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<p>
</p><div class="print-breadcrumb"><a href="http://dynamicperception.com/">Home</a> > MX2 Motion Controller User Guide</div>
<hr class="print-hr">
<h1 class="print-title"></h1>
<div class="print-content"><div id="node-35" class="section-1">
<h1 class="book-heading">MX2 Motion Controller User Guide</h1>
The MX2 Motion Controller is designed to control up to two DC motor
axes, while synchronizing motion with direct camera control. This
user guide covers all usage of the MX2, from basic to advanced.<br>
<p>Choose one of the sections below to begin reading about the
MX2. If you wish to print a copy of this user guide, choosing the
print page option here will provide a printable version of the entire
guide.<br>
</p>
<div id="node-422" class="section-2">
<h1 class="book-heading">FCC Compliance</h1>
<h3>FCC Compliance</h3>
<p><span style="">This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.</span></p>
<p><span style=""> Note: This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio
or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:</span></p><span style="">
<p>—Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.</p>
<p>—Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.</p>
<p>—Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.</p>
<p>—Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.</p></span>
</div>
<div id="node-36" class="section-2">
<h1 class="book-heading">Getting Started with the MX2</h1>
<p>In this section of the guide, we will introduce the basic concepts and familiarize ourselves with the MX2 controls.</p>
<div id="node-37" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Interacting with the Controller</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>The MX2 is designed to be extremely simple to use, and to
let you quickly input the most important parameters during a shoot.
This document describes the means of interacting with the controller
through the user interface, and how to use the main control screen.</p>
<h2>Buttons</h2>
<p>There are five pushbuttons, four arranged in a cross-pattern, and one to the lower left. The four buttons together are <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Left]</span>,<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span>, <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> and <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> while the button to the lower left is the <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> button.</p>
<h3>Enter:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Brings up the main menu, or selects a menu item.
<ul>
<li>If item is another menu, that menu will be opened, otherwise the
value selected will be shown for editing, or executed depending on the
currently selected item.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Saves the current value being edited</li>
<li>Exits manual motor control</li>
</ul>
<h3>Up:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Selects the menu item directly above</li>
<li>Increases the value of the currently selected item</li>
<li>Increases motor speed (manual motor control)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Down:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Selects the menu item directly below</li>
<li>Decreases the value of the currently selected item</li>
<li>Decreases motor speed (manual motor control)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Left:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Moves input selection left (main screen only)</li>
<li>Moves current motor left (manual motor control)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Right:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Moves input selection right (main screen only)</li>
<li>Cancels value input (when changing the value of a selected item)</li>
<li>Moves current motor right (manual motor control)</li>
</ul>
<h2>Menus and Editing Values</h2>
<p>When on the Main Screen, pressing the Enter button will draw the main menu. Pressing <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span>
on any menu item will either draw the sub-menu selected or, if the
item selected is an input, it will be displayed for editing. When a
value for editing is displayed, you may use<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Up] </span>and<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> to alter the value. If you wish to save the value, simply press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> again. To exit the editor without saving, press the <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> button and the original value will be restored. The <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span>
button also functions as the “back” button, allowing one to go back
one level from any menu, or return to the Main Screen from the
top-level menu.</p>
<p>For some values that you can edit, a limited selection of choices
such as ‘Up/Down’, ‘On/Off’, ‘Left/Right’ may be displayed. Pressing
either <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span>
in the edit screen will alternate between the available values. For
some values, you may be allowed to enter more or less than the value
accepts — when saving in these cases the value will be set at its
minimum or maximum, and will reflect this when next displayed.</p>
<p>To increase or decrease a number, you can simply hold <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span>
to continue to increase or decrease the value for as long as you hold
it down. The longer the button is held, the faster it increases or
decreases a value. In this manner, you may easily enter large
numbers.</p>
<h2>Saving Input Values Permanently</h2>
<p>When editing certain values (such as RPM for a motor axis, interval
time, etc.) they are automatically saved to permanent memory for you.
