USB-485 Set-up & Communication for IMS
All of the IMS track systems use a National Instruments USB-485 serial to USB device cable for the motion control and possibly other devices. Each USB-485 cable has a unique serial number so the user can not just simply replace a cable without doing some reconfiguration of the device set-up. This guide will use as an example the M-Drive motion control but the information here pertains to any device using a USB-485 and possibly other USB to serial device cables.
This is the M-Drive Motion Control board for the IMS tracks. The NI USB-485 serial connector is on the upper right and the USB end of the cable is plugged into one of the USB ports on the PC Computer.

Windows Device Manager

When a USB-485 is plugged into a USB port on the PC computer the computer will immediately recognize it. Open the Windows Device Manager to view the device. Note the COM-port the device has been given and that the serial number of the cable is also displayed.
The Windows Device Manager window should look something like this,

NI Measurement and Automation Explorer (NI MAX) WRMSL Configuration:

Specific alias names must be assigned to the communication resources attaching the PC workstation to the instruments and motion control systems using National Instruments Motion and Automation Explorer. This must be done before running the software, as in, LabView and IMS must be closed.
It is extremely important that the alias name "X-AXIS" is used for the M-Drive motion control. This is the means by which IMS knows which USB is connected to the M-Drive that moves the X-axis (sample handler).
Also, be aware that if you change the USB to 485 cable NI-MAX will know. Each cable has a serial number. You will have to delete any previous alias names and reassign them to the correct serial ports. You must also reset the serial port communication parameters.
The NI MAX window should look

something like this,

Settings

 

Settings

Port Settings