Table of Contents
An operator interacts with the accelerator control system by using a workstation. There may be one or more workstations on the system. A workstation consists of a computer, keyboard, mouse, and perhaps an assignable meter/knob system. The workstation may also be connected to CAMAC or other types of data acquisition. Any workstation may access any parameter in the system and change the parameter if it has write permission.
The control system is made up of devices. Examples of devices are Faraday cups, charging voltage supplies, bending magnets, and electrostatic quads.
A device is identified by what is called the Label. It is 8 characters long. By convention the label is usually (not always) made of three fields.
The first field is the device name and is 3 characters long. The device name is to be right padded with spaces if less than 3 characters are needed.
Examples:
- FC
Faraday Cup
- EQ
Electrostatic Quad
- FOC
Focus Power Supply
- TPS
Terminal Potential Stabilizer
The second field describes a region on the beamline.
Examples:
- S1
First ion source
- 01
Preacceleration beamline
- TN
Tank entrance area (usually refers to items in the tank)
- TX
Tank exit area (usually refers to items in the tank)
The third field is a serial number. It describes an occurance of a device in a region on the beamline.
A complete Label looks like this:
- FC 01-1
First Faraday cup on the preacceleration beamline
- FC 01-2
Second Faraday cup on the preacceleration beamline
- BM 01-1
First preacceleration beamline magnet
- EQ TX-1
Post acceleration electrostatic quad (inside tank at exit end)
There are exceptions to this naming convention. For example, the label "SETUP" has as its parameters all of the particle related information such as total machine energy, species, charge state, etc.
A device is made up of a set of parameters. Parameters are considered single control and readback points. These parameters are identified by what is called a tag name. A tag name is a combination of the device label and a RefName.
Example RefNames (typical of a Faraday cup):
- PosSC
Position Status Control
- PosSR
Position Status Read
- CR
Cup Current Read
The complete tags for the parameters associated with first preacceleration Faraday cup are:
- FC 01-1 PosSC
Position Status Control
- FC 01-1 PosSR
Position Status Read
- FC 01-1 CR
Cup current read
The AccelNET services must be started by the 'csadmin' user. The following instructions assume you have logged in as the 'csadmin' user. All clicks will be a single click unless otherwise noted.
Note
Avoid starting the services up multiple times.
Checks are in place to help prevent this, but are not fool-proof. If you are unsure whether the services are running or not, go through the stopping procedures before starting.
Launch the AccelNET menu if it is not currently open by double-clicking the "AccelNET" icon on the desktop.
Click the menu item labeled "AccelNET".
Click the sub-menu item labeled "Start Services".
A window will appear asking you if you want to clear the database. Select 'Yes' or 'No.' Clearing the Database while starting services will remove the runtime database from memory and reload it from disk. This can be useful when changes have been made to the on-disk database. It is safe to clear the database when no changes have occured.
If everything worked, a window will appear stating that the services have been started. Otherwise, a window will appear with an error message stating the problem.
If you are not logged in as csadmin, type 'su - csadmin' and enter csadmin's password.
To verify the current prompt is owned by csadmin, use the 'whoami' command.
Enter the command 'dbstart' to start the database manager.
You will be asked if you want to clear the database. Answer the question with 'y' or 'n'. Clearing the Database while starting services will remove the runtime database from memory and reload it from disk. This can be useful when changes have been made to the on-disk database. It is safe to clear the database when no changes have occured.
Enter the command 'startio' to start the AccelNET tasks.
If everything worked, no error messages will be displayed and the command prompt should be visible again.
Launch the AccelNET menu if it is not currently open by double-clicking the "AccelNET" icon on the desktop.
Click the menu item labeled "AccelNET".
Click the sub-menu item labeled "Stop Services".
A window will appear asking you if you really want to stop the services. Select 'Yes' or 'No'.
If everything worked, a window will appear stating that the services have been stopped. Otherwise, a window will appear with an error message stating the problem.
If you are not logged in as csadmin, type 'su - csadmin' and enter csadmin's password. To verify the current prompt is owned by csadmin, use the 'whoami' command.
