Virtual Stage

analySIS® Stage-Control set-up 2

9LUWXDO6WDJH Configuration of an active stage ...............................................

Setting up individual axes .........................................................
Setting up a virtual stage ...........................................................
Axis assignment for virtual stages ............................................
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6
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Dealing with stage installation errors 10

High-pitched sounds 1 ............................................................ 10

High-pitched sounds 2 ............................................................ 11
Stages doesn’t move - no (odd) noises .................................. 11
Stage can only be moved using external joystick ................... 12
VirStage1099E

About this document

This document describes the software that is used to
set up a ’virtual’ stage. It is assumed throughout the
documentation, that your analySIS® version includes
the module to control a microscope stage.
 Virtual Stage

analySIS® Stage-Control set-up

Extension of the If any stage software is available, an additional tab Stage will be
Preferences shown in the Preferences dialog box [F8]. This tab is for setting up
dialog box stage software as far as communication, mechanical parameters and
electrical parameters are concerned.
Use the [F8] key to
open the
Preferences dialog
box. If there is any
stage software
installed you will
find an additional
tab, the Stage tab.

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 Virtual Stage

Stage tab All stages that have been installed during the set-up procedure of
analySIS® are shown in the Selection list of the Stage tab. This field
contains one or more entries. Each entry refers to a specific stage.
Each line consists of three elements: a check box for deactivating the
stage, a name field for the stage and a status text which indicates the
status of the stage driver.
An example for the
appearance of the
Stage tab offering
four drivers:
Dummy Stage
LSTEP3
Olympus AX70
VirtualStage1

Description of the The above dialog box shows that the stage-control software has been
Stage tab shown installed, eg, for the LSTEP3 stage driver via the software setup.
above When the software was started, this driver however could not be used
because, eg, the stage driver was turned off, the stage driver was not
hooked up, or the interface has been incorrectly set.

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 Virtual Stage

Show all After selecting the Show all check box all available stage drivers will
be shown in the Selection list. To activate a driver simply select the
check box beside its entry.
After selecting the
Show all check box
all available stage
drivers are listed in
the Selection list.

Warning Please note that activating a driver affects the starting-up of

analySIS®. All drivers will be automatically loaded at starting-up of
the program, if the corresponding stage control devices are
recognized. After loading a driver, the user will be requested to
initiate (for those stage drivers for which this is necessary). If stage
driver devices are not recognized for drivers that have been
activated, starting-up of analySIS® will be delayed - due to the fact
that the software repeatedly tries to communicate with the stage
driver device. The software will only start the program once this
sequence is complete.

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 Virtual Stage

Configuration of an active stage

How to ... How to configure an activated stage using the Properties dialog box

1) Use the Preferences... command (in the Special menu).

2) Activate the Stage tab.
3) Select the Show all check box to make all possible stage drivers
available.
4) Select the driver desired from the Selection list.
5) Select the check box of the desired driver to activate the stage.
→ The Properties... button will become available.
6) Click on the Properties... button to open the dialog box shown below.
→ This dialog box contains one or two tab entries. If communication
is unsuccessful, this tab will be suggested for communication
purposes.
You can configure
each activated tab
using its own
Properties dialog
box.

Communication Select the protocol for communication between stage driver and stage
between stage driver device from the dialog box lists. The individual fields are
driver and explained as follows:
controller
From the list... you choose...
Port the serial interface
Baud the communication speed
Data bits number of data bits
Stop bits number of stop bits
Parity one or no parity bit

OK If you exit the dialog box via OK and the Check serial connection on
close check box has been selected (at the same time), then
communication with the device will be attempted. If communication
can take place, then the status text that follows the name of the driver
will be changed from 'Driver not loaded' to 'Driver not initialized.
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 Virtual Stage

Setting up individual axes

Use the the Properties for ... dialog box to specify the individual axes.

The x-axis has been

selected in the
dialog box shown as
example. Then, all
settings of the Axis
properties group
refer to the x-axis.

Axis This dialog box consists of the Axis list and a group of control
elements which describe the axis selected in the list.
Axis properties The settings of the Axis properties group apply to the selected axis.
Enabled The Enabled check box determines whether the axis is to traverse. If
you do not select the check box, the axis will be switched off.
Limit switches The Limit switches check box determines whether the maximum
traversing range of the stage is to take place via built-in limit switches
or via user input. If you select this check box, it is expected that there
are limit switches.
Type The Type field specifies the type of axis involved (Translation,
Rotation)
Leading pitch The Leading pitch field specifies the translation from motor rotation
to the stage movement. A leading pitch of 1 mm corresponds to 1
mm stage movement for a complete motor rotation.
Speed The Speed field refers to the maximum speed of movement desired.
This is entered as a percentage of the maximum speed of the
respective stage control device. Not all devices support variable
speeds. In this case, traversing will be at that stage's only available
speed. Most devices only support a limited number of speeds. In this
case, the speed that most closely corresponds to the percentage
selected will be employed.

