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The motorBench® Development Suite is a GUI-based software development tool for Field-Oriented Control (FOC) that accurately measures critical motor parameters, automatically tunes feedback control gains and generates source code for an MPLAB® X IDE project by utilizing the Motor Control Application Framework (MCAF). This graphical, interactive development environment helps motor control embedded engineers save time in starting up and running new motors with no load or a constant load, especially when the motor parameters are unknown. The motorBench Development Suite is a library in MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC), a plug-in for MPLAB X IDE.
The user interface takes you step by step through the project with context-sensitive help files at your fingertips within the tool. With motorBench Development Suite, you can:
- Select one of the Microchip development boards or import a custom board definition for use in motorBench Development Suite
- Measure and report the electrical parameters for the motor and the mechanical parameters for the system
- Quickly get stable Proportional Integral (PI) control loop gains for the velocity, flux and torque-producing components of the motor current
- See how the control loop gains affect the system through Bode plots
- Select between start-up methods, rotor position feedback options and additional control features supported by MCAF
- Generate code straight into an MPLAB X IDE project to spin the motor
- Refer to the integrated help files to guide you through each step
Motor Control Application Framework
The Motor Control Application Framework (MCAF) is a firmware framework for motor control applications on dsPIC® DSC devices. The motorBench Development Suite generates the source code from this framework along with a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) for the chosen hardware.
For more information, refer to the Motor Control Application Framework User's Guide and Motor Control Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) files.
Version 2.50 of motorBench Development Suite and MCAF R8 introduce the following major new features:
- Support for custom boards, including boards that feature MCP802x three-phase MOSFET gate drivers
- Support for the integrated motor drivers, dsPIC DSCs with three-phase MOSFET gate drivers:
- dsPIC33CDV
- dsPIC33CDVC
- dsPIC33CDVL
- Usability improvements to the motor parameter measurement feature ("Measure"/Self-Commissioning)
- An inductance (Ld and Lq) calculator widget to help with specifying accurate values needed by the Zero-Speed/Maximum Torque (ZS/MT) estimator
The motorBench Development Suite supports the following Microchip development boards out of the box:
- dsPICDEM™ MCLV-2 Development Board (DM330021-2)
- dsPICDEM MCHV-2 (DM330023-2) or dsPICDEM MCHV-3 (DM330023-3) Development Board (no longer available for purchase)
- dsPIC33CK Low-Voltage Motor Control (LVMC) Development Board (DM330031)
- MCS MCLV-48V-300W Development Board (EV18H47A)
Additionally, motorBench Development Suite can support custom boards and other Microchip motor control development boards by importing their Board Definition File (BDF). Visit the release repository section below for more information.
The following PIMs are supported by the dsPICDEM™ MCLV-2 Development Board (DM330021-2) and dsPICDEM MCHV-2 (DM330023-2) or dsPICDEM MCHV-3 (DM330023-3) Development Board:
- dsPIC33EP256MC506 External Op Amp Motor Control PIM (MA330031-2)
- dsPIC33CK64MC105 External Op Amp Motor Control PIM (MA350051-1)
- dsPIC33CK64MC105 Internal Op Amp Motor Control PIM (MA330051-2)
- dsPIC33CK64MP105 External Op Amp Motor Control PIM MA330050-1)
- dsPIC33CK64MP105 Internal Op Amp Motor Control PIM (MA330050-2)
- dsPIC33CK256MP508 External Op Amp Motor Control PIM (MA330041-1)
- dsPIC33CK256MP508 Internal Op Amp Motor Control PIM (MA330041-2)
The following DIMs are supported by the MCS MCLV-48V-300W Development Board (EV18H47A):
The following are supported reference motors available from Microchip:
Getting Started
The following instructions outline the installation procedure for motorBench Development Suite:
- Verify that your Internet connection is stable.
- Open MPLAB X IDE.
- Launch MCC, select MCC Melody and click “Finished".
- Open the Content Manager. MCC will automatically attempt to download a copy of motorBench Development Suite v2.50.0.
- Expand the library group to verify that v2.50.0 shows up in the drop-down menu for motorBench Development Suite.
If the Content Manager fails to download and install v2.50.0 automatically, follow the manual procedure.
- Navigate to MCC and click on “View MCC Classic”. Search for the motorBench Development Suite v2.50.0 library file in the list and click on the link to download it.
- Open MPLAB X IDE.
- Go to “Tools”, “Options”, then “Plugins” and use the “Install library” button to manually install v2.50.0.
- Visit your myMicrochip page (log in or sign up for a free Microchip website account, if necessary).
- Click on the "myMicrochip" text next to the shopping cart icon in the upper right corner. A drop-down menu will open.
