THORLABS ORIC PDXC2 User manual

PDXC2 ORIC®
Compact Piezo Stage
Controller
User Guide

PDXC2 ORIC® Piezo Stage Controller
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Safety........................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 2 Overview...................................................................................................................... 2
2.3.1 Front Panel.......................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.3.2 Back Panel ........................................................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 3 Software....................................................................................................................... 8
3.1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
3.1.2 Software and Firmware Upgrades....................................................................................................................... 9
3.2.1 Connect by USB Cable ....................................................................................................................................... 10
3.2.2 Connect by Ethernet Cable................................................................................................................................ 10
3.3.1 Introduction for GUI Panel ................................................................................................................................ 11
3.3.2 Introduction for Settings Panel ......................................................................................................................... 12
3.4.1 Home/Zero........................................................................................................................................................ 14
3.4.2 Changing Motor Parameters and Moving to an Absolute Position................................................................... 14
3.4.3 Stopping the Stage ............................................................................................................................................ 15
3.4.4 Jogging............................................................................................................................................................... 15
3.4.5 Performance Optimize ...................................................................................................................................... 16
3.4.6 Setting Move Sequences................................................................................................................................... 16
3.4.7 Changing and Saving Parameter Settings.......................................................................................................... 16
3.4.8 External Trigging................................................................................................................................................ 16
3.4.9 Using A Joystick Console ................................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.1 Physical Connections......................................................................................................................................... 18
3.5.2 Operation of Scan.............................................................................................................................................. 18
Chapter 4 Maintenance .............................................................................................................. 20
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................... 22
Chapter 6 Specifications ............................................................................................................. 23
Chapter 7 Mechanical Drawing................................................................................................... 24
Chapter 8 Regulatory.................................................................................................................. 25

PDXC2 ORIC® Piezo Stage Controller Chapter 2: Overview
Rev A, July 25, 2023 page 3
Chapter 9 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts..................................................................................... 28

PDXC2 ORIC® Piezo Stage Controller Chapter 1: Safety
Rev A, July 25, 2023 Page 1
Chapter 1 Safety
All statements regarding safety of operation and technical data in this instruction manual will only apply when the
unit is operated correctly in accordance with this user manual.
Warning: Risk of Electric Shock
High voltage inside. To avoid electrical shock, before powering up, make sure that the ground
pin of the power cord is correctly connected to the ground connector in the power socket.
Improper grounding can cause electric shock resulting in severe injury or even death. Do not
operate without the cover installed.
Warning: Risk of Electric Shock
The maximum current output for the piezo stage is 10 A, and the D-Sub connector does not
support hot plugging. Plugging or unplugging the connector while the unit is powered on can
cause damage to the stage and/or controller.
Caution: Do Not Open Housing
The PDXC2 has no user-serviceable parts. Service should only be performed by trained service
personnel.
For all applications, use an IEC320 compatible power cord fitted with a plug appropriate for your particular power
socket. Make sure that the line voltage rating marked on the power adapter agrees with your local power supply.
Warning: Risk of Explosion
This unit must not be operated in explosive environments.
Warning: Components not Water Resistant
This unit should not be used in wet/damp conditions. Additionally, do not obstruct the air
ventilation slots in the housing!

