Arcus Technology USB Communications LabVIEW® Driver - version 3.0.0

Installation Instructions

This package allows the targeted developer(s) to access the driver-set in two ways: (1) directly via the LabVIEW project seen here or (2) from a series of custom palette VI's (palette structure defined below) by invoking a pre-built installer that accompanies this package. The following instructions focus on the installer (recommended for novice developers).

Invoke the Installer

Contained within the downloaded package is a 'setup.exe' installer located in the following directory:

\\built\installers\arcus-usb-comm-installer\Volume\

Simply invoke this installer and the latest version of the Arcus driver toolset will be installed in LabVIEW's inst.lib directory.

Launch LabVIEW

If LabVIEW was open when step number (1) above was completed, restart the environment.

the newly installed Driver set will appear in the "Instrument I\O" >>> "Instrument Drivers" palette titled "Arcus Driver 3.0"

Arcus Technology Instrument Driver - Palettes Overview

The following is a brief overview of the miscellaneous palettes as they appear in the "Instrument Drivers" >>> "Arcus Driver 3.0" palette.

NOTE: All VI's are documented. Refer to each VI's "Documentation" field or launch the Context Help window by clicking "Help" >>> "Show Context Help" then hover the cursor over each VI to see its description

Main Palette (top level)

This is the top level, main palette for the driver set.

Row 1
Row 2
Row 3

Config Sub-Palette

This sub-palette consists of a series higher level Configuration VI's (focussed on setting parameter data to the attached device) that translate info meaningful in LabVIEW to something the device can interpret.

Row 1

Action (Setters) Sub-Palette

This sub-palette consists of a series higher level Action VI's (focussed on setting or writing-to the attached device) that translate info meaningful in LabVIEW to something the device can interpret.

Row 1
Row 2
Row 3
Row 4
Row 5
Row 6

Action (Setters): Multi-Axis Sub-Palette

This sub-palette consists of a series higher level Action VI's that are applicable only to multi-axis applications.

Row 1

Status (Getters) Sub-Palette

This sub-palette consists of a series higher level Status VI's (focussed on retrieving information from the attached device) that translate data from the device to something meaningful in the LabVIEW development environment.

Row 1
Row 2
Row 3
Row 4
Row 5

Status (Getters): Stored Members Sub-Palette

Upon device initialization, the 'Initialize' routine packs a variety of useful information into the 'reference' wire that gets passed around the driver VIs. This reference (which represents a LabVIEW Class Object of type "_Controller") contains several data members that are freely accessible wherever the reference remains active (not Closed) and accessible. This palette contains a series of these VIs that may be of use to the developer.

Row 1
Row 2

Utilities Sub-Palette

This sub-palette contains a number of utility VIs that are both inherent to the Arcus USB Comm base set of features as well as some custom utilities that may prove useful for the LabVIEW developer

Row 1
Row 2

Examples Sub-Palette

This sub-palette contains a number of Example VIs and applications that to help the LabVIEW developer gain a clearer understanding of the use of the Arcus USB Comm LabVIEW driver in practice.

Row 1
Row 2
Row 3
Row 4

Examples: Digital I/O Sub-Palette

This sub-palette contains a number of Example VIs and applications that to help the LabVIEW developer gain a clearer understanding of the use of the DIO features for DIO supporting controllers.

Row 1
Row 2

Examples: Motion Sub-Palette

This sub-palette contains a number of Example VIs and applications that to help the LabVIEW developer gain a clearer understanding of the use of various Motion features.

Row 1
Row 2
Row 3

Examples: Polarity Sub-Palette

This sub-palette contains a number of Example VIs and applications that to help the LabVIEW developer gain a clearer understanding of the use of various Polarity setting/getting features.

Row 1

USB Communication Utility Control Panel - (Single Axis)

As briefly discussed above, the Examples Sub-Palette contains a "Utility - Single" that implements tha majority fo what the device API has to offer, catering primarily to the DMX-J-SA product line. This is an image of this interface. By clicking on the yellow "? button in the launched interface, a dialog appears providing details on each indicator and control on this interface. Simply hover the mouse over each to read its contents.

USB Communication Utility Control Panel - (Multi Axis)

As briefly discussed above, the Examples Sub-Palette contains a "Utility - Multi" that implements tha majority fo what the device API has to offer, catering primarily to the PMX-4EX-SA product line. This is an image of this interface.

USB Communication Console Panel

As briefly discussed above, the Examples Sub-Palette contains a "Console Panel" that implements only the ASCII level communication protocol with the attached device. By clicking on the yellow "? button in the launched interface, a dialog appears providing details on each indicator and control on this interface. Simply hover the mouse over each to read its contents.