In this way, you will not have to make the same changes between
re-start. The values which are saved permanently are indicated in their
appropriate documentation. To wipe out permanent memory, and reset to
default values, choose the ‘Reset Mem’ option in the Main Settings
menu.</p>
<p>Please note that direction and speed of a given axis are designed to
be changed regularly, and are not saved to permanent memory.</p>
<h2>The Main Screen</h2>
<p>The Main Screen provides an overview of the current status and also
allows for quick modification of key operating parameters. This
screen has the following layout:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;"><strong>
<tt>-----------------<br>
On 3s [15]<br>
R30.50% L0.00%<br>
-----------------</tt></strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">
</p>
<p>On the first line we have the current status (On or Off), the
intervalometer timing (3s), and a count of shots fired since turned on
([15]). The second line displays the direction and speed for each
motor, with motor 1 on the left, and motor 2 on the right.</p>
<p>Pressing <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right] </span>will advance
through the values that can be changed directly from the main screen:
status, timing, direction and speed of each motor. When a particular
value is displayed with a flashing cursor on it, you can change the
value using <span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Up]</span> and <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span>.</p>
<p><strong>Notes:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>You may change any value when the shoot is running — it will take effect immediately.</li>
<li>Motor speed can be displayed in either percentage (%),
inches-per-minute (i), or cm-per-minute (c) this is configurable in the
Settings menu.</li>
<li>Pressing <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Left]</span> will back up one setting on the screen</li>
<li>Pressing <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> at any time when on the main screen will bring up the Main Menu, even if program is running</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-38" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Choosing the Speed Display</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>With the MX2 controller, you can either display and input
speeds in percentages of maximum (relative) or inches per minute
(absolute).</p>
<p>The speed display setting is global, and impacts all axes. You may
not configure one for relative and one for absolute speed display.</p>
<p>If you modify the speed for a given axis while the program is running, it will immediately take effect.</p>
<h2>Displaying in Relative Speeds (Percentage)</h2>
<p>When displaying in relative speeds, the main screen will show a
floating-point number and the symbol ‘%’ on the speed value for the
given motor. You may modify this value to any value between 0 and 100%
as allowed by the motion control mode you are in by highlighting it
using the <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> button on the main screen and then using<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Up]</span> and <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to change the value.</p>
<p><strong>To set the MX2 to display relative speeds:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter] </span>to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Motor Disp. </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down] </span>and choose <strong><em>PCT</em></strong></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Displaying in Absolute Speeds (inches or cm)</h2>
<p>When displaying in absolute speeds, the main screen will show a
floating-point number and the symbol ‘i’ (or ‘c’ if in metric mode) next
to the the speed value for the given motor. You may modify this value
to any value as allowed by the motion control mode you are in by
highlighting it using the<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right] </span>button on the main screen and then using <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> and <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to change the value.</p>
<p><strong>To set the MX2 to display absolute speeds:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Motor Disp. </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> and choose <strong><em>IPM</em></strong></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Displaying in Metric Values</h2>
<p>The MX2 can shows absolute distances and speeds in centimeters. When you enable the <em>metric mode</em>
parameter, all distance values stored in permanent memory are converted
from inches to centimeters, and the display will show a ‘c’ on the main
screen instead of ‘i’ for absolute speeds.</p>
<p>You should always re-start the MX2 after enabling the <em>metric mode</em> parameter.</p>
<p><strong>To set the MX2 to display metric values:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to select <strong>Metric Disp. </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> and choose <em><strong>On</strong></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to abort</li>
<li>Power off the MX2 and power back on</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="main_meta">
<p class="edit"><br>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-39" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Controlling the LCD Display</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>The MX2 controller comes with the ability to control the
LCD display to reduce power consumption or light pollution onto your
shots at night. The standard LCD for the MX2 is a 16×2 character black
on green LCD display. This LCD can easily be read during bright
daylight without the backlight on and at night with very little
backlight.</p>
<h2>Adjusting the BackLight Brightness</h2>
<p>The backlight brightness can be dimmed by the MX2 firmware, but only when in <em>interleaved</em> motion mode. If you have turned on <em>continuous</em> motion mode, and run an axis below the defined <em>slow speed threshold</em>, the backlight dimmer will not work until the MX2 is re-started. When you have engaged in <em>continuous</em> motion at a speed under the <em>slow speed threshold</em>, the LCD will either be fully on or fully off depending on your LCD backlight settings.</p>
<p>You can set a value between 0 and 255 for the <em>backlight level</em>. If you enter a value larger than 255, it will automatically be limited to 255.</p>
<p>Like most values in the MX2 controller, the <em>backlight level</em> value is retained after power-off.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter] </span>to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Backlight </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> to adjust the backlight level value<strong></strong></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Turning the LCD BackLight Off Automatically</h2>
<p>You may wish to have the backlight on while entering values, but then
to turn off automatically a few seconds later to reduce the power drain
on your batteries. You can configure the MX2 to turn off the backlight
after a number of seconds of inactivity by adjusting the <em>auto dim</em> parameter. The backlight will turn back on the next time a button is pressed.</p>
<p>Enter the<em> auto dim</em> parameter value in seconds of inactivity
before the backlight turns off, set it to zero if you wish to disable
automatic dimming of the LCD backlight.</p>
<p>Like most values in the MX2 controller, the <em>auto dim</em> value is retained after power-off.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to select <strong>AutoDim </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> to adjust the auto dim value</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Disabling the Entire LCD Automatically</h2>
<p>To save as much power as possible, the MX2 can completely disable the
LCD, turning off the text in addition to the backlight. To enable this
feature, enable the <em>blank lcd</em> parameter in addition to setting an <em>auto dim</em> time. When <em>blank lcd</em> is enabled, the LCD is turned off entirely after the number of seconds specified in the <em>auto dim </em>parameter value pass with no input via the buttons.</p>
<p>After the LCD has been blanked, the first button you press will
simply re-enable the LCD to allow you to verify where you were on the
screen before submitting a button press and taking an unknown action.</p>
<p>Like most values in the MX2 controller, the<em> blank lcd </em> value is retained after power-off.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Blank LCD </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong><em>on</em></strong> or <strong><em>off</em></strong></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-40" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Configuring Camera Control</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>The MX2 controller provides direct control of a camera
through a cable connected to the remote release port of your camera. On
most cameras, there are two primary functions provided: Control Shutter
and Control Auto Focus. Here we’ll describe how to set up the MX2 to
handle different shooting requirements.</p>
<p>Remember that for the camera to be controlled by the MX2, the camera
must be connected through its remote shutter port to the MX2 Camera port
using an appropriate cable. For some cameras, it may be required to
put the camera in Remote Control mode to recognize the signals from the
remote shutter port.</p>
<p>All parameters indicated below are saved when the power is removed
from the MX2, and only need to be modified when you want to change them.</p>
<h2>Setting the Exposure Interval</h2>
<p>The <em>exposure interval</em> is the time between each exposure.
