Basic Operations Guide

This guide covers the fundamental operations you'll need to master to effectively use the RTMC130 Motion Control System. These basic skills form the foundation for creating complex camera movements and animations.

Axis Control Fundamentals

The RTMC130 system controls multiple motors, each assigned to an axis in the software. Understanding how to control these axes is essential for operating the system.

Axis Numbering and Functions

In our standard configuration, the axes are assigned as follows:

Axis #	Default Function	Typical Use
1	Track	Forward/backward movement
2	Lift	Vertical movement
4	East/West	Left/right movement
5	Pan	Horizontal camera rotation
6	Tilt	Vertical camera rotation
7	M_ROT	Camera roll rotation
8	M_TRM	Additional axis (specialized uses)
9	Focus	Lens focus control
10	Zoom	Lens zoom control

Jogging an Axis

"Jogging" refers to manually moving an axis. This is the most fundamental way to control the system.

Using the Jogbox:

1. Press the axis number key on the jogbox (e.g., 1 for Track axis)
2. The axis number will appear on the jogbox LCD display, indicating it's selected
3. Use the + and - keys to move the axis in positive or negative direction
4. The axis will move at the speed defined in its jog parameters
5. Release the + or - key to stop the movement

Adjusting Jog Parameters

You can control how quickly axes respond when jogged:

1. On the main Control Panel, locate the "JOG PARAMS" column
2. Click directly on the jog value for the axis you want to adjust
3. Type a new value:
   • Higher values = faster movement
   • Lower values = slower, more precise movement
4. Press Enter to confirm

Typical jog parameter values:

• 1.00 - 5.00: Slow, precise movements (good for fine adjustments)
• 5.00 - 15.00: Medium speed (good for general positioning)
• 15.00 - 30.00: Fast movement (good for covering large distances)

Jogbox Operations

The jogbox is your primary physical interface to the RTMC130 system. Mastering its operation is essential for efficient use of the system.

Jogbox Layout

The jogbox is organized into several sections:

• LCD Display: Shows current axis selection, position, and status
• Numeric Keypad: For selecting axes (1-9, 0) and jogging (+/-)
• Function Buttons: For various operations (MEMO KEY, RUN, etc.)
• Joystick Knob: For proportional manual control (if configured)
• STOP/CANCEL: Emergency stop button

Basic Jogbox Functions

Function	Button Sequence	Description
Select Axis	Press axis number (1-8)	Selects an axis for jogging or other operations
Jog Selected Axis	+ or -	Moves axis in positive or negative direction
Set Keyframe	MEMO KEY	Records current position as a keyframe at the current frame
Run Forward	RUN	Plays the programmed move forward from current frame
Run Backward	RUN REV	Plays the programmed move backward from current frame
Emergency Stop	STOP/CANCEL	Immediately halts all motor movement
Toggle Axis Mode	AXIS ON + axis number	Cycles through REC, NEUT, OFF modes for the axis
Goto Frame 0	GOTO FR0	Moves to the beginning of the timeline
Increment Frame	INCR FRAME	Advances to the next frame according to increment setting

Advanced Jogbox Functions

Function	Button Sequence	Description
Assign Joystick	JOYST AX + axis number	Assigns the physical jogbox knob to control the selected axis
Toggle Position/Velocity	POSN/VELO	Switches joystick between controlling position directly or velocity
Set Home Position	SET HOME + axis number	Sets current physical position as the "home" (zero) position
Auto-Calibrate	SET HOME + 15- + value + ENTER	Automatically calculates pulses per unit based on physical measurement
Toggle Virtual Axes	JOG32 + STOP/CANCEL	Activates or deactivates Virtual Axes mode
Enter Browser Mode	JOG32 + LIST KEYS	Allows scrubbing through timeline using joystick knob
Goto Exact Position	JOG32 + SET HOME	Prompts for exact position value to send axis to

Understanding Axis Modes

Each axis can be set to one of three operational modes that determine how it behaves during recording and playback.

The Three Axis Modes

Mode	Display	During Recording	During Playback	When to Use
Record	REC	Movements are recorded to the move buffer	Follows the recorded path	When you want to program this axis as part of your move
Neutral	NEUT	Movements are ignored, not recorded	Follows the recorded path (if any)	When you want to temporarily exclude an axis from recording
Off	OFF	Completely disabled	Does not move	When you want to completely disable an axis

Changing Axis Modes

There are two ways to change an axis mode:

Using the Control Panel:

1. On the main Control Panel, find the axis you want to change
2. Click directly on the mode indicator in the MODE column
3. The mode will cycle through REC → NEUT → OFF → REC

Using the Jogbox:

