System Setup
⚙️

System Setup

📎
User Manuals

Using the System Setup page, you can configure the setup of the automation system. This configuration tells the desk what Nodes, Axis and IO it will be controlling.

This setup is configured by Absolute Motion Control during the testing and commissioning of the automation system, and will not normally need adjusting.

This information is included in this manual in case you are asked by Absolute Motion Control to adjust it.

⚠️
DO NOT adjust any setting unless you fully understand the real-world effect it may have. If you do not understand what a setting does, stop and contact Absolute Motion Control.

To navigate to the System Setup page:

  • If you haven’t already, exit Motion back to the main menu.
  • Tap the System Setup button.
    • The System Setup button in the main menu
    The System Setup button in the main menu

Accessing Configuration Settings

The System Configuration Tabs
The System Configuration Tabs

System configuration is split into three tabs:

  • Nodes
  • Axis
  • IO

To navigate between the tabs, tap on them.

Configuring Nodes

A node is any physical device in the automation system that is able to send, receive, or forward network information. Typically these will be racks, safety controllers and IO controllers.

The Nodes configuration tab
The Nodes configuration tab

The Nodes currently configured in the automation system are shown in a list on the left.

To change the configuration for a node:

  • Select the node in the list by tapping on it.
  • The current node configuration will load into the editor on the right.
  • Make changes to the node configuration:

    • Number This is the node number. It should be a unique number.

    Name A descriptive name for the node.

    Address The node’s IP address.

    Type Select the node type from the list: MCC or Safety Controller.

    Is Console IO Source Enables this node to be used by the desk as an IO source.

  • Tap Update to store the changes.

To add a new node:

  • Tap Clear to clear the editor of information
  • Enter the new node’s configuration:

    • Number This is the node number. It should be a unique number.

    Name A descriptive name for the node.

    Address The node’s IP address.

    Type Select the node type from the list: MCC or Safety Controller.

    Is Console IO Source Enables this node to be used by the desk as an IO source.

  • Tap Add to add the node to the system configuration.
  • The node will now appear in the node list.

To delete a node:

  • Select the node in the list by tapping on it.
  • The current node configuration will load into the editor on the right.
  • Tap Delete to delete the node from the system configuration.

You can quickly generate MCC nodes using the generate feature.

To automatically generate a nodes:

  • Tap Generate to add a new MCC node.
  • A new MCC node will be added to the list, with the name and number incremented by one using the last highest MCC number.
  • Check the the generated configuration is correct before attempting to use it.

Configuring Axes

An axis is any physical device in the automation system that is to receive move information and feedback its current position or status. They can be linear, rotary or IO axes.

The Axis configuration tab
The Axis configuration tab

The Axes currently configured in the automation system are shown in a list on the left.

To change the configuration for an axis:

  • Select the axis in the list by tapping on it.
  • The current axis configuration will load into the editor on the right.
  • Make changes to the axis configuration:

    • Number The axis number. This must be a unique number.

    Name A descriptive name for the axis.

    Axis Type The axis type. Select from: Positional, IO or O (Rotary).

    Positional Units Select the position unit format for this axis. Select from: No units, %, degrees or mm.

    Speed Units Select the speed unit format for this axis. Select from: No units, %, degrees per second or mm per second.

    Accel / Decel Units Select the accel/decel unit format for this axis. Select from: No units, %, degrees^2 or mm^2.

    Time Units Select the time unit format for this axis. Select from: No units or seconds.

    Load Cell Units Select the load cell unit format for this axis. Select from: No units, Grams, Kg or Tons.

    Node Select the node location for this axis.

    Channel Select the channel on the node for this axis.

    Is Rotary If you tick this checkbox, you increase the precision of the axis units by another decimal place. Useful for rotary axes where you need to program in greater than whole number increments for degrees.

    Plottable If you tick this checkbox, the axis will be able to be plotted into cues. Useful for Secondary Axis that are coupled to Master Axis, and take no cue data.

    Show Load Cell If you tick this checkbox, the Axis Block will display the Load Cell value.

    Show Actual Speed If you tick this checkbox, the Axis Block will display its Actual Speed.

    Show Torque If you tick this checkbox, the Axis Block will display Torque in a bar graph.

    Max Speed Set the maximum speed. You won’t be able to program cues that are faster than this speed.

    Max Accel/Decel Set the maximum acceleration and deceleration rates. You won’t be able to program cues faster than this speed.

    Default Speed Set the default speed to be used when adding new cues.

    Default Accel/Decel Set the default acceleration and deceleration rates to be used when adding new cues.

  • Tap Update to store the changes.

To add a new axis:

  • Tap Clear to clear the editor of information
  • Enter the new axis’s configuration:
    • ‣
    Expand to see the Axis Configuration Settings

    Number The axis number. This must be a unique number.

    Name A descriptive name for the axis.

    Axis Type The axis type. Select from: Positional, IO or O (Rotary).

    Positional Units Select the position unit format for this axis. Select from: No units, %, degrees or mm.