This value is displayed on the Main Screen, and may be set in tenths of
seconds (e.g. 0.2″, 1.1″, and so forth). It can be edited directly on
the main screen, or through the Camera Menu.</p>
<p>Note that the <em>exposure interval</em> is the time between <em>triggering</em>
each exposure, and not necessarily the time between completing one
exposure and starting the next. The different camera delays you
configure, for focus tapping, exposure delay, etc. will impact your
actual <em>exposure interval</em> time, should they be longer than the
interval when summed. In the case where your parameters have caused the
interval time to be exceeded, the main screen will always display the <em>actual</em>
interval time, and not the time you configured. It will not be
possible to reduce the interval without first decreasing one of the
other camera delays you have configured.</p>
<p>If you change the <em>exposure interval</em> while the program is running, it will take effect on the next exposure cycle.</p>
<p>Like most values in the MX2 controller, the <em>Exposure Interval</em> value is retained after power-off.</p>
<p><strong>Setting the Exposure Interval via the Main Screen</strong>:</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Left]</span> to select the displayed interval time</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to modify the value</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Setting the Exposure Interval via the Camera Menu:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select<strong>Camera</strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Interval </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> to alter the value</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Controlling Exposure Time with the MX2</h2>
<p>The MX2 controller is capable of doing bulb exposure control. The shutter line will be kept engaged for as long as the <em>exposure time</em>
parameter is configured for. The exposure time is entered in
milliseconds, and may be set for as low as your camera will recognize,
or up to about 50 days. Remember that there are one thousand
milliseconds in a second, so if you want a one second exposure, it would
be entered as <em>1000</em>.</p>
<p>Please note that different cameras have different <em>exposure time</em>
requirements for bulb mode, both minimum and maximum time. If you need
a controlled exposure for a shorter period of time than your camera
will allow in bulb mode, you must use the camera to control the exposure
in using its manual mode. You may need to experiment to discover the
correct minimums and maximums for your particular camera.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Set camera to bulb (B) mode</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Camera</strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Exp. Time </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to alter the value</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right] </span>to abort</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Exp. Delay </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to set the value to <em><strong>0</strong></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Controlling Exposure Time on the Camera</h2>
<p>For most cases, you’ll find it best to control the exposure on the
camera, using manual, or some other mode to dial in the appropriate
exposure time. Under certain conditions it will be important to tell
the MX2 the actual exposure time you’ve dialed in on the camera, so that
it does not attempt to trigger an exposure at the wrong time. The
amount of time to wait after triggering an exposure is configured via
the <em>exposure delay</em> value. This value is input in milliseconds, so one second would be entered as <em>1000</em>.</p>
<p>To disable any delay after triggering an exposure, set the <em>exposure delay </em>value to zero.</p>
<p>For <em>continuous motion</em> control, it is generally not necessary to set an exact <em>exposure delay</em> in the MX2 unless it exceeds your configured interval time. However, for <em>interleaved</em>,
or shoot-move-shoot, motion control, it is essential to dial in the
correct exposure time to prevent motor movement during the exposure. In
many cases, it is advantageous to exceed the actual exposure time
configured on the camera in the <em>exposure delay</em> parameter.</p>
<p>Additionally, you should configure the <em>exposure time</em> to its minimal value to prevent unnecessary delays. Each camera may have a different minimum <em>exposure time</em> required to honor the request to trip the shutter. For many cameras 100mS is a safe bet.</p>
<p><em>Exposure time</em> must <strong>always be greater than zero</strong> to trigger the camera.</p>
<ol>
<li>Set camera to manual (M) mode</li>
<li>Dial in the correct exposure on the camera</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Camera</strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Exp. Time </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up] </span>or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to set the value to the minimum time for your camera</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right] </span>to abort</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to select <strong>Exp. Delay</strong> and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to set the value</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Limiting the Number of Frames Taken</h2>
<p>The MX2 can automatically stop running when a certain number of frames have been exposed. Simply set the <em>max shots</em> parameter for the camera.</p>
<p>Note that when ramping/feathering moves, setting the <em>max shots</em> parameter tells the MX2 when to start ramping down.</p>
<p>Like most values in the MX2 controller, the <em>Max Shots</em> value is retained after power-off.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter] </span>to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to select <strong>Camera</strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to select <strong>Max Shots </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to alter the value</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Auto-Focus, Waking the Camera from Sleep, and Shooting in Live View</h2>
<p>For certain conditions, the focus control line can be used to control other aspects of the camera:</p>
<ul>
<li>Trip auto-focus before firing</li>
<li>On long interval times, put the camera into auto-sleep mode and use the focus line to wake it up before firing</li>
<li>For some live-view cameras, the camera may not respond to the first
time the exposure is tripped unless the focus line is tripped first</li>
</ul>
<p>The <em>focus tap</em> parameter allows you to define how long the
focus line should be triggered before the exposure line is triggered.
