THORLABS K-Cube Piezo Controller User manual

KPZ101
Piezo Driver
APT User Guide
Original Instructions

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Contents
Chapter 1 Safety ............................................................................................. 4
1.1 Safety Information .................................................................................. 4
1.2 General Warnings .................................................................................. 4
Chapter 2 Overview and Setup ..................................................................... 5
2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 5
2.2 K-Cube Controller Hub ........................................................................... 6
2.3 APT PC Software Overview ................................................................... 7
2.3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 7
2.3.2 APTUser Utility ................................................................................................... 8
2.3.3 APT Config Utility ............................................................................................... 9
2.3.4 APT Server (ActiveX Controls) ......................................................................... 10
2.3.5 Software Upgrades ........................................................................................... 11
Chapter 3 Getting Started ............................................................................ 12
3.1 Install The Software. ............................................................................. 12
3.2 Mechanical Installation ......................................................................... 13
3.3 Electrical Installation ............................................................................. 14
3.4 Connect The Hardware ........................................................................ 18
3.5 Verifying Software Operation ............................................................... 19
Chapter 4 Standalone Operation ................................................................ 21
4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 21
4.2 Control Panel ....................................................................................... 22
4.3 Velocity Wheel Operation ..................................................................... 23
4.4 Settings Menu ...................................................................................... 24
Continued...

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K-Cube Piezo Driver
Chapter 5 Operation - Tutorial ................................................................... 35
5.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................35
5.2 Using the APT User Utility ....................................................................35
5.3 Introduction to Open and Closed Loop Operation ................................37
5.4 Open Loop Operation ...........................................................................39
5.5 Operation with Other members of the K-Cube Family ..........................42
5.6 Closed Loop Operation .........................................................................42
5.7 Adjusting the Piezo Position .................................................................50
5.8 Load Response ....................................................................................51
5.9 Creating a Simulated Configuration Using APT Config ........................52
Chapter 6 Software Reference .................................................................... 55
6.1 GUI Panel .............................................................................................55
6.2 Settings Panel ......................................................................................57
Appendices
Appendix A Connector Pinout Details ....................................................... 64
Appendix B Preventive Maintenance ......................................................... 65
Appendix C Specifications and Associated Products .............................. 66
Appendix D Piezo Control Method Summary ............................................ 68
Appendix E Piezo Operation - Background ............................................... 71
Appendix F Regulatory ................................................................................ 74
Appendix G Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts ............................................... 77

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Chapter 1 Safety
1.1 Safety Information
For the continuing safety of the operators of this equipment, and the protection of the
equipment itself, the operator should take note of the Warnings, Cautions and Notes
throughout this handbook and, where visible, on the product itself.
The following safety symbo ls may be u sed throughout the h andbook and on the
equipment itself.
1.2 General Warnings
Shock Warning
Given when there is a risk of injury from electrical shock.
Warning
Given when there is a risk of injury to users.
Caution
Given when there is a risk of damage to the product.
Note
Clarification of an instruction or additional information.
Warnings
If this equipment is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the
protection provided by the equipment may be impaired. In particular,
excessive moisture may impair operation.
This product generates, uses and outputs high voltages from the SMC
connector (HV Output) that are hazardous and can cause serious injury. In any
installation that uses the KPZ101 it is the user’s responsibility to ensure
adequate insulation and precuations are taken to avoid shock risk. Cables for
HV Out must be rated for 250 V RMS.
Spillage of fluid, such as sample solutions, should be avoided. If spillage does
occur, clean up immediately using absorbant tissue. Do not allow spilled fluid
to enter the internal mechanism.