Enter the command 'cskill' to stop all services.
You will be asked if you want to kill the database server. Answer the question with 'y'.
If everything worked, no error messages will be displayed and the command prompt should be visible again.
All of the tools listed here may be started from the AccelNET menu.
- Xcrt
The page display program. See the section titled "Introduction to Xcrt" for more information.
- gvm
Creates a small window containing the GVM readback in a large font size. It provides a method for placing the terminal voltage readback permanently on the screen.
- bpm
The BPM assignment program.
- Xerrlog
An error logging program that displays messages sent from other parts of AccelNET such as the interlock manager. AccelNET may be configured (via the database) to provide error messages for many types of events.
- Print Params
Prints out a list of the machine parameters. Clicking the menu entry invokes a submenu containing the choices of what to log. The submenu contains ion source and target beamline pairs. For example, clicking on an entry named "log S1-->05" would cause all of the parameters from source 1 to beamline 05 to be logged.
The graphical user interface for AccelNET is made up of two programs: crt and ts. The operator interacts with crt while ts runs in the background handling events. From this point on, these two programs will be referred to as Xcrt.
Launch the AccelNET menu if it is not currently open by double-clicking the "AccelNET" icon on the desktop.
Click the menu item labeled "AccelNET".
Click the sub-menu item labeled "Control Pages".
Click the sub-menu item labeled with the page you wish to display.
A window should appear showing you the page you selected.
The following are commonly implemented commands to open Xcrt.
- necclients crt
Start a predefined set of windows (visual display, table of contents, and help page)
- necclients one_crt
Start a single predefined window (visual display)
The Xcrt display window is divided into three sub windows. The windows are called: the mouse window, the keyboard window, and the page window.
The mouse window consists of two display lines. It is used to show the readback and control parameters currently assigned to the mouse. In general, the upper line is the readback, lower is the control.
Selected parameters occur in pairs (readback and control point).
For example, when the charging power supply voltage control is selected, the selected readback is the positive power supply voltage readback.
The association between control points and readback points is determined when the page is constructed and may vary between pages.
A parameter is selected by placing the cursor on the numeric value or icon of the desired parameter and pressing the select button on the mouse.
There may be more than one parameter set located under a field. An alphanumeric field has a possible two parameter sets. An icon field has a possible four parameter sets. Clicking on the selected parameter multiple times cycles through the sets.
Note that some parameter sets may contain just a readback value, some may have just a control value, some may have both, and some may have both fields set to the same parameter.
The keyboard window consists of two display lines. The upper line is used to type commands. The lower line is for displaying error messages. Error messages are normally displayed in red. Pressing enter (<cr>) clears the error message.
The page window displays the currently selected page.
The display is organized as a set of pages. The pages are organized by machine region. A separate page is provided for each injector, a page for the low energy beamline, etc. The pages are arranged to provide overlap between machine regions (the same parameter may appear on a number of pages). For example, the injector pages have some of the low energy beamline components on them. This is done to minimize the number of page changes required when tuning beam.
Information on the pages is provided in two manners.
- Alphanumeric
Parameter name, value and units
- Icon
Picture of a device such as a Faraday cup where the color represents the status
Alphanumeric pages
- Green
Value is within database defined limits.
- Red
Value is outside of database defined limits.
- Violet
Indicates a status error. A CAMAC error such as a missing module. A DUTEC error such as a communication problem or lack of power.
Icons
- Dark Blue
Device is inactive (power off).
- Green
Device is active (power on).
- Yellow
Various meanings depending upon the icon.
- Faraday Cup
Cup is inserted into the beam path
- Double Slit
Slit is in motion.
- TPS Corona Probe
Probe is moving.
- GVM and icons inside of tank
Indicates TPS operating mode, gvm icon yellow means gvm mode.
- Red
Indicates an error condition. Example: control system has told Faraday cup to go out and cup status read indicates cup is in
The mouse may be placed in three different operating modes: inc/dec, rollerball, and x/y. The mice have three buttons that are used in different ways depending on the mode selected. The current mouse operating mode is selected via keyboard command. The operating mode is indicated by the prompt at the beginning of the command line, located in the keyboard window.