This time is input in milliseconds, and there will always be an
additional 1/10th second (100mS) delay after disengaging the focus line
before the exposure line will engage to prevent a bouncing effect being
perceived by the camera.</p>
<p>It is important to set this value to the right amount required for
your particular camera configuration. Some cameras focus slower than
others, or require more time to wake up than others, and will require
that the<em> focus tap</em> value be much higher. Experiment with your camera and shooting conditions to determine which works best for you.</p>
<p>To disable the focus tap functionality, set the time to zero (0) milliseconds.</p>
<p>Like most values in the MX2 controller, the <em>Focus Tap Time</em> value is retained after power-off.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Camera</strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Focus Tap </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up] </span>or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to alter the value</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter] </span>to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Cameras that Require Focus with Shutter (many Nikons)</h2>
<p>The MX2 is capable of controlling cameras that require that the focus
line be triggered along with the shutter line to trigger an exposure.
Many Nikon cameras require this, and some Canon users also report that
their cameras respond more reliably when the two lines are triggered
together. The <em>shutter-focus</em> parameter allows you to control this behavior.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Camera</strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Shutter+Focus </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to set the value to <em><strong>on</strong></em> or <em><strong>off</strong></em></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-41" class="section-2">
<h1 class="book-heading">Basic Use</h1>
In this section of the user guide, we cover common topics for using the MX2 Motion Controller in the studio and in the field.
<div id="node-42" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Choosing Your Motion Mode</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>The two basic motion control modes for the MX2 controller are <em>Continuous Motion</em> and <em>Interleaved</em>. (Also known as <em>Shoot-Move-Shoot</em>.)
In Continuous Motion mode, the motor moves irrespective of the camera
being fired, and generally at a consistent speed. In Interleaved mode,
the motor only moves between exposures. These two motion control modes
can result in different aesthetics in your output video, and each are
best geared to a specific type of shooting. The following table will
help to summarize the best way to choose between the two motion types
based on the parameters of your shot, or the effect you wish to achieve:</p>
<table cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr bgcolor="#dddddd">
<td><strong>Description</strong></td>
<td><strong>Continuous</strong></td>
<td><strong>Interleaved</strong></td>
<td><strong>Notes</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Moderate Speed, Short Exposure</em></td>
<td align="center">X</td>
<td><br>
</td>
<td>Can add a small amount of motion blur, and is easier to set up</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eeeeee">
<td><em>Long Exposure</em></td>
<td><br>
</td>
<td align="center">X</td>
<td>If camera controls exposure, dial-in post exp. delay in MX2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Very Slow Speeds</em></td>
<td><br>
</td>
<td align="center">X</td>
<td>Used Fixed SMS to achieve motion over hours or days</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eeeeee">
<td><em>Static Subjects, Medium Exposure</em></td>
<td align="center">X</td>
<td><br>
</td>
<td>Adds nice motion blur to otherwise static subjects</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Static Subjects Sharp, Moving Subjects Blurred</em></td>
<td><br>
</td>
<td align="center">X</td>
<td>Set longest exposure time achievable</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#eeeeee">
<td><em>Star Scenes</em></td>
<td align="center">X</td>
<td align="center">X</td>
<td>If moving with stars, cont. can help prevent streaking, but will reduce foreground focus on very long exposures</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><em>Critical Focus, Macro, or Long Lens</em></td>
<td><br>
</td>
<td align="center">X</td>
<td>Prevent movement when exposing</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Now, many photographers will use a particular mode more often than
another, as a matter of taste or artistic intent. While the table above
attempts to serve as a guide to when to choose between the modes, your
workflow or shooting style may call for a specified mode that is in
contradiction with the table. Every one is unique, and their style is
their own — you should practice with each mode and understand which is
right for you.</p>
<p>You may only choose one motion type at a time, it is not possible to run one axis in <em>continuous motion</em> and another in <em>interleaved</em>.</p>
<h2>Using Continuous Motion</h2>
<p>The default behavior of the MX2 controller is to operate in <em>continuous motion</em> mode. For the highest end of the speed range, the control acts as a basic <em>Pulse Width Modulation</em>
driver, varying the speed of the motor by changing the frequency at
which voltage is applied to it. However, once the speed falls below the
configured slow speed floor, a special “pulsing” mode kicks in. In <em>pulsing</em>
mode, the motor is run at full speed for a brief period of time,
usually on the order of milliseconds, and then shut down for a period of
time. This causes the motor to operate at full torque at absolute
minimum speeds. While the motor is only moving part of the time, the
measured average speed over a period of time should largely approximate
the inches per minute (or percentage of speed) specified.</p>
<p>In all <em>continuous motion</em> modes, you are able to choose from
any one of 255 different speeds, from completely stopped to moving at
full speed. As each change to the speed is a 1/255th speed change,
speeds will appear to make larger jumps when being entered on the main
