New Features and Highlights of FW Version 6.49 Beta
ACS Motion Control announces the release of FW Version 6.49, which is the beta version of the future 6.50 release planned for the December 2008. The following are highlights of changes in FW version 6.49:
New products support: SPiiPlus 3U-HP, SPiiPlus LF and MC4U 9” and 11”
- See New products highlights chapter for products highlights and SW related features. See related HW Guides for details.
EnDat and Smart-Abs absolute encoders support through HSSI-HES extension card
- See HSSI-HES support chapter for products highlights and setup details. See HSSI HW Guide for details.
New LDM3U linear drive support
- LDM3U is new analog linear drive in 3U form factor for using in MC4U systems. It enables achieving the required accuracy and performance in high precision (sub-nanometer) applications.
- See LDM3U HW Guide for details.
2-phase step motor support in open loop (micro step mode) or close loop
- See Chapter 6 - "Two-Phase Motor Support" for details.
2-phase DC brushless motor support in closed loop
- See Chapter 6 - "Two-Phase Motor Support" for details.
New servo features:
- Additional BI-Quad filter
- Disturbance Rejection Algorithm (DRA)
- Extended analog outputs (for certain platforms)
- See Chapter 11 - "Servo Loop Features" for details.
New CANopen certified servo drives and I/O modules
- Parker’s Compax3 servo drive with CANopen interface was successfully tested and approved for using with SPiiPlus.
- Copley’s Xenus servo drive was successfully tested and approved for using with SPiiPlus.
Configurable Ethernet ports
- See Chapter 10 - "User-Defined Ethernet Ports" for details.
Extended user arrays
- Maximum size of user-defined arrays has been extended from 30,000 to 100,000 elements. For example, it's possible to declare one-dimensional array with 100,000 elements or a two dimensional array with 1,000 rows and 100 columns or any other combination of rows and columns so long as the total number of elements does not exceed 100,000 elements.
New ACSPL+ functions that simplify raw data (third-party protocols) communication processing
- See Chapter 12 - "New ACSPL+ Functions" for details.
SPiiPlus PCI drivers for Windows XP x64 and Vista x64
- SPiiPlus version 6.49 supports SPiiPlus PCI drivers for Microsoft Windows XP x64 and Microsoft Windows Vista x64.
SPiiPlus Emergency Wizard enhancement
- SPiiPlus Emergency Wizard now has an option that resets the controller to factory default state. The option is disabled by default but can be enabled by selecting the Reset Controller checkbox.
Asynchronous calls support by SPiiPlus COM Library
- Previously only SPiiPlus C Library provided support for asynchronous calls. In version 6.49 SPiiPlus COM Library also supports asynchronous calls. It enables applications, which are written in Visual Basic, .NET and other languages that use COM libraries, to perform prolonged operations with the controller in parallel with application main tasks without the need for creating special threads.
- See Section 14.2 - "Asynchronous Calls Support by SPiiPlus COM Library" for details.
New functions in SPiiPlus C and COM Libraries for user applications saving/loading from/to the controller
Previously only by using SPiiPlus MMI Application Saver/Loader was it possible to save or load applications from/to the controller. New functions have been added to enable saving/loading of user application from/to the controller. The new functions enable:
- Loading file from host PC to the controller array or file
- Uploading data from the controller array or file to file on host PC
See Section 14.1 - "Functions for Saving/Loading User Applications From/To the Controller" for details.
New functions in SPiiPlus C and COM Libraries for handling of improperly closed communication channels
- Previously improperly closed communication channels could only be closed within from the SPiiPlus UMD. In version 6.49 the user application can now close them by using special functions.
- See Section 14.3 - "Handling of Improperly Closed Communication Channels" for details.
New functions in SPiiPlus C and COM Libraries for data collection support
- The new SPiiPlus C Library acsc_DataCollection function and new SPiiPlus COM Library DataCollection method replace the acsc_CollectB function and CollectB method, respectively.
New functions in SPiiPlus C and COM Libraries for establishing Ethernet connection with non-default TCP and UDP port
- New SPiiPlus C Library methods enable establishing an Ethernet connection with non-default TCP and UDP ports. This can be useful when working with several standalone SPiiPlus Simulator instances on the same computer or if the controller is configured with non-default ports.
- Please refer to the SPiiPlus C Libraries Guide and the SPiiPlus COM Library Guide.
Duplicated controller IP address detection
- The SPiiPlus C Library acsc_OpenCommEthernet function and SPiiPlus COM Library OpenCommEthernet method report if a specified IP address is already used by one of the SPiiPlus controllers.
Emergency Stop button
- The SPiiPlus C Library provides user applications with the ability to activate/deactivate the Emergency Stop button on the SPiiPlus UMD. When it is selected, the Emergency Stop button stops all motions and disables all motors. Previously only the SPiiPlus MMI provided such functionality; now such functionality is also available for user applications.
- See Section 14.5 - "Emergency Stop Button" for details.
New Immediate Query command
- A new Immediate Query command has been added that enables the user to obtain a short description of any ACSPL+ variable.
- See Section 15.4 - "New Immediate Query
The FW 6.49 Beta version is free for download.