PDXC2 ORIC® Piezo Stage Controller Chapter 2: Overview
Page 2 CTN015391-D02
Chapter 2 Overview
Introduction
The PDXC2 Piezo Stage Controller is designed to control the following ORIC Piezo Inertia Stages:
•PD2(/M) 5 mm Linear Stage
•PDX2(/M) 5 mm Linear Stage with Optical Encoder
•PDX1(/M) 20 mm Linear Stage with Optical Encoder
•PD1(/M)* 20 mm Linear Stage
•PD1V(/M)* 20 mm Linear Stage, Vacuum Compatible
•PD1D(/M)* 20 mm XY Stage
•PD3(/M) 50 mm Linear Stage
•PDR1C(/M)* Rotary Stage
•PDXR1(/M) Rotary Stage with Optical Encoder
It offers one channel of both open- and closed-loop stage control (15-Pin D-SUB output). It also supports remote
PC control via the USB, RS-232 and ethernet ports on the back and front panel, and a USB Joystick device (MCMK3
joystick) can be connected to the front panel for intuitive control. The controller also supports external I/O control,
including analog in and out, and trigger in and out signals. There are several external trigger modes inside to
support either single motion or conjunction motions, such as a raster scan.
*Note: The PD1(/M), PD1V(/M) PDR1C(/M), and PD1D(/M) have SMC connectors that require the PDXC2AD
Female D-Sub to Male SMC Adapter Cable (sold separately) for connection to the PDXC2 controller.
Figure 1 Appearance of PDXC2 Controller
Features
•Low Power Consumption
•Compact Design
•Configurable High Speed Communication Interface: USB2.0, USB HID Joystick, 100M/1000M Adaptive
Ethernet, Digital I/O, Analog I/O
•Wide Frequency Range of Pulse Rate
•High Positioning Resolution up to 10 nm
•Individual Amplitude Control for Forward and Reverse to Adjust Speed of Stages

PDXC2 ORIC® Piezo Stage Controller Chapter 2: Overview
Rev A, July 25, 2023 page 3
Operation Principle
The PDXC2 controller mainly consists of 2 circuits: the control circuit and analog switch circuit. The control circuit
generates charge or discharge pulses to the analog switch circuit, then the analog switch circuit will generate
sawtooth waveforms (Figure 2). The waveforms are then exported to the 15-pin D-SUB connector on the front
panel to drive the different stages.
The stage uses a piezo inertial drive motor, which consists of three main parts: a flexure-coupled piezo actuator,
a friction element, and a slider (as seen in Figure 3). During the "stick" part of a cycle, the piezo slowly expands
under the ramp voltage, pushing the friction element and the slider forward in unison. During the "slip" part, the
drive voltage drops rapidly and the piezo element returns to its starting length, with the friction element "slipping"
backward. The slider does not move due to its inertia and the low coefficient of kinetic friction between the friction
element and the bottom surface of the slider. Figure 2 shows the piezo drive voltage during one "stick-slip" cycle.
Repeating this cycle produces continuous forward travel of the slider. To travel in the reverse direction, the
opposite drive voltage pattern is required, resulting in rapid piezo expansion and slower piezo contraction, or
"slip-stick". During operation, the stage makes a high-pitched noise and may generate some heat. This is normal
behavior in the performance of the device and does not indicate a faulty condition.
Due to several factors that include the application conditions, piezo hysteresis, component variance, and the axial
load, the achieved step size will vary and is not repeatable. To help overcome this variance and accurately control
the stage movement, an external feedback system is added for closed-loop control of the feedback slider position
to controller.
Figure 2 Sawtooth Waveform Figure 3 Stick-Slip Movement Illustration

