Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

Ron Sluiter <[email protected]> · Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:04:20 -0500

Daron Chabot wrote:

Any idea about the effort required to create support for it given
there is synApps support for the Parker 6000 ?

The effort required to create complete EPICS motor record device driver
support for a new controller is about two weeks.  The majority of that time
is usually spent trying to understand how to handle abnormal events or minor
aspects of the motor controllers' operations and conditions (e.g., fault
conditions, homing, jogging).  Usually you can get a motor to do point to
point moves in a week.  It's all the over stuff that drags on.

If the Parker 9000 has exactly same commands as the 6000 and behaves
exactly the same as the 6000; your done.  Just use the 6000 device driver
and let me know so that I can document the fact.

If the Parker 9000 is close to the 6000; then follow the example of the
Newport 4000/5/6 device driver; i.e., start with the 6000 driver; have the
driver read the controller's ID at boot-up and set a "model" indicator for

later use. Use the model indicator to select minor differences in the

Parker

6000/9000 device driver.

If either of the above scenarios work out then it can be done in the
mythical uninterrupted week.  Otherwise, it's going to take a little
longer.

Hope this helps,
Ron

Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System

Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System