@sixclear/brooks-mass-flow-controller
Brooks Mass Flow Controller v1.0.0

Overview

This plugin provides control, monitoring, and data publishing for Brooks mass flow controllers. Configuration for the plugin supports:

  • serial port configuration
  • device tag number
  • number of configured gases
  • flow reference (ex. calibration)
  • ramp time
  • poll period
  • publish period
  • whether to publish on change and/or periodically
  • disable ui capabilities for gas type, flow rate setpoint, and flow rate set unit controls
  • chart history length
  • number of errors to display
  • initialization commands
  • and more

User Interface

The image below shows the plugin’s interface.


The interface is devided into four sections:

  1. control and core monitoring (upper left)
  2. data chart (upper right)
  3. published data payload (bottom left)
  4. error log (bottom right)

Configuration Example


Configuration Details

ROOT object
This top level object holds all configuration information for this plugin.
Required: true
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
options object
Configuration options specific to this plugin. Note that variables and expressions are generally allowed in this section.
Required: true
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
options.deviceTagNumber integer
The unique identifier for the device which is used as its address on the serial bus for communication.
Required: true
Default: 32202035
options.numberOfConfiguredGases integer
The number of gases configured / calibrated on the device (usually by the manufacturer).
Required: true
Default: 2
options.flowReference enum (string)
The flow reference to use when setting the flow rate unit and helps determine underlying conversion coefficients for volumetric flow rates (ex. ml/sec). This is only important for volumetric flow rates (ex. ml/sec) because the volume changes with temperature and pressure. Mass flow rates (ex. grams/sec) do not depend on temperature and pressure and therefore are independent of this setting.
Required: true
Default: "Normal"
Enum Items: "Normal" | "Standard" | "Calibration"
options.rampTime number
The time to ramp to a new flow rate setpoint in seconds.
Required: true
Default: 5
options.pollPeriod integer
The period with which the plugin polls the mass flow controller for the current flow rate, temperature, etc.
Required: true
Default: 1000
options.publishPeriod integer
The period with which the plugin publishes data for consumption by any subscribing plugins.
Required: true
Default: 1000
options.publishOnChange boolean
Whether to publish data when the user makes changes to flow rate or gas type on the interface.
Required: true
Default: true
options.publishPeriodically boolean
Whether to publish data periodically.
Required: true
Default: true
options.uiDisableGasTypeControl boolean
Whether to disable the Gas Type control (i.e. prevent users from making changes).
Required: true
Default: false
options.uiDisableFlowRateSetpointControl boolean
Whether to disable the Flow Rate Setpoint control (i.e. prevent users from making changes).
Required: true
Default: false
options.uiDisableFlowRateSetUnitControl boolean
Whether to disable the Flow Rate Unit control (i.e. prevent users from making changes).
Required: true
Default: false
options.chartHistoryLength integer
The number of data points to keep in the chart in the user interface. The most recent data points are always shown.
Required: true
Default: 1000
options.numberOfErrorsToDisplay integer
The maximum number of errors to display in the interface. If the specified number of errors occur, subsequent new errors will not be displayed. This ensures that the first error is always displayed.
Required: true
Default: 10
options.initializationCommands array
An array of initialization commands to send to the mass flow controller. These commands are sent before the UI is even initialized and before any user interaction is processed.
Required: true
Default: 
[
    {
        "command": "SetGasType",
        "gasTypeCode": 1
    },
    {
        "command": "SetFlowRate",
        "flowRate": 0,
        "unit": "grams/sec"
    }
]
options.initializationCommands[n] object
An initialization command to send.
Required: false
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
options.initializationCommands[n]::{Set Gas Type} object
An object defining the gas type to set.
Required: false
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
options.initializationCommands[n]::{Set Gas Type}.command enum (string)
The set gas type command.
Required: true
Default: "SetGasType"
Enum Items: "SetGasType"
options.initializationCommands[n]::{Set Gas Type}.gasTypeCode integer
The gas type code to set (which sets the gas type) on the mass flow controller.
Required: true
Default: 1
options.initializationCommands[n]::{Set Flow Rate} object
An object defining the flow rate to set.
Required: false
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
options.initializationCommands[n]::{Set Flow Rate}.command enum (string)
The set flow rate command.
Required: true
Default: "SetFlowRate"
Enum Items: "SetFlowRate"
options.initializationCommands[n]::{Set Flow Rate}.flowRate number
The flow rate to set on the mass flow controller.
Required: true
Default: 0
options.initializationCommands[n]::{Set Flow Rate}.unit enum (string)
The flow rate unit to set on the mass flow controller.
