reflectometry: Kibron Langmuir Trough control

[GRyall]

Feature Description

As a reflectometry instrument scientist, I would like to remotely control the Kibron Langmuir Trough I am purchasing.

Explanation

The Reflectometry group (working with sample environment) are in the process of procuring a Langmuir Trough. The timeline is dependent on funding (ask @GRyall for the latest update), but currently they are hoping to receive it in 2025.

We (@KathrynBaker, @Tom-Willemsen and @GRyall, on behalf of EC) have been involved in discussions ISIS have had with two suppliers (Kibron and Biolin). The decision has been made to procure the Kibron one.

There are two generations of electronics box currently in use by Kibron. The Gen 2 one is serial based. The Gen 3 one is USB. We have explicitly advised that if a Kibron trough is procured, the procurement should be for a trough with the Gen 2 Electronics box. as remote access with the Gen 3 has not yet been tested by Kibron and the usual reasons we dislike USB.

Additional Information

Kibron have provided us with an example python script they use to talk to their trough for R&D. They said the following:

I made a python module for my own R&D, see attached .zip. It is not written by our software engineer, so it is pragmatic rather than beautiful. There is no manual for how to use it, however, it is quite straight forward. You need to:

1. send necessary parameters (measurement modes, speed, target area, target pressure, calibration coefficients…) to the control box.
2. Start/stop measurements
3. Read data at a desired interval (default is 0.25 s) from a ring buffer in the box using a “GetData” command.

We can make some example scripts for how to do a calibration, and a measurement along with data collection. I will get back to you with further information soon.

The python code they sent can be found in \\isis\shares\ISIS_Experiment_Controls\data for tickets\Ticket8679_KibronLangmuirTrough. Also in this location is an email explaining the different generations of electronics boxes and how they function.

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Acceptance Criteria

• The Kibron Langmuir trough can be controlled through IBEX - either demonstrated on the procured hardware or similar borrowed hardware
• Documentation on the above

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