screen than you might expect.</p>
<p>At the very slowest speeds, it is generally preferable to move to <em>interleaved</em> mode, because the added vibration of the long pulses on the motor.</p>
<p>To enable <em>Continuous Motion</em> mode:</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Motor Sl.Mod. </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> and choose <strong><em>pulse</em></strong></li>
<li>[Enter] to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right] </span>to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Using Interleaved Motion</h2>
<p>There are two types of <em>interleaved</em> motion control available on the MX2: <em>Calculated</em> and <em>Fixed</em>.</p>
<h3>Calculated Interleave Mode</h3>
<p>In <em>calculated</em> mode, you input the distance moved in actual
speed (inches or cm per minute), and the distance moved between each
shot is determined based off of the <em>exposure interval</em> you
input. For example, if you input 1 inch per minute as your speed, and
your interval is set to 1 second, the axis would move 1/60th of an inch
between each shot. This mode is used when you want to easily determine
how fast you want to move from one point to another on the axis, and
generally requires little forethought to set up a shot.</p>
<p>You may input values from 1/100th of an inch (or cm if in metric mode) to the maximum distance the motor can move in one minute.</p>
<p>To enable <em>Calculated Interleave</em> Mode:</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press [Enter]</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to select <strong>Motor Sl.Mod. </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> and choose <strong><em>interleave</em></strong></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter] </span>to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to return to the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Axis <em>x </em></strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Fixed SMS</strong> and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter</span>]</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> and choose <strong><em>Off</em></strong></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h3>Fixed Interleave Mode</h3>
<p>In <em>fixed</em> mode, you input the distance moved as <em>actual distance traveled</em>
between each exposure. You may input values from 1/100th of an inch
(or cm if in metric mode) to the maximum distance the motor can move in
one minute. This mode is used when you want to accurately dial-in
distances moved between exposures, or achieve very smooth ramp (feather)
transitions. This is generally the preferred motion control method
for extreme close-up shots and anything using a long telephoto lens to
both prevent vibration during exposure and the accurately define motion
from frame to frame.</p>
<p>To enable <em>Fixed Interleave</em> Mode:</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Motor Sl.Mod. </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> and choose <strong><em>interleave</em></strong></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to abort</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to return to the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Axis <em>x </em></strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Fixed SMS</strong> and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> and choose <strong><em>On</em></strong></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="main_meta">
<p class="edit"><br>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-43" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Manual Motor Control</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>Manual Motor Control can be used to position the cart on
the rail between moves. Please note, however, that for very quick
re-positioning of the cart, it is usually fastest to simply loosen on
belt clip on the rail, pull the belt away from the pulley, and position
the cart by hand.</p>
<h2>Using Manual Control</h2>
<p>While on the <em>manual control</em> screen, you can use<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Up] </span>and<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down] </span>to adjust the speed of the motor, up to its max speed, and by holding <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Left]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> down, the motor will move in the given direction at the specified speed until the button is released. To exit the <em>manual control</em> screen, press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span>.</p>
<p>Note that in <em>manual control</em> mode, the available speeds at
which the cart will move will range from about 80% to 100% of full
speed, at lower speeds the cart may not move.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Manual</strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select the desired axis, and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to set the desired speed</li>
<li>Hold<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Left]</span> to move in the desired direction</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to exit the manual control screen</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to return to the main menu</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-44" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Ramping or Feathering Into Moves</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>The MX2 controller can “feather” or ramp into and out of
moves causing moves to start slowly and get faster within the video,
providing a nice accelerating or decelerating effect. It does this by
altering the distance moved between shots, or the speed moved, starting
with no speed and ramping up to your desired speed over a configurable
number of frames. Additionally, a lead-in or lead-out can be used to
add a static period before or after a motor’s movements, adding to your
ability to create the shot you want.</p>
<p>Ramp settings for a particular axis are saved between power-off cycles.</p>
<h2>Configuring Ramping</h2>
<p>A ramp into or out of a movement is done by changing the speed or
distance moved based on the number of frames that have been exposed.
