Actuators Ball Screw Actuators Belt Slides Gantry Systems Harmonic Linear Drive Catalogs/Literature Software Accessories Application Videos

Animatics’ SMI software provides an easy-to-use Microsoft Windows-compatible interface to your Animatics SmartMotor™. Using SMI, you can define multi-axis motion control for 1 to 100 SmartMotors. SMI includes a terminal program, program editor, and source level debugger. Standard SMI features include a Tools menu to set PID tuning parameters and plot the step response, motor info and dynamic status tracking, and online help and documentation. The latest release of SMI can open multiple windows for program editing, instantly address multiple motors, and upload programs from motors. Simply write and download your application to the configured SmartMotor and reboot the motor to start your application working.
Download SMI at no cost from the Animatics website (www.animatics.com) or from the product CD-ROM, and use the installation wizard to install SMI, SMIEngine™, and Coordinated Motion.
The SMIEngine is a component library that uses the Component Object Model (COM) to define functions that perform the following tasks:

• Configuring and communicating with Animatics SmartMotors
• Compiling/Downloading/Uploading/Debugging compiled user programs (“.smx” files)
• Controlling the motors using Coordinated Motion (Contouring or Host Mode)
• Creating circular and linear path coordinates used for Coordinated Motion

Polling Features to Monitor Functions
The Animatics SmartMotor Interface has special user-defined polling features to help you monitor important functions conveniently. Monitor different status bits, variables, and I/O from any motor in a chain, even during application execution.

Features in SMI
The latest release of SMI leverages the strengths of the original SMI application with many advanced features. It adds extensive user interface improvements, functional enhancements, and new utilities that help you develop, test, run, and deploy your
Animatics SmartMotor applications.

• SmartMotor Playground. Would you like to be able to see and modify your motion control settings on-the-fly? With SMI , you can. Connect your SmartMotor to your computer, start SMI , and the SmartMotor Plaground window opens. SMI automatically detects connected motors and gathers data in the Motor Info tab. In the SMI Playground, you can modify Torque, Velocity, and Position settings in real-time.
  Using numerical values for input, or the interactive interface with drag and drop, sliders, and radio buttons, you can see the results immediately.

• Projects Feature. Do you need to put an SMI project on hold? You can save your communications, configuration, and preferences settings with the new Project option. The Project menu option allows you to manage and save your workspace settings and applications configuration settings.

• New dockable windows. The Animatics’ newest release of SMI workspace now includes dockable windows that you can access from the toolbar. Simply double-click the title bar to toggle the window between floating and docked views.
  The Information view displays error and information messages and allows you to go directly to the message’s source location.
• The Serial Data Analyzer view displays data transfers between your computer and Animatics SmartMotor™. You can filter the data to display only the information you want; for example, choose to display transmitted data, received data, or echoed data.
  The Configuration view displays the current communication and motor configuration in a hierarchy structure that you can save as a Project for reuse.
  The Terminal view creates a tabbed page for each port so you can communicate with individual or multiple SmartMotors.
  
• Additional views have been added to help you collect data and monitor SmartMotor operation. The Chart View is a collection of user-defined motor parameters (Chart Items) that you can select to monitor during motor operation in a dynamic graphical display.

These are just a few of the new features available in the latest release of SMI . Other enhancements include:

• Syntax Highlighting - Uses different colors for different code elements, such as keywords or comments
• Status bar information - Displays the current cursor position and the SmartMotor language version of the active file in the status bar
• Context Menu - Right mouseclick displays a menu of frequently-used commands
  

With SMI, you get a robust software application specifically designed to manage your SmartMotor motion control requirements.

Top

Animatics Smart Select Interface is a Point-And-Click Approach to programming Animatics SmartMotors.
This interface is a configuration tool allowing the user to program the motor for pre-set motion profiles such as:

• Absolute Position Moves
• Relative Position Moves
• Constant Velocity Move
• Reduce Torque Limited Velocity Moves
  
• Open Loop Torque Mode
  
• Dynamic Braking

In this simple approach, the user can predefine all moves and then simply connect the I/O to a PLC and allow the PLC to trigger motion as needed.

I/O is assigned as follows:

The user can set scale factors and choose units in

• inches
• millimeters
• microns
• degrees
• revolutions

There are several built-in Home routine methods as well as manual homing. A graphical representation aids the user in Home Method Selection

• On-line diagnostics section includes:
• Manual Jogging
• Direct Terminal Window
• I/O Status
• Direct Drive and Control Command Buttons

Tuning Made Simple: with the “Easy Tune Slider”
Simple slide-action Servo tuning to take the hassle out of guesswork.
All data is saved to both the motor and hard drive. Multiple “axis Data Files” can be saved, edited and recalled for later transfer to other motors.