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Chapter 2 Overview and Setup
2.1 Introduction
The K-Cube Piezo Co ntroller (KPZ101) is a ne w very compact sing le channel
controller/driver for easy man ual and automatic control of a wi de range of piezo
stacks and actuators. This driver is capable of delivering up to 150V of drive voltage
at 7.5mA - all owing operating bandwidths up to 1kHz (see specs). The KPZ101
provides immediate 'out of the box' operation with the Thorlabs complete range of
bare piezo stacks, piezo equipped actuators and piezo driven mirror mounts.
Furthermore, when operated together with the K-Cube Strain Gauge Reader unit
(KSG101), high precision closed loop operation is possible using the complete range
of feedback equipped piezo actuators available from Thorlabs.
For convenience the footprint of this unit has been kept to a minimum, measuring only
60mm x 60mm x 47mm (2.36” x 2.36” x 1.85”) and with the facility to directly mount
to the optical table close to the device under control. Table top operation also allows
minimal drive cable lengths for easier cable management. All manual controls a re
located on the top face of the unit – very convenient when manually adjusting piezo
positions using the digitally encoded adjustment pot and easy to read voltage display
(with brightness adjustment).
Fig. 2.1 K-Cube Piezo Driver (KPZ101)
Although compact in footprint, this unit offers a fully featured piezo control capability.
To support a wide variety of piezo devices the output range can be user selected to
75V, 100V or 150V. The resolution of the digitally encoded adjustment pot is easily
altered to provide very accurate p ositioning control. Direct hardware control of the
high voltage output can be facilitated using the low voltage input connector.

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Chapter 2
A low voltage output connector allows for easy monitoring of the HV output (using a
scope for example). Open or closed loop operation is a simple button click.
USB connectivity provides easy 'Plug and Play' PC controll ed operation - multiple
units can be connected to a single PC via standard USB hub technology or by using
the new K-Cube Controller Hub (see over) for multi-axis motion control applications.
Coupling this with the user friendly apt™ software (supplied) allows the user to get up
and running in a short space of time. Advanced custom motion control applications
and sequences are al so possible using the extensi ve ActiveX® programming
environment also supplied. This programming library is comp atible with man y
development tools such as L abView, Visual Basic, Visual C++, C++ Builder,
LabWindows/CVI, Matlab and Delphi.
See Section 2.3. for a full description of the APT system software.
In the remainder of this handbook, the Tutorial section (Chapter 5) provides a good
initial understanding on using the unit, and the reference section (Chapter 6) covers
all operating modes and parameters in detail.
2.2 Power Options
For power, a compact two-way power supply unit (TPS002) is available from Thorlabs
allowing up to 2 K-Cube Piezo Drivers to be powered from a single mains outlet. This
power supply unit is also designed to take up minimal space and can be mounted to
the optical table in close proximity to the driver units, connected via short power leads.
As a further level of convenience when using the K-Cube Controllers Thorlabs also
offers the 3-channel and 6-channel K-Cube Controller Hubs (KCH301 and KCH601).
These products have been designed specifically with multiple K-Cube operation in
mind in order to simplify issue s such as cable management, power supply routing,
multiple USB device communications and different optical table mounting scenarios.
The K-Cube Controller Hub comprises a slim base-plate type carrier with electrical
connections located on the upper surface to accept the K-Cubes.
Internally the Controller Hub contains a fully compliant USB 2.0 hub circuit to provide
communications for all K-Cubes – a single USB connection to the Controller Hub is
all that is required for PC control. The Controller Hub also provides power distribution
for the K-Cubes, requiring only a single power connection.