PDXC2 ORIC® Piezo Stage Controller Chapter 2: Overview
Page 4 CTN015391-D02
DB15 port for connecting
to stages with encoders
like PDX1(/M) or to stages
with a SMC input such as
PD1(/M) using the
PDXC2AD adapter cable.
Stage Connections and Accessories
Figure 4 shows how the stages are connected to the PDXC2 controller. The DB15 connector connects with the
ORIC® Piezoelectric Inertia Drive Stages with Optical Encoders (i.e. PDX1(/M)) or connects with stages which have
a SMC connector (i.e. PD1) through the PDXC2AD DB15 to SMC adapter cable.
Figure 4 Connections Between Stages and PDXC2
The section below lists the connection components and accessories packed along with this controller. The PDXC2
controller is equipped with and powered by the DS12 12 V AC/DC adapter, which is compatible with 100 - 240 VAC,
50 - 60 Hz power sources.
Shipped Connectors
•Ethernet Cable: 2 m, Male Cat5e Connector to Male Cat5e Connector
•I/O Cable: 0.5 m, Female 9-Pin D-Sub Connector to 4 Male BNC Connectors
•USB Cable: 2 m, Male Type A Connector to Male Type B Connector
•Power Supply Cable: 1.5 m, Male NEMA 5-15-P Connector to Female IEC 320 C13/C14 Connector
•DS12 12 VDC Power Adapter: 1.23 m, M8, 4-pin female connector, input range 100 - 240 VAC, 12 VDC
output
2.3.1 Front Panel
Figure 5 PDXC2 Front Panel
DB15 port for connecting
to stage with encoder like
PDX1(/M) or connecting to
stage without encoder like
PD1 through PDXC2AD.
DB15 port for connecting
to stage with encoder like
PDX1(/M) or connecting to
stage without encoder like
PD1 through PDXC2AD.
F1
F2
F3
F4
1

PDXC2 ORIC® Piezo Stage Controller Chapter 2: Overview
Rev A, July 25, 2023 page 5
Connectors
F1 USB (Type A): Connects the HID MCMK3 Joystick to control stage movement by scrolling the wheel back
and forth. When the device is set in open-loop operation, it will move a set number of pulses with each
scroll, while in closed-loop operation it will move at a set step distance with each scroll.
F2 15-Pin D-SUB (DB15): Connect to stages with both open- and closed-loop operation. Please refer to
Figure 6 and Table 1 for pin assignment and signal definition.
F3 RS-232: Connects to a computer for command-line control. Please refer to Figure 7 and Table 2 for pin
assignment and signal definition.
F4 I/O Port: Refer to Figure 8 and Table 3 for pin assignment and signal definition.
Figure 6 15-Pin D-SUB Port Pin Assignment
Pin
Voltage Range
Name
Description
1
-7.5 to +12.5 V
Encoder_B_N
Encoder B-
2
-7.5 to +12.5 V
Encoder_B_P
Encoder B+
3
0 V
GND
Digital Ground
4
-7.5 to +12.5 V
Encoder_A_N
Encoder A-
5
-7.5 to +12.5 V
Encoder_A_P
Encoder A+
6,7
-
-
Reserved
8
+5 V
+5 V
5 V Power
9
-7.5 to +12.5 V
Encoder_Z_N
Encoder Z-
10
-7.5 to +12.5 V
Encoder_Z_P
Encoder Z+
11
-10 to +50 V
SigOut2
Piezo Output 2
12
0 V
PGND
Power Ground
13
-10 to +50 V
SigOut1
Piezo Output 1
14
5 V TTL
EEPROM
1-Wire EEPROM
15
-
-
Reserved
Table 1 15-Pin DUB Signal Definition

PDXC2 ORIC® Piezo Stage Controller Chapter 2: Overview
Page 6 CTN015391-D02
Figure 7 RS-232 Port Pin Assignment
Pin
Voltage Range
Name
Description
1
-
N.C.
Not Connected
2
-15 to + 15 V
TXD
Transmits Data
3
-15 to + 15 V
RXD
Receives Data
4
-
N.C.
Not Connected
5
0 V
GND
Ground Pin
6,7,8,9
-
N.C.
Not Connected
Table 2 RS-232 Signal Definition
Figure 8 I/O Port Pin Assignment
Pin
Voltage Range
Name
Description
1
-10 to +10 V
Analog In
Input as New Target
Position
2
0 V
GND
Ground Pin
3
0 to 5 V
Trigger In
Trigger to Update
New Target Position
4
0 V
GND
Ground Pin
5
-
-
Reserved
6
-10 to +10 V
Analog Out
Output to Reflect the
Actual Position
7
0 to 5 V
Trigger Out
Trigger When Actual
Position is on Target
8
0 V
GND
Ground Pin
9
-
-
Reserved
Table 3 I/O Signal Definition