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 Virtual Stage

Setting up a virtual stage

Definition A virtual stage is a stage whose individual axes are driven by See also
different physical devices. Each of the physical stages listed in the list The Stage tab 3
of available stage drivers can provide axes for a virtual stage. The
proper functioning of a virtual stage requires that each of the
component stages function properly.
The Selection list
offers two stage
drivers. Click on the
New button to
create a new
’virtual’ stage driver
based on these
physically available
drivers.

Creating a The dialog box displayed above shows two stage drivers available for
virtual stage a physical stage. Clicking on the New button will add another stage
to the available list. This stage is always a virtual stage.
Properties of a The virtual stage driver will be named automatically. The first virtual
virtual stage stage is called 'VirtualStage1'; the n-th called 'VirtualStageN'. If a
virtual stage is selected, you can assign axes of physically available
control devices to that virtual stage via the Properties dialog box. It
is thus possible to have the X-,Y-axes controlled by one device, and
the Z-axis by another.

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 Virtual Stage

The stage drivers

LSTEP3 and
Olympus AX70 are
combined to the
new virtual stage
VirtualStage2.

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 Virtual Stage

Axis assignment for virtual stages

Requirement for Axes of a virtual stage can only be defined if the required physical
a proper axis stages have already been recognized. It is only after the software has
assignment recognized the component physical stages that it (the software) can
determine how many and which axes a stage provides. Buttons for
stage-driver selection remain inactive for stage drivers that have not
been recognized.

Available stages All stages that have selectable axes are listed in the Available stages See also
list. The Available stages list displays all physically available stage The Stage tab 3
drivers that have been selected.
Select X The control elements such as the Select X button always refer to the
Select Y selected list entry (in blue). Assigning a virtual axis thus requires
Select Z 1) the selection of the stage driver in the Available stages list and
then
2) clicking on the Select X button - which assigns the axis to the
virtual stage.
Virtual stage The axis assignment will immediately be shown in the Virtual stage
list: The name of the stage driver is appended to the axis name. The
entries in this list consist of two chains of symbols per axis. The axis
involved is indicated to the left. Spaced to the right, its status
information is given.

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 Virtual Stage

Status text What it means

Unused axis The corresponding axis of the virtual stage has not
yet been assigned to a physical axis.
Driver not loaded The axis has been assigned. The driver could not
be activated, however - eg, because the device
was not switched on.
Driver not initialized The axis has been assigned. The driver was
loaded successfully. Definition of the range limits
has to this point not followed, however.
<not status text> The axis has been assigned. The driver was
successfully loaded. Definition of the range limits
has taken place. The stage axis is fully ready for
operation.

Dealing with stage installation errors

High-pitched sounds 1
Description of If you hear high-pitched sounds when you turn on the motor stage,
the error and the stage does not move, this indicates massive stepping errors
of one or more of the motors.
Check list Please check the following:
To be checked Yes/No? Proper response
Has the device for No Remove the transport
ensuring safe transport safety device.
been removed from the
stage?
Does the stage bump into Yes Different position - adjust
nearby parts of other limit switches.
devices, or into the
microscope stand?
Is movement restricted by No Move the stage upwards
a transmitted light sensor? using coarse motion.
Can the cables to the No Re-position the cables.
motors move easily? Check distance to control
unit.
Do lead screws operate No Contact stage
smoothly? manufacturer.

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High-pitched sounds 2
Description of If you hear high-pitched sounds when you turn on the motor stage,
the error and the stage does move, this indicates massive stepping errors of
one or more of the motors.
Check list Please check the following
To be checked Yes/No? Proper response
Does the stage bump into Yes
nearby parts of other
devices, or into the
microscope stand while in
motion?
Are cables being pulled Yes
into too tight?
Do lead screws operate No
smoothly?
Is the inert mass of the possibly
stage great? - ie, does it
have high end speeds and
short acceleration times.
Is the stage's mass high?
(large stage)?
Is the end point of the No
stage recognized - ie, are
the limit switch and slide
correctly adjusted?
Stages doesn’t move - no (odd) noises
To be checked Yes/No?
stage control turned off Yes
stage control turned on Yes
stage control turned on; Yes
cables hooked up properly
Virtual Stage
Different position - adjust
limit switch.
Re-position cables. Check
distance to control unit.
Contact stage
manufacturer.
Reduce stage speed in See also
software. Speed 6
Check position of the limit
switch and slide - adjust if
necessary.
Proper response
Turn it on
Check whether motor
cables are properly hooked
up.
Check whether resistance
is greater when both
motors are turned
manually, than when the
device is off. If not, either
the control device or both
cables are defective.
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 Virtual Stage

Stage can only be moved using external joystick

To be checked Yes/No? Proper response

Are you using the original No Replace the current cable
cable provided by the with the original. Warning:
manufacturer? stage manufacturers often
use special cables for
serial communication.
- eg: AX70, MC2000
Are you using the original Yes Check whether the See also
cable provided by the interface setting of the Configuration of an active
manufacturer? control device corresponds stage 5
to the settings in the stage
software.
Are you using the original Yes Check whether the cable is
cable provided by the properly plugged in.
manufacturer? Warning: some control
devices have more than
one interface for
communication. Only one
is usually active, however.

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