Command Syntax; Command Execution Time - Newport SMC100CC User Manual

SMC100CC & SMC100PP
EDH0206En2042 – 04/16
6.3

Command Syntax

The SMC100CC/PP is a command driven controller. The general format of a command
is a two letter ASCII character preceded and followed by parameters specific to the
command:
Command format:
nn — Optional or required controller address.
AA — Command name.
xx
— Optional or required value or "?" to query current value.
Both, upper and lower case characters are accepted. Depending on the command, it can
have an optional or required prefix (nn) for the controller address and/or a suffix (xx)
value or a "?".
Blank spaces
Blanks are allowed and ignored in any position, including inside a numerical value. The
following two commands are equivalent, but the first example might be confusing and
uses more memory:
2P A1.43 6
2PA1.436
Decimal separator
A dot (".") is used as decimal separator for all numerical values.
Command terminator
Commands are executed as the command terminator C
ASCII 13 and ASCII 10) is received. The controller will analyze the received string. If
the command is valid and its parameters are in the specified range, it will be executed.
Otherwise it will memorize an error.
After the execution of the command, all remaining characters in the input string, if any,
will be ignored. In particular, it is not possible to concatenate several commands on a
single string from the PC to the SMC100.
Each command will handle properly the memorization of related errors that can be
accessed with the TE command. Please refer to the command set in section 6.5 for
details.
6.4

Command Execution Time

The SMC100CC/PP controller interprets commands continuously as received. The
typical execution time for a "tell position command" (nTP?) is about 10 ms for the first
controller (controller address number 1) and about 16 ms for the other controllers. Here,
command execution time means the time from sending the command until receive of the
answer.
It is important to note that a move command, that may lasts for several seconds, will not
suspend the controller from further command execution. So for an efficient process flow
with many move commands it is recommended to use the PT command (get time for a
relative move), and to query the controller status (TS command) or the current position
(TP command) before any further motion command is sent. Alternative, the dedicated
outputs "In Motion" and "Not Referenced" can be used for similar purposes. These will
provide an even more timely accurate information of the controller state.
Single-Axis Motion Controller/Driver for DC or Stepper Motor
AA
nn xx
18
L (carriage-return line-feed,
R F