Features

• Three Plug-in Modules
• Dual-Channel Piezoelectric Controller
• Dual-Channel Stepper Motor Controller
• NanoTrak Auto-Alignment Controller
• Room for 6 Modules per 4U Chassis
• USB Plug-and-Play
• Multiple Racks Controlled by a Single Host PC
• Full Software Control Suite Included
• Inutitive Software Graphical Control Panels
• Extensive ActiveX® Programming Interfaces
• Fully Software Integrated with Other apt™ Family Controllers
  (Integrated Systems Development)

The apt™ MMR601(602) 19" Rack System is a multi-channel multi function modular architecture designed specifically for high axis count motion control applications. This new system is a sophisticated, self-contained, extendable-architechure, precision motion control platform. As a modular system it is possible to load it with the exact number and mix of required control modules covering motor drives (MST), piezo drives (MPZ) and the powerful Thorlabs NanoTrak™ autoalignment technology (MNA). It deploys the same advanced high speed digital signal processing (DSP) technology and low noise analog circuitry pioneered in the equivalent apt™ bench top controllers (see Related Items tab).

The modular rack is available with a cover (MMR602) for benchtop use, or without a cover (MMR601) for mounting in a standard 19" cabinet, and provides a highly functional 12 channel platform within the 'footprint' of a 4U high, 19" wide enclosure.

USB connectivity provides easy plug and play PC operation. Coupling this with the very user friendly apt™ software allows the user to very quickly get up and running with reasonably complex move sequences in a short period of time. For example, all relevant operating parameters are set automatically for Thorlabs stage and actuator products. Advanced custom motion control applications and sequences are also possible using the extensive ActiveX® programming environment described in more detail on the Software and Video Tutorials tabs.

As a member of the apt™ family of motion controllers and by virtue of the highly flexible apt™ system software is is perfectly feasible to combine operation of this rack system with any of the apt™ bench top controllers and control everything from the same unified software interface - allowing a common learning curve for both bench top and rack based solutions.

Click below to download a PDF explaining the benefits and features to system integrators of using the apt^TM modular rack system in multi-axis motion control applications:-

The APT (Advanced Positioning Technology) family covers a wide range of motion controller products ranging from small low powered single channel optomechanical motor drivers (the 'Cube' drivers) to high power multi-channel modular 19" rack nanopositioning systems (the APT Rack System).

All controllers in the APT family share a common software platform, the APT System Software. The software CD supplied with all controllers contains an installation of this system software, together with a wealth of support information in the form of handbooks, help files, tutorial videos, FAQs and other relevant information on using and programming these Thorlabs products.

By providing this common software platform, Thorlabs has ensured that users can easily mix and match any of the APT controllers in a single application while only having to learn one single set of software tools. In this way it is perfectly feasible to combine any of the controllers from the low powered single axis to the high powered multi-axis systems and control all from a single PC based unified software interface.

The APT System Software allows two methods of usage - graphical user interface utilities (supplied) for direct interaction and control of the controllers out of the box, and a set of programming interfaces that allow custom integrated positioning and alignment solutions to be easily progammed in the development language of choice.

Detailed information on both usage modes is provided on the CD.

Also of particular interest is the inclusion on the software CD of a range of software video tutorials (see the Video Tutorials tab). These videos illustrate some of the basics of using the APT System Software from both a non-programming and a programming point of view. There are videos that illustrate usage of the supplied APT utilities that allow immediate control of the APT controllers out of the box. There are also a number of videos that explain the basics of programming custom software applications using Visual Basic, LabView and Visual C++. 

Click here to go direct to the Thorlabs Download Area to access the full APT software CD. Experiment with the software using the simulator mode - refer to the Tutorial Videos for the APTConfig utility to learn how to select simulator mode.

These videos illustrate some of the basics of using the APT System Software from both a non-programming and a programming point of view. There are videos that illustrate usage of the supplied APT utilities that allow immediate control of the APT controllers out of the box. There are also a number of videos that explain the basics of programming custom software applications using Visual Basic, LabView and Visual C++. Watch the videos now to see what we mean.

Click here to view the video tutorial

To further assist programmers, a guide to programming the APT software in LabView is also available.

Click here to view the LabView guide