For example, I can set the <em>ramp value</em> for an axis to 24 frames,
and at 24FPS output video it would take one second for the motion in
the output video to come to full speed. This is achieved by starting
the motor at no speed, and then increasing the speed just enough to
match the desired output speed at the right interval to reach full speed
at the desired frame as specified in the ramp value.</p>
<p>If you also configure the <em>max shots</em> parameter for the camera, the MX2 will automatically ramp down the motor to zero speed so that motion completes when the <em>max shots</em> count is reached. See <a href="http://dynamicperception.com/content/configuring-camera-control">Configuring Camera Control</a> <span class="print-footnote">[1]</span>.</p>
<p>Note that in <em>continuous motion</em> mode, you only have 255 speed
increments available, this means that ramps into low speeds (1-10% of
maximum speed) can be rough. To get extremely smooth ramps, it’s best
to choose <em>fixed interleave</em> mode. See <a href="http://dynamicperception.com/content/choosing-your-motion-mode">Choosing Your Motion Mode</a> <span class="print-footnote">[2]</span> for more information.</p>
<p>To understand how ramping will affect your output video, take the following parameter values:</p>
<ul>
<li>Output video = 24 frames per second</li>
<li>Max shots = 240 (10 seconds)</li>
<li>Ramp rate = 24</li>
<li>Axis speed = 1 inch per minute</li>
</ul>
<p>The following will happen in the output video:</p>
<ul>
<li>For one second, the motion will accelerate to full speed</li>
<li>For eight seconds, the motion will run at full speed (1 IPM)</li>
<li>For one second, the motor will decelerate to no speed</li>
</ul>
<p>This illustrates how ramping is achieved and the end result in your output video.</p>
<p>The <em>ramp value</em> for each axis is controlled independently.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to select <strong>Axis </strong><em><strong>x</strong> </em>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Ramp </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> to input the number of frames to reach full speed</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort without saving</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to return to the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to return to the main screen</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> as many times needed to select the desired axis speed</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> and <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to adjust the desired speed</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Left] </span>to the On/Off control</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up] </span>to start the program running</li>
</ol>
<p>Once the program starts running, the speed will set its self to zero
for any axis with a ramp value configured. If you stop the program
running before it reaches full speed, it will now see the current speed
as the desired speed, and you will have to increase it back to your
original value.</p>
<h2>Using a Lead-in or Lead-out</h2>
<p>A <em>lead-in</em> defines a period of time, in frames from the beginning of the shoot, that the motor should not move. Conversely, a <em>lead-out</em>
defines the period of time from the end of the shoot that the motor
should not move. Each axis can have its own lead-in and lead-out times
defined — however, to function, a <em>ramp value</em> must be set for
that axis as well. Leads are executed through the ramping/feathering
function of the controller, by simply preventing it from starting a ramp
before a certain number of frames have passed (in the case of a
lead-in), or reducing the overall number of frames counted before
ramping all the way down to zero (in the case of a lead-out).</p>
<p>As with ramping/feathering, a lead-out is only used if the <em>max shots</em> parameter has been set, and therefor the controller can determine when to start reducing speed.</p>
<p>To help clarify this function, we’ll use the same parameters from the ramping example, and add a lead-in and lead-out:</p>
<p>take the following parameter values:</p>
<ul>
<li>Output video = 24 frames per second</li>
<li>Max shots = 240 (10 seconds)</li>
<li>Ramp rate = 24</li>
<li>Lead-in = 24</li>
<li>Lead-out = 24</li>
<li>Axis speed = 1 inch per minute</li>
</ul>
<p>The following will happen in the output video:</p>
<ul>
<li>For one second, no movement will occur</li>
<li>For one second, the motion will accelerate to full speed</li>
<li>For seconds seconds, the motion will run at full speed (1 IPM)</li>
<li>For one second, the motor will decelerate to no speed</li>
<li>For one second, no movement will occur</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Axis </strong><em><strong>x</strong> </em>and press <span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Lead-in </strong>or<strong> Lead-out </strong>and press<span style="color: #0000ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Up] </span>or<span style="color: #0000ff;"> [Down]</span> to input the number of frames to lead in or out with</li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or <span style="color: #0000ff;">[Right]</span> to abort without saving</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-45" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Calibrating the Controller</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>The MX2 controller comes pre-calibrated for a load of
approximately 1.5kg (~ 3.5 lbs). This is the weight of a medium sized
dSLR, zoom lens, and small ball head.</p>
<p>Calibrating is not essential to make use of the MX2 with the Stage
Zero Dolly for timelapse use, however it can greatly increase the
accuracy of specific distances you dial in when entering values in
inches per minute. As the Stage Zero dolly’s motor does not have
feedback to the controller, the controller can only tell the motor to
move at certain speeds and at certain times. Calibrating the controller
allows you to adjust the controller for variations in how the motor
behaves under different loads and at different speeds.</p>
<p>Calibration of the motor is saved when the MX2 is powered off, so you
only need to re-calibrate when your payload (camera/lens/head/etc.)
