UMSUMS - USER GUIDE
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power whenever the cabinet door is opened. Opening the door will immediately trigger the switch and
cut power to the stepper motors on the motion actuators (note the drive controllers remain active via a
24 V dc “logic” supply). This is clearly undesirable if the UMS is in the middle of a measurement, and the
cabinet door should therefore be kept shut at all times. A black plastic handle for the cabinet is included
with the UMS. This handle can be removed from the unit to prevent unauthorised access and should be
stored safely when not in use. The drive control unit should ALWAYS be connected to the mains electricity
supply by means of a Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB). The RCCB should also be tested every time
that the system is used.
This unit is mains powered and whilst the enclosure is splash proof, it is not fully waterproof. Therefore this unit
should NOT be placed anywhere near direct sources of water
Emergency Stop System
The UMS test tank system is equipped with an emergency stop (E-STOP) switch. The switch is connected
to the control box by a cable sufficiently long to be positioned close to the user at all times.
When pressed the switch latches in the “ESTOP Active” position. Once safe to do so, the ESTOP can be
released by twisting the red pushbutton in the direction indicated on it.
The consequences of pressing the ESTOP are as follows:
1.
Power is immediately cut to the stepper motors on the linear axes and if applicable the
stepper motor controlled rotary table.
a.
Logic power supply to the stepper controllers and encoders is maintained allowing the
system to maintain a record of its position.
2.
All power is cut to the optional Gimbal mount (assuming the gimbal mount wiring is integral
to the system, where a gimbal mount has been supplied as an add-on, this may not apply).
a.
Note: Since the motors used in the current gimbal mount are servos, they can be
“backdriven” when power is removed. Therefore great care should be taken to avoid
mounting heavy items on the gimbal above its pivot point (as this arrangement is inherently
unstable and removing power could cause the load to flip and potentially cause damage to
the system).
3.
The software process which was running will detect the ESTOP activation and “pause” its
execution. A dialogue is displayed on the screen indicating that the ESTOP has been
activated. The user can then clear this dialogue by selecting the appropriate option once
the ESTOP has been released.
Filling The Tank
The tank should be filled with deionisation water.
Refilling The Tank
The test tank should be refilled when necessary. How regularly the water in the test tank requires
changing will be largely dependent on the size of the tank and the environment in which the test tank is
situated. The user will be best placed to judge if the water has become discoloured over time, or has “re
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