1. Press AXIS ON on the jogbox
2. Press the axis number (e.g., 1 for Track)
3. The mode will cycle through REC → NEUT → OFF → REC
4. The current mode will be displayed on the jogbox LCD

Practical Mode Usage

Consider these common scenarios:

• Setting Up: When initially positioning your camera, you may want to set all axes to NEUT to prevent accidental recording
• Selective Recording: When recording a pan/tilt move, but not base movement, set Pan/Tilt to REC and Track/Lift/E-W to NEUT
• Safety: Set unused axes to OFF to prevent any movement during recording or playback
• Multi-Pass Recording: Record one set of axes (e.g., Pan/Tilt), then switch modes and record another set (e.g., Track/Lift) while playing back the first set

Setting Home Positions

The "Home Position" is the reference point (zero position) for an axis. Properly setting home positions is crucial for accurate and repeatable movements.

Why Home Positions Matter

• Provides a consistent reference point for all movements
• Ensures repeatability between sessions
• Facilitates proper alignment with physical objects or set elements
• Enables more intuitive position readouts (e.g., setting zero at center of rotation)

Setting a Home Position

There are two primary methods for setting home positions:

Using the Jogbox:

1. Jog the axis to the desired "zero" position
2. Press SET HOME on the jogbox
3. Press the axis number (e.g., 1 for Track)
4. The position display for that axis will reset to 0.000

Using AxisSetup:

1. Click AxisSetup on the main screen
2. Select the desired axis
3. Find the "Home Position" parameter
4. Enter the value for "Home Position" (typically 0.000)
5. Click OK or press Enter to confirm
6. Exit AxisSetup

Recommended Home Position Practices

For the best results, follow these guidelines when setting home positions:

• Pan/Tilt/Roll: Set home at the center of rotation or a key reference orientation
• Track/E-W/Lift: Set home at a logical starting point (e.g., centered on set, or at the beginning of a dolly track)
• Focus/Zoom: Set home at a commonly used setting (e.g., infinity focus, widest zoom)
• Physical Marking: Mark physical corresponding positions on your equipment to ensure consistency between sessions
• Documentation: Record home position settings in a log for consistent setup between shooting days

Going to Home Position

To move an axis back to its home position:

1. On the jogbox, press JOG32 + GOTO FR0
2. Press the axis number (e.g., 1 for Track)
3. The axis will move to its designated home (zero) position

Using MouseJog

MouseJog provides an alternative way to control axes using your computer mouse instead of the jogbox. This can be convenient for certain operations or if the jogbox is not available.

Activating MouseJog

1. On the main Control Panel, type mj and press Enter
2. Alternatively, click on the MouseJog menu option if visible
3. The MouseJog interface will appear

MouseJog Controls

Once MouseJog is active:

• Selecting an Axis: Move your cursor over the axis row you want to control
• Jogging:
  • Left-click and hold to jog in the positive direction
  • Right-click and hold to jog in the negative direction
  • Release the mouse button to stop
• Speed Control:
  • Move the cursor closer to the axis name for slower movement
  • Move the cursor further to the right for faster movement
• Exiting MouseJog: Press ESC or click the Exit button

MouseJog Advantages

• Provides visual feedback directly on screen
• Allows variable speed control based on cursor position
• Convenient for quick adjustments without picking up the jogbox
• Enables control of multiple axes without pressing axis number buttons

MouseJog Limitations

• Less tactile feedback than physical jogbox controls
• May be less precise for certain operations
• Not ideal for rapid, sequential operations on multiple axes
• Requires mouse focus in the application window

Running a Move

Once you've positioned your axes and are familiar with the basic controls, you can run a pre-recorded move or test a simple movement sequence.

Types of Moves

• Keyframed Moves: Series of defined positions that the system interpolates between
• Joystick-Recorded Moves: Continuous movements recorded in real-time using joystick or encoders
• Generated Moves: Mathematically created movements using two-letter commands

Playback Controls

There are several ways to play back a move:

Using the Jogbox:

1. First, position at the starting frame (often Frame 0)
   • Press GOTO FR0 to go to Frame 0
   • Or enter a specific frame: Type the frame number + G + ENTER
2. Press RUN to play the move forward from the current frame
3. Press RUN REV to play the move backward from the current frame
4. Press STOP/CANCEL at any time to halt motion

Using the Screen Controls:

1. Click the Goto Frame # button and enter a starting frame
2. Click Run or Run Rev to play the move
3. Click Stop to halt motion

Adjusting Run Speed

You can adjust the speed at which a move is executed:

1. On the Control Panel, look for "Speed %" near the bottom of the screen
2. Click on the value to change it:
   • 100% - Normal speed (real-time)
   • 50% - Half speed (slow motion)
   • 200% - Double speed (fast motion)
3. Press Enter to confirm the new speed