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February Meeting minutes -- a little late



            Minutes of the February 13 Beamline Controls meeting


SBC Progress -- Mary Westbrook <westbrook@anlel.el.anl.gov>

  - SBC is working with the ECT group at Argonne to develop customized hardware
    and software.
  - Have defined the interface between the data acquisition and data analysis
    subsystems using cdev.
  - Data analysis is being written by Jim Pflugrath (MSC).  d*TREK is a
    device-independent C++ program.
  - Are building many custom modules including shutter/filter synchronization;
    servos: breakout, amplifiers, buffers; BPMs: VXI electrometer, preamp;
    vacuum valve control, etc.
  - Will be using HP9000, SGI Indys and SGI ChallengeL servers.


Feedback from SRI-CAT EPICS users -- Tim Mooney <mooney@aps.anl.gov>

  - Generally positive from the last run, BUT
  - medm screens, Backup/Restore, scan software, motor software, manual motor
    control need work.
  - Handout of plans to improve software available from Tim.
  - Next run (~March 5) will use EPICS 3.12.2.


CARS progress -- Mark Rivers <rivers@cars3.uchicago.edu>

  - Support for APS format HDF files in IDL is almost finished.
  - CARS is the EPICS platform developer for the SGI platform.
  - Wants APS-centered EPICS distribution to be implemented soon.

  
BESSRC progress -- <Guy_Jennings@qmgate.anl.gov>

  - BESSRC got two full seconds of beam :-)
  - Have gone back to using HDF 3.3r4.
  - Macintosh channel access library has been updated.
  - Working on a channel access plug in for Igor (Mac).
  - Working on a channel access interface for Visual Basic (Windows).


DND progress -- <jpq@radish.dnd.aps.anl.gov>

  - DND got a lot more beam than BESSRC -- 20 minutes.
  - They are primarily using DC servos.  Developed Eurocard modules including
    linear drivers and linear power supplies.
  - Joined UNICAT and IMM in buying 30 Proteus flow meters.
  - Have set up a PC as an easy to use file sharing server for CATs.  Ask John.
  - Advocates using (cheap) PLC logic (instead of EPICS) to control complicated
    devices like the F1 filter.  Will use EPICS only through binary I/O.
  - Barry Dobson at Daresbury tested the Nova V/F converter and found it to be
    well within the specified 10 ppm accuracy.
  - Daresbury is working on an integrating ADC which is supposed to replace the
    electrometer and V/F converters currently used.  Should be ready in ~1 yr.


VME58 bus error postmortem -- Joe Sullivan <sullivan@aps.anl.gov>

  - A new failure mode has been observed with the OMS VME58.
  - Fixed by falling back to version 1.8 of the EPROM.


VME58 transition module warning -- Kurt Goetze <goetze@aps.anl.gov>

  - To avoid shorting the crate's 5V if you remove a VME58 transition module
    'hot', install a strip of insulating tape on the board's front panel right
    side edge.


StepPak: noise problem, microstepper module -- Kurt Goetze <goetze@aps.anl.gov>

  - The SPC-3 communication module on the new StepPaks has unterminated RS-485
    inputs (by mistake).  Kurt has the pinout with the modification necessary so
    that the motors do not go off to left field. Leo Bric will fix the problem.
  - The APS is working with Leo Bric on a microstepper module for the StepPak.
    It will have bipolar outputs and work with four-phase motors.  Should be
    available in ~4 months.  See Kurt for more information.


IndustryPack ADCs -- Joe Sullivan <sullivan@aps.anl.gov>

  - Is testing four different IP ADCs.  Details available from Joe.
  - GreenSpring IP-Precision -- isn't.  Only 9 bits real output.
  - GreenSpring IP-16ADC -- external power supply needed.
  - Systran ADC129F1 -- power supply is optional. 8 ch/12 bits. Fixed 10V range
  - Acromag IP320.  20 ch/12 bits, differential.  Selectable range.  Hideos
    driver under development.


Motors -- Dan Legnini <dan_legnini@qmgate.anl.gov>

  - Building patch panel between motor and driver which will take care of
    nonstandard motors and limit switches.
  - Using special keyed Elco connectors for low current motors, etc.
  - Using three position switch for limits: pass, invert or bypass limit switch.
  - Working on formal motor standards.  See Dan.


System administration support from ECT -- Tim Mooney <mooney@aps.anl.gov>

  - Argonne's ECT division is interested in and capable of providing system
    and network administration support on a cost-recovery basis.
  - There is an APS mailing list for networking issues -- sys_mgrs@aps.anl.gov.

   
The EPICS Software Distribution homepage -- Bakul Banerjee<banerjee@aps.anl.gov>

  - Working on a design for distributing EPICS and EPICS-related information.
  - Entrance to the distribution on the Web will be password protected
  - Includes EPICS hardware support documentation (maintained by Steve Lewis).
  - Pages should be available in a week or two.


Using Netscape for online help -- Tim Mooney <mooney@aps.anl.gov>

  - Contact Tim for a script which is useful for displaying context sensitive
    help via Netscape.


Update on VxWorks board-support for MVME162 -- John Winans <winans@aps.anl.gov>

  - The MVME162 with >4 MB is now supported under his VxWorks board support.


State Notation Language changes under 3.12.2 -- Tim Mooney <mooney@aps.anl.gov>

  - Latest release of SNL (v1.9) has changed support for escaped C code.
  - See base/src/sequencer/gen_ss_code.c
   

New IDL programs -- Ben-chin Cha <cha@aps.anl.gov>

  - Has written HDF file browser, improved the data catcher and written a
    standalone image viewer in IDL.
  - See Ben-chin for pointers to the new code.


New reasssignable links -- Marty Kraimer <mrk@aps.anl.gov>

  - Ned Arnold's scan and wait records already are reassignable.
  - Next version of base (~May) will allow reassignable soft links.  
  - Bob Dalesio and Marty have gotten around the performance problem by using
    linked lists for recomputing lock sets.
  - Gradually support for reassignable hardware links will be made available.


Machine Status Link -- Ned Arnold <nda@aps.anl.gov>

  - Is working on a hardware-distributed signal that gives APS status.
  - Contact Ned with suggestions or for a copy of his handout.