Required: true
Default: "grams/sec"
Enum Items: "ft^3/min" | "gal/min" | "liters/min" | "imp gal/min" | "m^3/hr" | "gal/sec" | "liters/sec" | "ft^3/sec" | "ft^3/day" | "m^3/sec" | "m^3/day" | "imp gal/hr" | "imp gal/day" | "grams/sec" | "grams/min" | "grams/hr" | "kg/sec" | "kg/min" | "kg/hr" | "kg/day" | "lbs/sec" | "lbs/min" | "lbs/hr" | "lbs/day" | "ft^3/hr" | "m^3/min" | "barrels/sec" | "barrels/min" | "barrels/hr" | "barrels/day" | "gal/hr" | "imp gal/sec" | "liters/hr" | "ml/sec" | "ml/min" | "ml/hr" | "ml/day" | "liters/day" | "in^3/sec" | "in^3/min" | "in^3/hr" | "in^3/day" | "gal/day" | "cc/min" | "cc/sec" | "cc/hr" | "grams/day" | "onces/sec" | "onces/min" | "onces/hr" | "onces/day" | "cc/day"
options.serialPortConfiguration object
Defines the serial port configuration.
Required: true
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
options.serialPortConfiguration.SimulationMode boolean
Whether to run in simulation mode.
Required: true
Default: true
options.serialPortConfiguration.Address string
The address of the serial port.
Required: true
Default: "COM1"
options.serialPortConfiguration.Timeout integer
The timeout duration in milliseconds used for write and read operations.
Required: true
Default: 5000
options.serialPortConfiguration.BaudRate integer
The baud rate to use for serial communication. The available baud rates depend on the serial interface. Common baud rates include: 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 38400, 14400, 19200, 57600, 230400, 115200, 460800. Less common though not terrifically uncommon baud rates include: 100, 28800, 56000, 128000, 153600, 256000, 921600.
Required: true
Default: 19200
options.serialPortConfiguration.DataBits enum (integer)
The number of data bits used for underlying character encoding for transmission.
Required: true
Default: 8
Enum Items: 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
options.serialPortConfiguration.StopBits enum (string)
The number of bits which indicate the end of a given character transmission.
Required: true
Default: "1.0"
Enum Items: "1.0" | "1.5" | "2.0"
options.serialPortConfiguration.Parity enum (string)
The parity or error checking convention to use.
Required: true
Default: "Odd"
Enum Items: "None" | "Odd" | "Even" | "Mark" | "Space"
options.serialPortConfiguration.FlowControl string
The flow control convention to use.
Required: true
Default: "None"
options.logger object
Defines the logging (data and errors) for this plugin. Note that a LOG variable space is provided here, as well as the VAR variable space. Available variables are: @LOG{LOGGERNAME}, @LOG{TIMESTAMP}, @LOG{LOGMESSAGE}, @LOG{ERRORMESSAGE}, @VAR{instanceName}, @VAR{ModelNumber}, @VAR{SerialNumber}, and @VAR{RampTime}. Note: @LOG{LOGGERNAME} is equal to the @VAR{instanceName} here.
Required: true
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
options.logger.Enable boolean
Whether to enable the logger.
Required: true
Default: true
options.logger.LogFolder string
The folder in which to write log files.
Required: true
Default: "\\JADE_LOGS\\@VAR{instanceName}"
options.logger.FileNameFormat string
The filename to use when creating log files. Note: if the filesize limit is reached new files will be created with enumerated suffixes such as: MyLogFile-1.txt, MyLogFile-2.txt, etc.
Required: true
Default: "@VAR{instanceName}-@LOG{TIMESTAMP}.csv"
options.logger.ErrorsOnly boolean
Whether to log only errors.
Required: true
Default: false
options.logger.DiskThrashPeriod integer
The period in milliseconds with which to flush the file buffer to ensure it's committed to the hard drive. Note: This is a performance consideration to prevent writing to disk too frequently.
Required: true
Default: 1000
options.logger.FileSizeLimit integer
The file size at which to create new files.
Required: true
Default: 1000000
options.logger.StartLogFormat string
The initial string to put into the log file (and subsequent files) when opened for the first time.
Required: true
Default: "Timestamp,Flow Rate,Flow Rate Unit,Temperature,Temperature Unit,Gas Type"
options.logger.EndLogFormat string
The final string to put in the log file when closed.
Required: true
Default: ""
options.logger.LogEntryFormat string
The format to use when writing log entries when errors are not present.
Required: true
Default: "@LOG{LOGMESSAGE}"
options.logger.LogMessageFormat string
The message format used to construct non-error log entries. Valid variables for this plugin are: @VAR{Timestamp}, @VAR{GasTypeCode}, @VAR{GasType}, @VAR{FlowRateUnitCode}, @VAR{FlowRateUnit}, @VAR{FlowRate}, @VAR{TemperatureUnitCode}, @VAR{TemperatureUnit}, @VAR{Temperature}, @VAR{FlowReferenceCode}, @VAR{FlowReference}, @VAR{ModelNumber}, and @VAR{SerialNumber}. This is what gets assigned as the @LOG{LOGMESSAGE}. Note: this is an extension of the core logger configuration.
Required: true
Default: "\n@VAR{Timestamp},@VAR{FlowRate},@VAR{FlowRateUnit},@VAR{Temperature},@VAR{TemperatureUnit},@VAR{GasType}"
options.logger.ErrorLogEntryFormat string
The message format used to construct error log entries.
Required: true
Default: "\n\n@LOG{ERRORMESSAGE}\n\n"
options.logger.TimestampFormat string
The format used by the @LOG{TIMESTAMP} variable.
Required: true
Default: "%Y-%m-%d %H-%M-%S%3u"
panel object
Required: true
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
panel.open boolean
Whether to open the front panel immediately when run.
