Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

Korhonen Timo <[email protected]> · Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:27:26 +0100

Hi Michele,
Michele Joyce wrote:

Timo,

I'm very interested in learning how you do this. Do you have a
separate server calculating the optics parameters and sticking them in
the EPICS records? Or do you build the calculations into the records
of individual devices?

The calculations are put into a layer of EPICS records that uses the
hardware layer records as inputs and outputs.

Basically we work(ed) together with the physicists and translate(d) some
of the most used applications into epics

templates; those have then bunches of calcout records for the formulas
and other stuff to distribute/concentrate the values

as needed. One can achieve quite neat results with epics records....

Once this is done, the physics parameters are available for all
applications. For changing the parameters you then need

just a simple screen - medm panel for instance.

Of course, all this can also be done using a server. I think however
that the implementation in the records has paid off.
If you want more details, I need to point you to my colleagues who can
explain them better. I have personally done

only very little in this - but I really love the idea.
best regards,
Timo

Michele
Korhonen Timo wrote:

Steiner, Mathias wrote:

My question is this: To what extent are the physics parameters part
of the controls?
Should there be channels like "Separator:BeamMass," for example?

My feeling is that the beam, as it were, should be part of the
control system from the beginning, but I don't have much to back
this up.

What do you think?

To me and my colleagues (most of them, at least) here this has never
even been a question but an obvious thing.

We have (in SLS) all kinds of physics parameters as epics channels
(tune, chromacity, etc. for the synchrotron

and, for instance photon energy and polarization for the beamlines.)
This brings so many advantages

that I cannot even count...

Of course, you then have to have people in controls that look after
and understand these issues. This

in turn makes the communication between different groups much easier.
Bob also pointed this out.
So, my 2 cents go for a big yes.
best regards,
Timo

--

Timo Korhonen PSI (Paul Scherrer Institut, http://www.psi.ch)
CH-5232 Villigen PSI
tel + 41- 56 3103262 fax + 41 - 56 310 5090
e-mail: [email protected]

Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System

Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System