How to control the step motor in this situation?

[wuligang]

I have a PHI TRIFT3 ToF-SIMS instrument. The instrument comes with a default

software. However, the software don't offer fine step motor control. I want to control

the step motor using Labview.

I got some info from a Japanese engineer of the company.

The step motor controller is connect to a card in ISA slot. In the default software, I

can send command like D2000(distance 2000) and A100(acceleration 100) to "port 2"

to control the motor. I have a manual of the commands.

However, I don't know how to send command from Labview. Here is a joysticker

connected to COM1, COM2 is used for other vacuum control. The joysticker can also

control the motor..Here are some reply from the company about the control.

"We do not use special driver for control the step motor.
This is just sending the serial command via RS232C per command instruction I
sent you before. The only difference is, to simplify the hardware, we just talk to data acq
module(wave form card) via PAHOST card(installed in ISA bus slot of the PC)
to passthru the RS232C command to stepper motor control unit.
If you try to talk to step motor. just send the RS command from Labview
platform. (of course need to connect the step motor controller from PC,
default TRIFT PC does not have a spare COM channel, might be need to add
serial etension card or add the computer for Labview control)

"TRIFT PC passthru the RS232 command throught ISA bus to PHI data
acquisition box to stepper motor control.
Joystick handled by default software , convert to stage movement
command X and Y then send thru to ISA. "

I tried to use the Basic Serial Write and Read.vi to send command to COM1 but I always

get an error"1073807246 ocurred at property node(arg 1) in VISA configure Serial prot(Instr).vi->

Basic Serial Write and Read.vi  Possible reason: VISA: the resource is valid, but VISA cannot access

it."   I think this happens because the default software is also open and trying to control COM1.

What should I do to accomplish the step motor control? Thanks a lot

[MichaelChaney]

Only one program can access a hardware resource at one time.  If your default software is running and had control of COM1, then LabVIEW or any other software cannot access COM1.  Your options are to either not execute the default software, or to disable COM1 access from the default software.  Only then will LabVIEW be able to use COM1

Message Edited by Michael C on 10-19-2005 12:00 PM

[Henrik_Volkers]

start in a simple way:

don't start the control software.

connect your stepper to com?. use a USB2RS232 converter if you need an additional port or disconnect the joystick for this test an use com1(do this before you startup the PC to avoid a driver locking the port!).

open hyperterminal on com? and try out sending some test commands. Be shure the com port settings match (baudrate,parity,databits,stopbits,handshake)

If you succeed to execute commands, start with your LV program.

If you want to use the joystick you will need their documentation too ...