Plot Manager Overview

To access the Plot Manager:
On the Plots menu, click Open Plot Manager.

Use the Plot Manager to:

View Plots
From the Plot Manager, you can start, trigger, save and export plots.
Tune the Axes
Use the Tuning Tools to efficiently and easily issue commands, change and download gains, and view plots of moves.
Edit Plot Templates
Access the Plot Template Editor from the Plotting tab.

For general details on using plots in the RMC, see the Plots Overview topic. For help on the various parts of the Plot Manager, see the Plot Manager Elements topic.

How To...

Upload a Captured Plot
On the Plotting tab, click Capture for the desired plot template to upload the latest captured plot.

The RMC starts capturing plot data when a motion command is sent, the Start Plot (100) command is sent, or the plot is triggered. The RMC captures this data for as long as specified by the plot duration, and stores this data internally. To view the captured plot data, you need to upload the captured plot. By default, each plot template contains data for the corresponding axis number, although you can edit each template to include any data in the RMC.

If you attempt to upload a captured plot that has not been triggered, or has been re-armed, the Plot Manager will indicate it is waiting for a plot trigger before it can upload plot data.

Start a Trend
On the Plotting tab, click Trend.

Trending continuously uploads the plot data while it is being captured in the RMC. The amount of trend data that RMCTools will store is 30 seconds or the plot duration, whichever is greater. Trend data beyond that time will be lost. Trending will upload data as fast the communications allows, and some plot samples may be missed. If you need every plot sample without any gaps, use Capture mode.

Zoom

Use the zoom buttons on the Plot Manager toolbar, or Ctrl + mouse wheel. Use Shift + mouse wheel to scroll horizontally.

Move the Cursor in the Plot Window
Click and drag in the plot window to move the cursor. The Plot Details window in the lower left displays all the plot data at the location of the hairline cursor. Move the hairline cursor to view the data at any sample.
To display the absolute time of the cursor, which is the same time as shown in the Event Log, on the View menu, click Show Absolute Time.
View Tuning Parameters at the Time the Plot was Captured
Click the Parameters tab below the Plot Details tab to view the axis parameters at the time the plot was captured. These parameters are uploaded immediately after the plot upload is completed.
Trigger a Plot
On the Plots menu (in the menu bar at the top of RMCTools), click Trigger Plot. Before triggering a plot, it may need to be rearmed. To rearm a plot, on the Online menu, click Rearm Plot. You can also use the Trigger Plot (102) and Rearm Plot (103) commands.

Triggering a plot will cause the RMC to start capturing plot data and store the data internally. To view it, you will also need to upload the captured plot.

You can change the trigger settings. See Triggering Plots for details.

Save Plots
Plots you have uploaded are listed on the History tab and can be saved. To save plots, on the Plot Manager toolbar, click Save Plot(s).
Export a Plot
On the history tab, right-click a plot and choose Export Plot. The plot can be exported use in other programs such as Microsoft Excel. See Saving and Exporting Plots for details.
Print a Plot
On the toolbar, click the Print button to print the currently viewed plot.
If the number of vertical scales causes the available plot area to be less than 50% of the printable area, the remaining vertical scales will not be included in the plot. To prevent this from occurring, group scales together in the Plot Template settings.

Using the Tuning Tools

To open the tuning tools, click the Tuning tab in the Plot History pane. For details, see the Tuning Tools topic.