Speaker
Description
Many beamlines at BESSY-II still operate using VME-crate-based PMAC motor controllers that rely on proprietary Windows software for communication and configuration. However, these programs often require old licenses and are not compatible with modern operating systems, making maintenance increasingly difficult. To address this, we have developed an open-source Python tool that communicates with legacy PMAC controllers over serial interfaces. The tool uses a modular manager-client architecture where multiple client programs can send commands concurrently without conflicts, using a managed queue and locking system. Dedicated clients have been created for terminal interaction, batch upload of command files, watch window monitoring and plotting of PMAC variables with configurable fetch and display intervals. The programs are lightweight, installed via Python package management, and accessible through simple command-line interfaces. While the serial communication is not real-time, it is sufficient for configuration, monitoring, and motion program uploads. Extensive logging is provided for traceability. A muti-tabbed GUI with plotting and data saving feature is implemented for better usability. Future developments include integration into the broader framework to support newer motor controllers. This tool provides a modern, open-source alternative for maintaining legacy motion control systems and ensures continued support without reliance on outdated commercial software.
