XA Software

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XA GUI for KDC101 Brushed DC Servo Controller

Thorlabs offers the XA software package to control a wide range of our motion controllers. The software is undergoing continuous, intensive development and will eventually add support for our entire line of motion control products. Support for XA software is expected through 2040. Please see the Supported Devices tab for a list of compatible devices.

Designed from the ground up to be straightforward to understand, XA provides a thread-safe and language-paradigm-agnostic set of application programming interfaces in C, C++, and C#/.NET with language wrappers available to allow for easy integration into your native, .NET language, Python, or LabVIEW applications. This enables the same functionality as offered by our previous motion control software packages while providing a more steamlined toolkit for developers. Coupled with the included developer guides and code examples in the software development kit (SDK), this software is tailored toward users interested in creating complex, customized applications and interfaces. 

The XA software package allows two methods of usage: graphical user interface (GUI) utilities for direct interaction with and control of the controllers out of the box, and a set of programming interfaces that allow custom-integrated positioning and alignment solutions to be easily programmed in the development language of choice. The device control GUI for the KDC101 Brushed DC Servo Controller is shown here as an example.

The XA GUI provides a convenient package of software functionality, whereby a single application can supply all of the control and associated programmable functions relating to a particular hardware unit. This application provides movable windows for each stage or actuator, allowing them to be manually operated, as well as a complete set of software functions to allow all parameters to be set and motor operations to be automated by a client application. The software also allows the control parameters found in the "Settings" button of the GUI to be saved and loaded. The provided GUI is unified across compatible Thorlabs products, with an improved coding architecture that enables an easy-to-manipulate UI and improved error logging for troubleshooting.

A native C/C++ API and a .NET wrapper for the API is provided in the software development kit (SDK). Full API documentation is provided for the native C library. The .NET wrapper documentation is currently under development. Please contact Tech Support for more details on using the .NET wrapper. The .NET wrapper can be used by 3rd party developers working in the latest C#, Visual Basic, LabVIEW, or any .NET compatible language to create custom applications. The software library allows integration with existing end-user custom applications. In other words, custom applications will be able to control the software and devices completely within the specific environment the user develops. The included USB connectivity provides 'Plug-and-Play' PC-controlled operation, making it easy to control multiple units at the same time to realize a multi-axis motion control solution.  

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XA GUI for BBD303 Brushless DC Servo Controller

Thorlabs offers two platforms to drive our wide range of motion controllers: our XA software package and our Kinesis software package, which is being phased out. The Kinesis software supports Thorlabs' full line of motion control products. The XA software is an improved platform for developers that currently supports some of our most popular motion control products (see the full list of supported products in the Supported Devices tab). To support a variety of applications, either package can be used to operate a wide range of Thorlabs devices, from small, low-power, single-channel drivers (such as the K-Cubes^®) to high-power, multi-channel benchtop units (such as the BBD300 series). 

XA Motion Control Software: Improved Platform for Developers

Software

XA Version 1.0.0

The XA Software Package, which includes a GUI for control of select Thorlabs' system controllers.

Also Available:

• Communications Protocol

The XA software features .NET APIs which can be used by 3rd party developers working in the latest C#, Visual Basic, LabVIEW, or any .NET compatible languages to create custom applications. Low-level DLL and static libraries are included for applications not expected to use the .NET framework, and APIs are included with each install. The XA software platform ensures that users can mix and match any of our compatible* motion control devices in a single application, while only having to learn a single set of software tools. In this way, it is perfectly feasible to combine any of the compatible controllers from single-axis to multi-axis systems and control all from a single, PC-based unified software interface. 

The XA software features a native C API and a .NET wrapper for the API within the provided software development kit (SDK), which enables all the same functionality as the Kinesis SDK. This software is ideal for users creating complex, customized applications and interfaces. The SDK includes developer guides and code examples. Additionally, the firmware update utility can be found here on the software download page.

The current version of the XA software can only drive select Thorlabs motion control devices. However, the software is undergoing continuous, intensive development and will eventually add support for our entire line of motion control products. Information on software compatibility can be found in the XA User Guide.

*Please see the Supported Devices tab for more details

A list of devices compatible with the XA motion control software is provided in the table. The documentation for each item, including the specifications and XA User Guide, is available by clicking the links on the Item #s.