Top

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SMNC™, Animatics’ G-Code based servo motion control software, uses numeric control to deliver multi-axis contouring for your Animatics SmartMotor™ applications. SMNC provides a set of features that are comparable to any CNC system, including a user interface that is similar in appearance to a traditional CNC system. Review the table in this section to see the G and M Codes that are supported by SMNC software.

SMNC standard features include:

• Linear and circular motion control of multiple axes
• Configures SmartMotors across multiple serial ports
• Converts CAD-DXF files into motion control G and M Codes
• Duplication of axis motion for gantry systems
• Smooth control of acceleration and deceleration for sensitive curvilinear motion
• Large numerical display
• 6 axis control, includes axes mimic and spindle
• RS232 and RS485 communication
• User-definable M-Codes for digital output
• Displays source code during execution
• Writes and edits any G-Code program in the source view, with added support for:
  • 3D linear movements
  • CW and CCW Circular movements
  • CW and CCW Helical Movements
  • Wait, Pause, definable M-Codes, Spindle Commands and more
• Defines up to 30 M-Code commands and views their status during execution
• Imports graphic files with DXF format and converts them to G-Code programs
• Exports G-Code programs to Coordinated Motion Files
• Checks and runs a G-Code program or Coordinated Motion file
• Checks features during G-Code program execution:
  • Feed Hold
  • Single step
  • Reset (End)
  • Emergency stop
• Jogs the device using the Jog Buttons, and moves it to any location using the Go to utility on the Panel view
• Controls the Spindle using related buttons on the Panel View. The Spindle can be a SmartMotor or any other type of motor controlled by M-Codes and digital outputs
• Sets any connected SmartMotor in Coordinated Motion Mode, Spindle Mode, Mimic Mode, Rotary/Vector Mode, or Uncoordinated Mode

New features:

• Define up to 30 Inputs to perform SMNC functions, such as Start, Reset, and Feed Hold, or as interlocks
• Define up to 10 different tools. The current tool can be changed in a G-Code program.
• Password protection to control user access for many features
• Define up to 6 different coordinate systems (G56-G59)
• Customizable homing methods

G and M codes supported by SMNC

Top

Animatics’ JenCNC is a full-featured 3D CNC software package designed exclusively to run Animatics SmartMotors.

JenCNC combines features of both a CAD/CAM and a motion-control software package into a unique graphical user interface for controlling two to four SmartMotors™ in true 3D coordinated motion. With real time 2D and 3D plotting to the screen, DXF-to-G-Code conversion, and conversational G-Code building, your CNC machine will be up and running in no time. JenCNC utilizes a simple serial interface to communicate and control SmartMotors. Using custom algorithms, motion is optimized for smooth control and continuous operation for all your machining needs. Due to its ability to run in a constant vector velocity, regardless of changes in direction, the software is ideal where dispensing or flow rate of glue or adhesives is critical to the process.
JenCNC is built on many years of in-field testing and customer feedback in real-world applications, including:

• Routers (gantry machining of aluminum, foam, vinyl, and wood)
• Hot-wire EPS foam cutting
• Plasma (oxy-fuel) cutting with torch height control
• Machining forms for vacuum-form molding of plastics
• Milling machine retrofits
• Sign making
• Engraving
• CNC drilling
• Gasket cutting
• Adhesive applicators

We strive to continuously improve its capabilities according to the needs and demands of our customers in order to provide the best possible solution for any need that may arise. Custom features can be added at a competitive rate. Please contact Animatics at 408.748.8721 for more information.

DXF to G-code converter:

JenCNC’s built-in DXF-to-G-Code converter allows you to open and view DXF files. Once in view, you can select entities in the order you wish to have the motors move. The converter includes a set-up for the Z-Axis. If you left click from one entity to the next, the Z-Axis motion G-Code is automatically generated.

All entities connected end-point to end-point will produce a continuous path until the need of the selection is reached. If the interpreter comes to a “Y” in the path, it will choose the path of least resistance (angular displacement).

There is an additional “Join” tolerance set-up. You can set the distance tolerance from one entity to the next in case the entities are not actually connected at their end-points.

If within that tolerance, the interpreter assumes connection and continues the path through the entities as one continuous motion. This can be very useful if the original DXF file was created freehand, as part of an artist rendering where O-Snaps may not have been used.