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K-Cube Piezo Driver
2.3 APT PC Software Overview
2.3.1 Introduction
As a member of the APT range of controllers, the KPZ101 piezo controller shares
many of the associated software benefits. This includes USB connectivity (allowing
multiple units to be used together on a single PC), fully featured Graphical User
Interface (GUI) panels, and extensive software f unction libraries for custom
application development.
The APT software suite supplied with all APT controllers provides a flexible and
powerful PC ba sed control system both fo r users of the e quipment, and software
programmers aiming to automate its operation.
For users, the APTUser (see Section 2.3.2.) and APTConfig (see Section 2.3.3.)
utilities allow full control of all settings and operating modes enabling complete ‘out-
of-box’ operation without the need to d evelop any further cu stom software. Both
utilities are built on top of a sophisticated, multi-threaded ActiveX ‘engine’ (called the
APT server) which provides all of the necessary APT system software services such
as generation of GUI pan els, communications handling for multiple USB units, and
logging of all system activity to assist in hardware trouble shooting. It is this APT
server ‘engine’ that is used by software developers to allow the creation of advanced
automated positioning applications very rapidly and with great ease. The APT server
is described in more detail in Section 2.3.4.
Aside
ActiveX®, a Windows®-based, language-independent technology, allows a user
to quickly develop custom applications that automate the control of APT system
hardware units. Development environments supported by ActiveX® technology
include Visual Basic®, LabView™, Borland C++ Builder, Visual C++, Delphi™,
and many others. ActiveX® technology is also supported by .NET development
environments such as Visual Basic.NET and Visual C#.NET.
ActiveX controls are a specific form of ActiveX technology that provide both a user
interface and a programming interface. An ActiveX control is supplied for each
type of APT hardware unit to provide specific controller functionality to the
software developer. See Section 2.3.4. for further details.

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Chapter 2
2.3.2 APTUser Utility
The APTUser application allows the user to interact with a number of APT hardware
control units connected to the ho st PC. This program displays multiple graphical
instrument panels to allow multiple APT units to be controlled from the same screen..
All basic operating parameters can be altered and, similarly, all operations (such as
piezo moves) can be initiated. Settings and parameter changes can be saved and
loaded to allow multiple operating configurations to be created and easily applied.
For many users, the APTUser application provides all of the functionality necessary
to operate the APT hardware without the need to deve lop any further custom
software. For those wh o do need to further customise and automate u sage of the
controller (e.g. to implement a positioning algorithm), this application illustrates how
the rich fun ctionality provided by the APT ActiveX server is e xposed by a client
application.
Use of the APT User utility is covered in the PC tu torial (Chapter 5) and in the
APTUser online help file, accessed via the F1 key when using the APTUser utility.

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K-Cube Piezo Driver
2.3.3 APT Config Utility
There are many system par ameters and configuration settings associated with the
operation of the APT Server. Most can be directly accessed using the various
graphical panels, however there are several system wide settings that can only be
made 'off-line' before running the APT software. These settings have global effect;
such as switching between simulator and real operating mode and incorporation of
calibration data.
The APTConfig utility is provided as a convenient means for making these system
wide settings and adjustments. Full details on using APTConfig are provided in the
online help supplied with the utility.
Use of the APT Config utility is covered in the PC tutoria l (Chapter 5) and in the
APTConfig online help file, accessed via the F1 key when using the APTConfig utility.

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Chapter 2
2.3.4 APT Server (ActiveX Controls)
ActiveX Controls are re -usable compiled software components that supp ly both a
graphical user interface and a pro grammable interface. Many such Co ntrols are
available for Windows applications development, providing a large range of re-usable
functionality. For example, there are Controls available that can be used to
manipulate image files, connect to the intern et or simply pro vide user in terface
components such as buttons and list boxes.
With the APT system, ActiveX Controls are deployed to allow direct control over (and
also reflect the status of) the range of electronic controller units, including the KPZ101
piezo controller. Software applications that use ActiveX Controls are often referred to
as 'client applications'. Based on ActiveX interfacing technology, an ActiveX Control
is a language independent software component. Consequently ActiveX Controls can
be incorporated into a wide range of software development environments for use by
client application developers. Development environments supported include Visual
Basic, Labview, Visual C++, C++ Builder, HPVEE, Matlab, VB.NET, C#.NET
and, via
VBA, Microsoft Office applications such as Excel and Word.
Consider the ActiveX Control supplied for the KPZ101 APT piezo controller unit.
This Control provides a complete user graphical instrument panel to allow the Piezo
unit to be manually operated, as well as a complete set of software functions (often
called methods) to allow all parameters to be set and Piezo control operations to be
automated by a client application. The instrument panel reflects the current operating
state of the controller unit to which it is associated (e.g. such as piezo travel). Updates
to the pan el take place automatically when a user (client) application is making
software calls into the same Control. For example, if a client application instructs the
associated Piezo Control to move to a p articular position, progress is mo nitored