    Speed Units Select the speed unit format for this axis. Select from: No units, %, degrees per second or mm per second.

    Accel / Decel Units Select the accel/decel unit format for this axis. Select from: No units, %, degrees^2 or mm^2.

    Time Units Select the time unit format for this axis. Select from: No units or seconds.

    Load Cell Units Select the load cell unit format for this axis. Select from: No units, Grams, Kg or Tons.

    Node Select the node location for this axis.

    Channel Select the channel on the node for this axis.

    Is Rotary If you tick this checkbox, you increase the precision of the axis units by another decimal place. Useful for rotary axes where you need to program in greater than whole number increments for degrees.

    Plottable If you tick this checkbox, the axis will be able to be plotted into cues. Useful for Secondary Axis that are coupled to Master Axis, and take no cue data.

    Show Load Cell If you tick this checkbox, the Axis Block will display the Load Cell value.

    Show Actual Speed If you tick this checkbox, the Axis Block will display its Actual Speed.

    Show Torque If you tick this checkbox, the Axis Block will display Torque in a bar graph.

    Max Speed Set the maximum speed. You won’t be able to program cues that are faster than this speed.

    Max Accel/Decel Set the maximum acceleration and deceleration rates. You won’t be able to program cues faster than this speed.

    Default Speed Set the default speed to be used when adding new cues.

    Default Accel/Decel Set the default acceleration and deceleration rates to be used when adding new cues.

  • Tap Add to add the axis to the system configuration.
  • The axis will now appear in the node list.

To delete a node:

  • Select the axis in the list by tapping on it.
  • The current axis configuration will load into the editor on the right.
  • Tap Delete to delete the axis from the system configuration.

You can quickly generate linear axes using the generate feature.

To automatically generate axes:

  • Make sure you have created at least one MCC in the node configuration.
  • Tap Generate to generate new axis.
  • Axes will be generated for every MCC in the node configuration, using a default configuration.
  • Update the generated configurations with the correct values before using the axis.

Configuring IO

An IO device is any physical device in the automation system that is to feedback its status as a binary state (e.g. True/False, On/Off, Open/Closed, 1/0).

The IO Configuration Tab
The IO Configuration Tab

The IO devices currently configured in the automation system are shown in a list on the left.

To change the configuration for an IO device:

  • Select the IO device in the list by tapping on it.
  • The current IO device configuration will load into the editor on the right.
  • Make changes to the IO device configuration:

    • Name A descriptive name for the IO device.

    Node The node location for this IO device.

    Byte The IO devices’s byte.

    Bit The IO devices’s bit.

    Good Label This is the text that will be displayed when the IO is in a “good” state.

    Bad Label This is the text that will be displayed when then IO is in a “bad” state.

    Show in Global IO

    Make available as Global IO so it can be displayed on the main screen.

  • Tap Update to store the changes.

To add a new IO device:

  • Tap Clear to clear the editor of information
  • Enter the new IO device’s configuration:

    • Name A descriptive name for the IO device.

    Node The node location for this IO device.

    Byte The IO devices’s byte.

    Bit The IO devices’s bit.

    Good Label This is the text that will be displayed when the IO is in a “good” state.

    Bad Label This is the text that will be displayed when then IO is in a “bad” state.

    Show in Global IO

    Make available as Global IO so it can be displayed on the main screen.

  • Tap Add to add the IO device to the system configuration.
  • The IO device will now appear in the node list.

To delete a IO device:

  • Select the IO device in the list by tapping on it.
  • The current IO device configuration will load into the editor on the right.
  • Tap Delete to delete the IO device from the system configuration.

Configuring Cues

Exporting Cues

You may export a CSV file with all the plotted axis and cue information used in the show file. This might be useful for documenting the shows programming for Stage Management or Archive purposes.

  • Press the Export Cues button
  • You will be prompted with a Save Dialog so you can choose where to save the CSV file to, for example: a USB memory storage device.

Auto-Generating Deads and Cues

This feature generates two deads for each axis and two cues for each axis, one for each dead. These cues are useful for testing and commissioning, and also might be useful for maintenance.

The desk will generate two deads – Dead 1: 0mm, Dead 2: 10,000mm. You will need to edit these values to something that it suitable before using for the first time.

The Export Cues, Generate Deads + Cues, Delete All Cues, Delete All Deads buttons
The Export Cues, Generate Deads + Cues, Delete All Cues, Delete All Deads buttons

To auto-generate deads and cues:

  • Tap Generate Deads + Cues at the bottom of the page.
  • Edit the deads to be a more suitable number before using for the first time.

Deleting System Configuration

You can delete the entire system configuration. This will delete every node, axis and IO device from the system configuration.

The Delete All button
The Delete All button

To delete the system configuration:

  • Tap Delete All at the bottom of the System Setup Page.
  • You will be asked to confirm that you want to delete the system configuration. This action cannot be undone.
  • Tap Yes to confirm that you are happy to delete the system configuration.