JenCNC features

• Upon start-up, JenCNC automatically detects motors and does a system update if any Animatics SmartMotor™ was changed out. This allows you to place the shortcut in the start-up directory to allow automatic restart on loss of power
• A full machine settings window allows for customization to physical dimensions of the machining space
• Machine tolerance levels can be set to ensure that no
  product damage occurs in the event of motor drop-out or path divergence
• Slow-down proportional-to-angle can be tailored to minimize machining time while providing the best surface finish through sharp turns
• Customizable G-Codes for user-defined tooling positions
• Customizable M-Codes for I/O control and SmartMotor
  commands or subroutine calls
• Ability to call G-Code subroutines
• Ability to repeat a section of G-code any number of times
• Z-Axis (tool length) offsets
• SAE or metric scaling
  
• On-screen and keyboard real-time jogging
• Auto-detection of Windows-compatible joystick for jog control
  
• Menu-selectable Inputs set-up window
• Wait-on-input definable M-Codes
• Customizable outputs assignable to user-definable M-Codes
• CMM probing for setting tool offset
• Terminal screen diagnostics page for testing and troubleshooting
• User-selectable homing routines with configurable offsets
• Advanced settings screen includes events set-up for E-Stop conditions

JenCNC G-Codes Implementation
G-Codes not listed below are ignored by the interpreter.

JenCNC G-Codes:
G00 Rapid Motion
G01 Linear Motion
G02 Clockwise Circular Arc
G03 Counterclockwise Circular Arc
G04 Dwell
G10 Coordinate System Reset
G12 Rewind the Rotary Axis
G17 X-Y Plane Selection
(This is the normal plane of operation)
G18 Z-X Plane Selection
G19 Y-Z Plane Selection
G20 and G70 Inch Mode
G21 and G71 Metric Mode
G28 Go to Tooling Position
G37 Probing
G41 Left side Tool Compensation
G42 Right side Tool Compensation
G43 Tool Length Compensation
G53 - G59, G110.- G120 Coordinate offsets
G76 Repeat a section of the program
G80 Clear any G8x modal mode
G81, G82, G83, G85, G86 Canned Drill cycle Routines
G90 Absolute Mode
G91 Relative Mode
G92 Set Coordinate System Offset

JenCNC M-Codes:
M01 Program Pause
M02 End Program (See M30 below)
M03, M04 Turns on User Defined Input
M05 turns off M03 selected Output
M06 Tool Change
M08 User Defined
M09 Turns M08 OFF
M14 Turn ON any single or multiple outputs
M15 Turn OFF any single or multiple outputs
M20 Send Torch to the Home Value position
M21 Continuous Path
M210 Set Maximum Angle Amount
M22 Continuous Path Off
M23 Slow at Vertex On
M24 Slow at Vertex Off
M25 Px.xxx Sets the pierce delay time with the P Word.
M30 & M02 Program End and Reset
M41, M42, M43 Turns on selected output as soon as motion starts
M45, M46, M47 Turns off selected output(s) immediately
M50 - M57 Waiting for Inputs from the real world
M60 - M79 Outputs to the real world
M80 - M85 User Programmable SmartMotor Command String Calls
M86 - M91 User Programmable Sound File Player Functions
M95 Dwell (exactly the same as a G04)
M98 Go To a Subroutine
M99 Return from a Subroutine

Top

SMIEngine™

Animatics’ SMIEngine™ is a source code module library created as a software tool for the Windows Operating System environment. It comes free with the installation of the SMI software.
The installation includes source code examples written in:
Borland C++, Microsoft C++, Visual C, VB and VBA (Excel).

SMIEngine is based on the Windows Component Object Model (COM) and works with:

• Microsoft C++
• Borland C++
• Microsoft Visual Basic (VB)
• VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)
• MS.Net environment
• Borland Delphi
• Pascal
• Python
• LabView (when installed as an Active-X component)

Note about Windows Vista: With the release of Microsoft Vista, the name of the dll file changes from SMEengine.dll to IntegMotorInterface.dll. Other than the name change, all internal definitions have remained the same and are fully backwards compatible to existing applications with no need to change the body of the source code.

Using SMIEngine, you can perform the following tasks:

• Configure PC serial ports
• Address Animatics SmartMotors™ through selected serial ports
• Send commands to the motors and receive motor responses that allow you to:
  • Control and change modes of operation
  • Update or change motion parameters and variables
  • Gather real-time data from motors for online diagnostics
  • Control the motors using Coordinated Motion (Contouring or Host Mode)
  • Create circular and linear path coordinates used for Coordinated Motion
• Work with downloadable SmartMotor code to:
  • Scan user program source files (.sms) for errors
  • Create an executable SmartMotor compiled user program file (.smx)
  • Download and upload compiled user programs to and from motors
  • Create a list of errors in a user program and provide an interface for navigating through errors

  
  

Optimizing the SMIEngine for Multi-Axis coordinated Motion Control:

Multiple Instances of the SMIEngine can be run at the same time for each communications port that is open. In doing so, the application can maximize usage of communications bandwidth to each motor or each set of motors. Highly effective and efficient applications can be created to control CNC machines via a PC.

Example Application using SMI Engine:

The Animatics JenCNC software package was created in Borland C++ using the SMIEngine exclusively to handle all Motor communications. The result was a stable and proven CNC platform for controlling up to 4 axis machines via a standard RS-232 serial port.

Top