Software

Installation and setup

The SMD3 is compatible with the AML Device Control software, which can be downloaded from the Software page on our website: https://arunmicro.com/documents/software/

• Connect all SMD3 devices to your computer, using a USB lead, and power them on.
• Start the AML Device Control software and click ‘Add device’ in the top left corner 

USB connected SMD3 devices should automatically appear in the list. Select all devices that you wish to add and click “Add n selected devices”

Overview

The default layout of the software is shown below. 

Project panel

Shows a list of the devices and scripts in the project. Currently selected devices are highlighted. Multiple devices can be selected by holding down CTRL and clicking. The device properties panel shows the properties for the selected device(s).   Right-clicking on an empty area within the project panel presents a context menu, with options to add new devices, new scripts or importing scripts.
The right-click context menu on each device provides access to functions such as clearing faults or placing the selected device into ident mode in which the green status indicator flashes.

A status indicator next to each device shows the current status of each device according to these colours:

Colour	Description
	Device connected and ready
	Bake mode running, limit switch triggered or joystick connected
	Device in a fault state
	Device disconnected

Device properties panel

Select one or more devices in the project panel; their properties are displayed and can be edited here. A blank is shown for properties which are different across the selected devices. As each property is selected, help text appears at the bottom of the panel describing the configuration option in more detail.

• Some properties allow selection of one of several choices, for example, temperature sensor selection:

• Others such as ‘Run current’ simply require a numeric value to be entered

• Others allow values to be entered directly, or the three dots button to the right to be clicked. This opens a window, allowing a more complex value to be input, for example, ‘Acceleration’ allows input in the native units or seconds:

System work area

Controller windows for each device appear in this area. Windows can be arranged as desired and will automatically ‘snap’ to a grid making it easy to keep them neatly organised.

Controller window

Shows a status summary for the selected device, providing essential information such as actual velocity, actual (absolute) position, relative position and error status.   Absolute and relative position counters may be reset using the  icons.   For controlling an SMD3, choose the type of motion and click start or stop. Multiple SMD3 devices can be controlled using the motion controls on the ribbon:

INFORMATION: Be aware that the synchronisation between multiple SMD3s is not specified or guaranteed when controlling them in this way; delays within the computer, software, and USB connection to the SMD3 mean that each SMD3 will start or stop its motion at a slightly different moment, therefore this option is not suitable for performing complex co-ordinated movements across multiple axes.

Ribbon

Contains buttons for all actions. Within the software, buttons can be hovered over for more information.

Saving projects

If the serial number of a connected SMD3 matches that of one in the project file that is open: The configuration given in the project file prevails, and the SMD3 configuration is synchronised to match that in the project file. Note that unless you use the save changes to hardware function, the original configuration of the SMD3 is not overwritten, and will be restored on power cycle or by using the load command to restore the configuration from flash.

If the serial number of a connected SMD3 does not match any of those in the project file that is open: The SMD3 is considered a new device in the project, and the project file will be initialised from the configuration found in the SMD3 itself. After this point, the first behaviour outlined above applies.

INFORMATION: In the first case above, configuration items that require the SMD3 to be in standby will not be correctly synchronized if the SMD3 is not in standby when the software connects.

Scripting

The software includes an easy to use script editor, that allows for sequences to be programmed and executed on multiple connected SMD3 devices, as well as system level operations such as adding and removing SMD3 devices from the project.   The scripting language used is JavaScript; this is powerful, easy to use and extensively documented. A global ‘smd’ object is made available from which you perform all interactions with the SMD3s. Type ‘smd.’ and an auto completion popup appears, showing all available commands, as well as help documentation for each. Press the enter key to select an option, then provide any arguments required.

A brief description of each function/command is presented below the scripting section. Here is an overview of the scripting area:

The auto completion popup can be shown using the ‘Ctrl-K’ keyboard shortcut.

Information on the available SMD3 device specific commands can be found in section USB Interface of this manual. Serial command mnemonics will be auto completed by the script editor. The arguments of each scripting function are identical to those shown in section Command Reference, however, the format of querying and commanding is different. The example below shows how the SMD3 mode can be set and queried:

smd.Mode(2); smd.Mode();

// Set the SMD3 mode to 2 (remote) // Query state of mode

The ribbon contains scripting specific buttons.

Function specific to the SMD3 software

Example scripts