Required: true
Default: true
panel.state enum (string)
The state in which the window will open.
Required: true
Default: "Standard"
Enum Items: "Standard" | "Hidden" | "Closed" | "Minimized" | "Maximized"
panel.transparency integer
The transparency of the window. 0 = opaque, 100 = invisible.
Required: true
Default: 0
panel.title string
The title of the plugin window when it runs. Note that the variable 'instanceName' is provided here in a VAR variable container.
Required: true
Default: "@VAR{instanceName}"
panel.titleBarVisible boolean
Whether the window title bar is visible.
Required: true
Default: true
panel.showMenuBar boolean
Whether the menu bar is visible.
Required: true
Default: false
panel.showToolBar boolean
Whether the toolbar is visible.
Required: true
Default: false
panel.makeActive boolean
Whether the window becomes active when opened.
Required: true
Default: false
panel.bringToFront boolean
Whether the window is brought to the front / top of other windows when opened.
Required: true
Default: false
panel.minimizable boolean
Whether the window is minimizable.
Required: true
Default: true
panel.resizable boolean
Whether the window is resizable.
Required: true
Default: true
panel.closeable boolean
Whether the window is closeable.
Required: true
Default: true
panel.closeWhenDone boolean
Whether to close the window when complete.
Required: true
Default: true
panel.center boolean
Whether to center the window when opened. Note: this property overrides the 'position' property.
Required: true
Default: false
panel.position object
The position of the window when opened the first time.
Required: true
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
panel.position.top integer
The vertical position of the window in pixels from the top edge of the viewport. Note: this property is overriden by the 'center' property.
Required: true
Default: 100
panel.position.left integer
The horizontal position of the window in pixels from the left edge of the viewport. Note: this property is overriden by the 'center' property.
Required: true
Default: 100
panel.size object
The size of the window when opened the first time.
Required: false
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
panel.size.width integer
The width of the window in pixels. -1 means use the default width for the panel. Note that depending on panel features exposed, there may be a limit to how small a panel can become.
Required: true
Default: -1
panel.size.height integer
The height of the window in pixels. -1 means use the default height for the panel. Note that depending on panel features exposed, there may be a limit to how small a panel can become.
Required: true
Default: -1
channel object
The communication channel definition used by this plugin. Note: this section rarely needs modifications. In many cases, the underlying plugin implementation depends on at least some of these settings having the values below. Consult with a JADE expert before making changes to this section if you are unfamiliar with the implications of changes to this section.
Required: true
Default: (not specified; see any element defaults within)
channel.SendBreakTimeout integer
The timeout duration in milliseconds to wait for sending messages.
Required: true
Default: 1000
channel.WaitOnBreakTimeout integer
The timeout duration in milliseconds to wait for receiving messages. Note: -1 means wait indefinitely or until shutdown is signalled.
Required: true
Default: -1
channel.WaitOnShutdownTimeout integer
The timeout duration in milliseconds to wait for shutdown acknowledgment.
Required: true
Default: 2000
channel.ThrowTimeoutErrors boolean
Whether to throw timeout errors vs simply returning a boolean indicating whether a timeout occurred.
Required: true
Default: false
channel.ThrowShutdownUnacknowledgedErrors boolean
Whether to throw 'shutdown unacknowledged' errors.
Required: true
Default: true
channel.QueueSize integer
The size of the underlying communication queue in bytes. Note: -1 means unbounded (i.e. grow as needed with available memory).
Required: true
Default: 100
channel.SendBreakEnqueueType enum (string)
The enqueue strategy employed on the underlying queue for standard messages.
Required: true
Default: "LossyEnqueue"
Enum Items: "Enqueue" | "EnqueueAtFront" | "LossyEnqueue" | "LossyEnqueueAtFront"
channel.SendErrorEnqueueType enum (string)
The enqueue strategy employed on the underlying queue for error messages.
Required: true
Default: "LossyEnqueue"
Enum Items: "Enqueue" | "EnqueueAtFront" | "LossyEnqueue" | "LossyEnqueueAtFront"
channel.SendShutdownEnqueueType enum (string)
The enqueue strategy employed on the underlying queue for the shutdown message.
Required: true
Default: "LossyEnqueueAtFront"
Enum Items: "Enqueue" | "EnqueueAtFront" | "LossyEnqueue" | "LossyEnqueueAtFront"
channel.FlushQueueBeforeWaitingOnBreak boolean
Whether to flush the queue upon waiting for new messages (i.e. whether to clear the queue and wait for the next 'new' message; this has the effect of removing old messages and waiting for the next message.
Required: true
Default: false
channel.FlushQueueAfterBreaking boolean
Whether to flush the queue after receiving a new message (i.e. whether to handle the next message coming in the queue and then flush; this has the effect of handling the oldest message (if it exsits) or the next message before flushing the queue.
Required: true
Default: false