changes in weight significantly. If you swap out motors or pulleys, it
is important to perform a calibration as well, after adjusting the motor
parameters to match your new combination.</p>
<p><em>Please note that it is impossible for the MX2 to make all speeds
accurate at all times. The calibration routine will allow you to
dial-in one or two specific speeds more accurately than others, but as a
low-cost system, perfect accuracy is not achievable.</em></p>
<h2>Adjusting the Angle of the Dolly</h2>
<p>When operating the dolly at an angle, and using Inches Per Minute
(IPM) speed input, you will want to inform the controller of the nearest
angle of the track so that it can adjust based on the calibration for
that angle. You may set the angle of the dolly (or any other linear
axis) in the Axis Configuration menu for the given axis. Three angle
values are possible: <em>0, 45,</em> and <em>90</em>. The <em>0</em> degree angle corresponds to the dolly being largely in parallel to the ground, <em>45</em> degrees corresponds to the track being at a 45-degree angle to the ground, and <em>90</em>
degrees to being perpendicular to the ground. You should pick the
angle closest to the one you are at, and when in doubt, err on the side
of setting the angle higher.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Axis </strong><em><strong>x</strong> </em>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Angle </strong>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> and choose between <em>0, 45, </em>and<em> 90</em></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter] </span>to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort</li>
</ol>
<h2>Using Automatic Calibration</h2>
<p>Automatic calibration mode adjusts the assumptions the controller
makes about the motor’s performance. By moving at different speeds, in
different modes, and in different directions the controller expects the
cart to have moved a certain distance. During automatic calibration,
you will measure the distance the cart has moved at each stage, and in
doing so the controller will automatically adjust its expectations of
the motor’s performance at critical speeds.</p>
<p>You may calibrate the controller for each of the specified angles: <em>0, 45,</em> and <em>90</em>
degrees. Each angle must be calibrated separately, but each time you
calibrate, the calibration will be saved and you will not have to repeat
it unless your payload substantially changes, or you change out the
motor or main drive pulley.</p>
<p>To use automatic calibration, first move the dolly to the middle of
the track, either through manual motor control or by loosening the belt
and moving it by hand and then make sure that the belt is tightened
fully before beginning. Now, place a ruler flat on the track in a
position where neither the angle mounts nor the stabilizer bar will hit
it, and line the edge of the ruler up with one of the edges of the
cart. The cart will be moving to the right at first, so let the ruler
stick out in that direction. For 45 degree and higher angles, it is
worthwhile to tape down the ruler.</p>
<p>After selecting the angle you want to calibrate for and pressing <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span>,
the cart will first move quickly to the right, and ask you to enter how
far it went in hundredths of an inch. (Don’t worry, just getting it
close enough in tenths is good enough for most uses.) Enter the value
using the up and down arrow keys and press enter to move to the next
step. The cart will then move to the left and repeat the process,
before going into two pulsing mode speed tests. The entire process
should take around 3-4 minutes.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Axis </strong><em><strong>x</strong> </em>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down] </span>to select <strong>Calibrate </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> and choose between <em>0, 45, </em>and<em> 90 </em>degree calibration modes</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to start the calibration process, or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to exit without calibrating</li>
<li>After the move is completed, use <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> and <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to input the distance moved in inches</li>
<li>Press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save the value you input and repeat five more times</li>
<li>After all calibration steps have been completed, use <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to exit the calibration screen</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Notes:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>After a new calibration, you will need to adjust the <em>Calibration Constant Value</em>, which is documented below to finely tune in the calibration</li>
<li>If you are using your own motor/gear chain with the MX2, and the
calibration does not appear to move at all, adjust the low and high
speed targets as indicated below</li>
</ul>
<h2>Adjusting Calibration</h2>
<p>The MX2′s calibration routine attempts to determine how much to
adjust the on time of the motor based on its performance at default
values. However, most motors behave non-linearly when adjusting their
speed by changing the on time. This means that simply adjusting the
on/off time alone is not enough to accurately dial in a speed that was
off from the expected target. Usually, it results in the motor going
much slower than expected for low speeds, as the non-linearity of the
motor’s behavior increases at the lowest speeds.</p>
<p>To compensate for this, a <em>calibration constant</em> was
introduced in the 0.83 version of the MX2 firmware. This allows you to
configure how much of the calibration change is actually applied during
run time calculations. Generally speaking, if the motor still runs too
slow after calibration, the constant should be reduced, and if it runs
too fast the constant should be increased.</p>
<p>The workflow for finely tuning in a particular speed is as follows:</p>
<ol>
<li>Set either the low or high speed target to the desired speed (see below)</li>
<li>Run the auto calibration</li>
<li>Set <em>max shots</em> to 60</li>
<li>Set <em>interval</em> to 1, disable all focus and post-exposure delays</li>
<li>Set the desired axis to the desired angle</li>
<li>Set the desired axis to the desired continuous speed on the main screen</li>
<li>Turn the program on, and measure actual distance traveled</li>
<li>Adjust calibration constant</li>
<li>Repeat 7-8 until the speed is tightly dialed-in</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Axis </strong><em><strong>x</strong> </em>and press<span style="color: #0000ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Cal. Constant </strong>and press <span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Up] </span>or <span style="color: #0000ff;">[Down]</span> and adjust the value as desired</li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span> to save the value, or <span style="color: #0000ff;">[Right]</span> to exit without saving</li>