The mouse operating mode is displayed by the command line prompt as follows:
- id/f>
Indicates that the mouse is in fast inc/dec mode.
- id/s>
Indicates that the mouse is in slow inc/dec mode.
- rl/f>
Indicates that the mouse is in fast rollerball mode.
- rl/s>
Indicates that the mouse is in slow rollerball mode.
- xy/f>
Indicates that the mouse is in fast x/y mode.
- xy/s>
Indicates that the mouse is in slow x/y mode.
Mouse buttons operate in the following manner:
A parameter is selected with one of the buttons while the other two are used to increase and decrease the selected parameters value.
- Left
Select a parameter
- Middle
Decrease the selected parameter value
- Right
Increase the selected parameter value
A parameter is assigned to the X axis of the mouse. One button is used to assign parameters. The mouse is "armed" by pressing the other button. While armed, rolling in the X axis changes the parameter value.
- Left
Arm selected parameter while pressed. Decrease/Increase selected parameter value by moving along the X axis.
- Middle
Select a parameter
- Right
Note used
A parameter can be assigned to either of the mouse axes. Two of the buttons serve to assign parameters. The mouse is "armed" by pressing the remaining button. While armed, rolling around changes the parameter values.
- Left
Arm selected parameters while pressed. Decrease/Increase selected parameter values by moving along the X and Y axes.
- Middle
Select the X axis parameter
- Right
Select the Y axis parameter
The commands "xy", "rl", "id", "ms" and "mf" are used to set the mouse operating mode. Please see the section on keyboard commands for more information on their use.
The following is a list of basic commands available through the keyboard. For a complete list of commands, refer to page 2 within Xcrt.
- pg n
Change to page 'n' in the window from which the command is entered.
- ch
Change the value of the presently assigned parameter. If the current mode is inc/dec, the syntax is "ch <value>". If the current mode is x/y the, syntax is "ch <Xvalue> <Yvalue>".
- sv
Save the value of the presently assigned parameter. If the current mode is x/y, both parameters are saved.
- rs
Restore the previously saved value of the presently assigned parameter. If the current mode is x/y, both parameters are restored.
- lmr
List readback limits of the presently assigned parameter. If the current mode is x/y, both parameters are listed.
- lmc
List control limits of the presently assigned parameter. If the current mode is x/y, both parameters are listed.
- ldc
List the contents of the presently assigned control data record. If the current mode is x/y, the command is ignored.
- ldr
List the contents of the presently assigned readback data record. If the current mode is x/y, the command is ignored.
- valc
List the current value of the presently assigned control parameter. If the current mode is x/y, the command is ignored.
- valr
List the current value of the presently assigned readback parameter. If the current mode is x/y, the command is ignored.
- id
Enter increment/decrement mode.
- rl
Enter rollerball mode.
- xy
Enter x/y mode.
- mf
Set the mouse fast. Affects the speed of parameter changes via the mouse.
- ms
Set the mouse slow. Affects the speed of parameter changes via the mouse.
- <cr>
(carriage return) Used to terminate a command. Typing a <cr> causes the command line to be displayed.
- <ff>
(form feed - ctrl-L) clear the command line.
- <del>
(delete) delete an entered character.
There may be several assignable meters in the system. Each meter module has a mantissa display (the meter), a liquid crystal display (LCD), two range select buttons, and an assign button. There is also an analog jack for each meter located on the rear of the meter chassis. The analog jack gives the value of the mantissa. The voltage range is 0-10v.
The current meter assignment is shown on a LCD located above the meter. The first line of the display shows the Label and RefName for the assigned parameter. The second line shows the parameter value and units. The third line shows the currently selected meter range.
The meter system is only accessable through the workstation it is connected to. The currently assigned readback parameter in the focused window is assigned to a meter when the assign button for that meter is pushed. If the mouse readback parameter is NULL, the meter is unassigned.
There are two meter range buttons. Pressing a button increases or decreases the meter range.
