Configuring New Systems with Motion Console

This section describes how to configure a new motion control system using Motion Console. If you are new to Motion Console, you should read this section first, then proceed to the other sections in this manual.

Getting Started with Motion Console

Motion Console is a utility designed to assist software and hardware designers with MEI motion controllers.

What is Motion Console?

Motion Console is a software tool to configure, exercise, and monitor your motion control system. It gives you the ability to perform simple motions with hardware and verify that controller-hardware wiring is working properly. Motion Console is NOT a software authoring tool. It does not compile programs or check code. However, using Motion Console alongside a line editor and compiler will allow you to quickly troubleshoot programs and determine whether problems lie in hardware or software. Motion Console also provides a quick way to demonstrate the full range of mechanical movement in your system, so that you may perfect hardware designs while software is still being developed.

What is Motion Scope?

Another MEI utility, separate from Motion Console, is Motion Scope. Motion Scope provides a virtual "oscilloscope" to plot the movements of your motion system. Using Motion Scope in conjunction with Motion Console allows you to command and plot the movement of any axis. See the Motion Scope section.

First Things First: Safety

Before configuring your system, you must consider the safety aspects of your motion control system. Such configurations as "amplifier enabling" impact every movement that your system makes, and dramatically redefine the degree of safety. Specifically, the following safety issues must be addressed when configuring new systems:

What hazards are posed by your motion control system to personnel and material? Has a safety zone been established to exclude personnel, their hands and fingers, etc. from dangerous spaces? Are warnings posted to alert personnel when and where hardware is in motion?
Are safety interlocks in place to automatically protect personnel from exposed high voltage and mechanical movements? Are emergency switches in place to perform instant, electro-mechanical shut-downs when needed?
How will your drive amplifiers be wired? Are they wired in a fail-safe mode which leaves your system safe when power is suddenly or unexpectedly lost? The Amp Enable box is located under the Motor Object Summary window -> Config tab.

Designers of new systems are sometimes tempted to rush and ignore basic safety issues; however, safety is integral to your system's usability. If you design your system with safety in mind from the beginning, you will alleviate major hardware and software design problems later, saving valuable lives and time.

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