Package tacval

source code

Introduction

Welcome to TacVal, the noble gas extraction line controller for the New Mexico Geochronology Research Laboratory

Feature List

1. Interactive 2D and 3D (implemented with OpenGL) extraction line schematics
2. Serial Communications with Ion and MicroPirani gauges and Agilent
3. Realtime streaming graphs of transducer pressures
4. Communicates with an embedding http server to post extraction line info to the web CherryPy
5. Can post updates to the NMGRL twitter page
6. MySQL, Postgresql,Oracle,MSSQL,Firebird,SQLite database read/write access SQLAlchemy
7. Thread safe run manager to execute runscripts
8. Controllable by other programs using python sockets the extraction line controller listens to a specified port for incoming commands to add to the command queue. sockets also provide the means of communication between the http server and extraction line controller
9. HDF5 read/write capabilities PyTables. With a RDBMS these hierarchal data files can be very powerful
10. System monitor that listens for problems with the extraction line and alerts the user. If no user action is taken after a specified time the program performs a default action.

Description

Tacval is currently used to view and record extraction line pressures (see GaugeManager) and actuate (open/close) pneumatic vacuum valves (see ValveManager).

The basic structure of tacval is as follows

An ExtractionLineManager has a set of managers

1. a collection of BaseGauge are managed by a GaugeManager
   • Gauge manager has a ScanThread the contains a Queue object. The Gauge manager processes commands from the queue one at a time passing control to the BaseGauge to actually complete the requested task
2. a collection of Valves are managed by a ValveManager
   • the valve manager uses a Actuator to open and close the Agilent GP switch channels
3. a collection of Lasers are managed by a LaserManager

and two display canvases

1. ExtractionLineCanvas2D
2. ExtractionLineCanvas3D
   • the 3D interface is designed as a virtual representation of the physical extraction line. Valves are represented by spheres. A red sphere indicates the valve is closed and a green sphere equals open. If the sphere is decorated by smaller indicator spheres then the valve is in manual control and any commands from a runscript are blocked. Clicking on the sphere will perform the current tool action
   • the 3D interface has three tool states and two view states for the mouse.
     • View States
       • Rotate, the view can be changed in 3 dimensions
       • Pan, the view can be changed in only the X and Y dimensions
     • Tool States
       • Auto, set the valve to auto control. Does not actuate the valve
       • Manual, open or close the valve
       • Sample, open the valve for a specified time and close. note: Cannot sample an open valve

Gauge Manager

The GaugeManager is composed of two views

1. Gauge Table.
   • list of the currently configured gauges
2. LED Panel Meters
   • display the pressure (default units torr) for the associated gauge