Trace panel, or whether you are working with real or fake data.

Click either on the Pane / Trigger menu item, or use the Trigger button at the top-middle of the display pane to access the Trigger Conditions panel:

For quick-start purposes, we will trigger manually. Other forms of triggering are discussed in the "Trigger" reference section of this chapter below.

Set "Start Condition"

To manually trigger Motion Scope, select the Go button menu item.

Set "End Condition"

To halt tracing manually, select the Stop button menu item.

Set "Trigger Detection"

Select the Status Data Stream menu item.

Click the OK button to close the Trigger Conditions panel.

5. Generate a Trace!

The final step consists of making a trace with Motion Scope. At this point, you should have followed Steps #1-4 above to configure your pane, select the traces you want, and set up manual triggering. Signal data--either real or simulated--should now be available for plotting.

To trigger a plot, click on the Go button located at the front of the display pane. You should see the data trace begin on the left side, then sweep right and continue.

Your pane may appear as shown here:

When triggering manually, Motion Scope will continue tracing data until the Stop button is clicked.

In the "Motion Scope Feature Reference" section remaining in this chapter, you may learn more about Motion Scope's features, or contact MEI for assistance.