Linear encoders with Motion Assistant

[Nick @EDM]

Hello,

I recently ordered some SIKO MSK5000 linear encoders ( http://www.sikoproducts.com/viewProduct.cfm?productID=MSK5000 ) for a stepper motion application.  I hooked one up as a test and according to the status LEDs it worked but Motion Assistant (1.3) seemed to not pick it up.  Then I realized that I am not even sure what motion assistant should be doing!  I can't find in the documentation what exactly should happen when I hook up an encoder so could someone help me out?  We want to make sure they work before installing them (which will require lots of disassembly.)

Thanks!

Relevant hardware:
PCI-7334
MID-7604

[Jason N]

Hello,

Hopefully I can get you going with with Motion Assistant.  Basically the Motion Assistant is software that allows you to easily develop and test a motion control program through a fairly straight-forward API.  You can create a set of moves, called a script, one step at a time to see the cumulative effects of these steps.  This script can then be converted into LabVIEW code or several different text-based programming codes.  Before you begin using the Motion Assistant, however, you need to configure you motor setup in Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX).  In MAX you setup the properties of your specific motor, encoder, limit switches, control style, etc.  Below is a link to a Motion Fundamentals tutorial on ni.com, and I believe the Configuration section should help you through configuring you motor in MAX.

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/conceptd.nsf/webmain/722ECF56222AAD5086256F7B007072C4?opendocument&node=1...

This link has a good tutorial on the Motion Assistant itself:  http://www.ni.com/swf/presentation/us/motion/.  Hope this helps.

Jason N