</ol>
<h2>Setting the Calibration Targets</h2>
<p>When you want to dial-in one or two speeds to be your most accurate,
you should choose the speeds you use most. To adjust the speeds used in
calibration, you will need to adjust the low and <em>high calibration targets</em> to the speeds you desire.</p>
<p>These values are set in the <em>Main Settings</em> menu.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Settings</strong>and press <span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Cal. Spd. Low </strong>or <strong>Cal Spd. Hi </strong>and press <span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #0000ff;">[Down]</span> and choose the target speed</li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">[Enter]</span> to save the new value</li>
<li>Repeat calibration process as indicated above</li>
</ol>
<p>Like most values in the MX2 controller, the <em>Calibration Speed Targets</em> are retained after power-off.</p>
<p><strong>Important Notes:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The Low speed target <em>must</em> be lower than the High speed target</li>
<li>You must re-calibrate after changing the targets</li>
</ul>
<h2>Adjusting for Very Heavy Weights or Weak Motors</h2>
<p>If you’re using the Stage Zero with a large camera/motion control
payload, or are using the MX2 with a DIY rig with a smaller motor, you
may need to adjust the minimum pulse time to give the motor enough time
to get the cart moving at the lowest speeds. A larger minimum pulse
time can make movements at low speeds rougher, so you generally want to
keep it as low as possible, while still being able to start moving the
cart forward at the lowest speed.</p>
<p>Like most values in the MX2 controller, the Minimum Pulse value is retained after power-off.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Axis </strong><em><strong>x</strong> </em>and press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Min Pulse </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> and<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Down]</span> to adjust the minimum pulse time</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right] </span>to exit without saving</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-46" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Shooting Stop-Motion Films</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>Stop-Motion and Timelapse have slightly a different
workflow, namely in that in timelapse you want your exposures to
continue uninterrupted, on your set interval, for a period of time.
Whereas, in stop-motion filming, you want to control when each exposure
occurs so that you may make set adjustments or take other actions
between exposures. The MX2 supports both of these workflows easily.</p>
<h2>Enabling Manual Triggering of Exposure and Motion</h2>
<p>In stop-motion, we want to take one exposure and make one move
at-will, and have plenty of time to do what we need to do between
exposures. To achieve this, we’ll cause the MX2 to abort its program
after a single shot, and we’ll used <a href="http://dynamicperception.com/index.php?main_page=wordpress&page_id=216"><em>Fixed Interleave</em> motion control</a> <span class="print-footnote">[3]</span> to establish our exact distance moved between shots. If we set the <em>maximum shot count</em>
to 1 for the camera, when the MX2 is told to to turn motion on, it will
expose one frame make its required move and stop until it is turned on
again.</p>
<p><strong>Actions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter]</span> to enter the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Camera</strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> to select <strong>Max Shots </strong>and press<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Enter]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> or <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Down]</span> and input a value of <strong><em>1</em></strong></li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Enter] </span>to save or<span style="color: #3366ff;"> [Right]</span> to abort</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to return to the main menu</li>
<li><span style="color: #3366ff;">[Right]</span> to return to the home screen</li>
</ol>
<p>You should also be in the <a href="http://dynamicperception.com/index.php?main_page=wordpress&page_id=216"><em>Fixed Interleave</em></a> <span class="print-footnote">[3]</span> motion mode before beginning. On the main screen, input the desired distance to be moved between each shot, and then use <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Left]</span> to bring the cursor back to the <em>On/Off </em>value. Pressing <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span>
will cause the MX2 to start running, fire a single shot, move, and then
stop running. To fire the next frame, simply press <span style="color: #3366ff;">[Up]</span> again, and so forth.</p>
<p>If need be, you may also fashion a remote switch, connected to port <em>Ext 1</em>, and use this as a remote trigger to start the next exposure cycle. For more information see <a href="http://dynamicperception.com/index.php?main_page=wordpress&page_id=284">Using Remote Inputs</a> <span class="print-footnote">[4]</span>.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="node-47" class="section-3">
<h1 class="book-heading">Setting Motor and Drive Parameters</h1>
<div class="post">
<p>Most of the motor parameters in the MX2 will never need
to be modified if you are using the Stage Zero dolly in the stock
configuration. These parameters are largely designed to adjust distance
values listed on the main screen when you input movement in inches per
minute.</p>
<p>The MX2 controller displays inches per minute for linear axes by
relating the maximum RPM of the motor to the distance traveled by the
final drive gear. If you’re using a pulley or gear as a final output
drive (such as for a belt-driven system like the Stage Zero, or a
rack-and-pinion driven system), the distance traveled is generally the
pitch circumference of the gear. As these values effect the displayed
distances for movements, you should only adjust them when changing
something in the drivetrain. For calibrating different performance
under different loads, you should <a href="http://dynamicperception.com/index.php?main_page=wordpress&page_id=208">calibrate the axis</a> <span class="print-footnote">[5]</span> instead.</p>
<h2>Setting Motor RPM</h2>
<p>This setting allows you to input the Revolutions Per Minute of the
motor you are controlling. This aids in determining the max speed of
the motor. If you have multiple gear transitions after the motor its
self, make sure to account for them in the RPM. For example, if you