If both range buttons are pressed at the same time, the meter enters freeze mode. Freeze mode is indicated by the message "frz" on the 3rd line of the LCD. This mode is used with autoranging parameters such as the Faraday cup current reads. Pressing a button increases or decreases the meter range. Pressing both buttons at the same time when in freeze mode exits freeze mode.
Meter overrange is indicated by the word "overrange" on the LCD. No meter assignment is indicated by the LCD being blank.
Certain types of devices can not be assigned to the meters. These usually consist of digital (status/control) parameters. For example: Faraday cup position reads.
There may be several assignable knobs in the system. Each assignable knob module consists of a knob, a LCD, two range select buttons, a save button, a restore button, and an assign button.
The current knob assignment is shown on the LCD located above the knob. The first line of the display shows the Label and RefName for the assigned parameter. The second line shows the parameter value and units. The third line shows the current knob sensitivity setting.
The meter system is only accessable through the workstation it is connected to. The currently assigned control parameter in the focused window is assigned to a knob when the assign button for that meter is pushed. If the mouse control parameter is NULL, the knob is unassigned.
The knob sensitivity is given in turns to full scale (tfs). For example, if you are controlling a 15KV power supply and the sensitivity is set to 50 tfs, each complete turn of the knob will increase or decrease the voltage by 300V (15KV/50tfs = 300V). Pressing a range button increases or decreases the knob sensitivity.
The save and restore buttons work in exactly the same way as the keyboard "sv" and "rs" commands. Pressing the save button stores the current value of the parameter. Pressing the restore button recalls a previously saved value.
The accelerator commands have been arranged in a way that hopefully provides an organized and convenient method of starting up the machine. The intention is to start the machine up in stages or layers.
The best order for issuing commands, using S2 and 1B as examples, is:
If AccelNET is not already operating, follow the startup procedures elsewhere in the manual.
Select "Machine->Master Power->On" from the AccelNET menu. This turns on all of the machine basics like Faraday cup controllers, bending magnets, etc.
Select "Machine->Source 2->On" from the AccelNET menu. This command turns the ion source cooling, deck power, and bias supply on. It also closes the source Faraday cup.
Select "Machine->Source 2->Warm" from the AccelNET menu. This command presets some of the parameters to arbitrary values.
If a previously saved ion source setup is availible, click into a terminal window, change to the appropriate directory, and type: send S2sav This presets the preacceleration beamline and the ion source to the previously saved values.
If there is a source setup on the menu that you wish to use, then select it from the menu.
Select "Machine->Accelerator->Warm" from the AccelNET menu. This turns on the rotating shaft, blower, etc and presets the charging and TPS to some running values that won't spark if the chains are started.
If a previously saved machine setup is availible, click into a terminal window, change to the appropriate directory, and type: send MACHsav This sets the TPS and charging system to previously saved values.
If a previously target beamline setup is availible, click into a terminal window, change to the appropriate directory, and type: send ??sav (where the name of the appropriate beamline is substituted for "??") This sets the post acceleration components to previously saved values.
Open the gas stripper valve SLOWLY until the desired pressures are obtained on the tube entrance and exit vacuum gauges. Keep in mind that the presence of beam changes the vacuum reading.
Check the setting of the charging voltage and turn it down if necessary.
After the corona probe finishes moving into position, select "Machine->Accelerator->Run" from the AccelNET menu. This starts the charging chains.
Open the Faraday cups, increase the charging, etc to get the beam through the machine.
The sources usually require some warmup time, therefore you will probably need to start with a lower charging voltage than the final setting from the last run and increase the charging as the source warms up.
If the charging system is balanced correctly, the beam should go all the way to the target with minimal retuning. The parameters most in need of adjustment are the ion source parameters and the stripping gas. With a little practice, it is easy to return the beam to the target at the same energy previously run and with the same beam current.
The user should resist the temptation to immediately start retuning the machine and instead look for and carefully adjust those items that are the least well controlled by the computer such as gas, charging and ion source focus.
If a previously saved run is not being loaded, the ion species setup information should be entered on the machine setup page.