KMAPI

Overview

The KMAPI software package allows you to communicate with softMC from popular programming languages, such as Visual Basic over TCP/IP and UDP. The KMAPI provides complete access to the command line interface of your system across a TCP/IP connection. Fast access to frequently changing data, such as axis set-points and feedback, is provided via a UDP connection, also called UDP fast data.

Introduction

The KMAPI addresses several concerns when interfacing your program with Kollmorgen drives and controllers, including:

• sending commands (and receiving responses)
• reading and setting amplifier or controller variables
• sending and retrieving files
• error handling

The KMAPI addresses these concerns by providing a library of functions which allow the user to describe their system in terms of devices (amplifiers, controllers, axes, groups) and then communicate with these devices individually.
Central to the KMAPI is the concept of a device table. The device table is a data store (database) which is managed by the KMAPI for the user.
The device table is populated with devices by the programmer, allowing the programmer to execute commands on any device in the device table. Most details of the communication techniques used are hidden allowing the programmer to focus on high level programming instead of communication protocols.