3. Click on "Registered Development Tools".
4. Click on "Register a Plug-In".
5. Select motorBench Development Suite in the drop-down menu for part number.
6. This will register your plugin and allow you to use motorBench Development Suite, even after the trial period ends.
7. You will need to copy the Registration Code and enter it into motorBench Development Suite.
8. To view your registration at any point of time, you can click on "My Plug-ins" at step 4.
- v2.50
- v2.45
- v2.35
- v2.25
- v2.15
- v2.0
- v1.15
Release Repository
Release Notes for motorBench Development Suite v2.45
This document contains information about new features, system requirements, installation, limitations, and known issues.
motorBench Development Suite v2.45 User's Guide
This document describes how to setup hardware, configure, and operate motorBench® Development Suite as well as aid in troubleshooting issues with motors.
Motor Control Application Framework User's Guide
This document covers code generated by motorBench Development Suite, including the overall architecture, a description of firmware components, and detailed algorithm notes.
Sample MPLAB X IDE Projects for motorBench Development Suite 2.45
These sample MPLAB X IDE project files can be used with the motorBench Development Suite plug-in.
Using MCLV-2 with motorBench Development Suite to Support Alternative Current and/or Voltage Ratings
Guidelines for using the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board with motorBench Development Suite when there are hardware modifications to alter current or voltage ratings
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics: MCLV-2
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite with the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board.
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics: MCHV-2 and MCHV-3
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite with the dsPICDEM MCHV-2 and MCHV-3 Development Boards
Motor Self-Commissioning Description
Basic description of the motor self-commissioning that is performed by motorBench Development Suite.
Motor Control Application Framework User Guide
This is an HTML user guide for the Motor Control Application Framework that is included in the motorBench Development Suite plug-in. It will help with the understanding of the code that is generated by the plug-in.
Sample MPLAB® X IDE Projects for motorBench Development Suite 2.35
These sample MPLAB X IDE project files can be used with the motorBench Development Suite plug-in.
MCC Peripheral Configuration Guide for motorBench Usage
This document outlines the peripheral configuration in MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) that are required for use with motorBench Development Suite. Sample projects for dsPICDEM™ MCHV-2 Development Board (MCHV-2) and dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board (MCLV-2) are available, but this information allows you to utilize motorBench Development Suite without the sample projects.
Using MCLV-2 with motorBench Development Suite to Support Alternative Current and/or Voltage Ratings
Guidelines for using the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board with motorBench Development Suite when there are hardware modifications to alter current or voltage ratings
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics - MCLV-2
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite with the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics - MCHV-2 and MCHV-3
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite with the dsPICDEM MCHV-2 and MCHV-3 Development Boards
Motor Self-Commissioning Description
Basic description of the motor self-commissioning that is performed by motorBench Development Suite.
Release Notes for motorBench Development Suite v2.35
This document contains information about new features, system requirements, installation, limitations, and known issues.
motorBench Development Suite v2.35 User's Guide
This document describes how to setup hardware, configure, and operate motorBench® Development Suite as well as aid in troubleshooting issues with motors.
Motor Control Application Framework User Guide
This is an HTML user guide for the Motor Control Application Framework that is included in the motorBench Development Suite plug-in. It will help with the understanding of the code that is generated by the plug-in.
Sample MPLAB® X Projects for motorBench Development Suite 2.25
Sample MPLAB X project files that may be used with the motorBench Development Suite plug-in
MCC Peripheral Configuration Guide for motorBench Usage
This document outlines the peripheral configuration in MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) that are required for use with motorBench Development Suite. Sample projects for dsPICDEM™ MCHV-2 Development Board (MCHV-2) and dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board (MCLV-2) are available, but this information allows you to utilize motorBench Development Suite without the sample projects.
Using MCLV-2 with motorBench Development Suite to Support Alternative Current and/or Voltage Ratings
Guidelines for using the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board with motorBench Development Suite when there are hardware modifications to alter current or voltage ratings
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics - MCLV-2
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite with the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics - MCHV-2 and MCHV-3
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite with the dsPICDEM MCHV-2 and MCHV-3 Development Boards
Motor Self-Commissioning Description
Basic description of the motor self-commissioning that is performed by motorBench Development Suite.
Release Notes for motorBench Development Suite v2.25
This document contains information about new features, system requirements, installation, limitations, and known issues.
motorBench Development Suite v2.25 User's Guide
This document describes how to setup hardware, configure, and operate motorBench® Development Suite as well as aid in troubleshooting issues with motors.
Motor Control Application Framework User Guide
This is an HTML user guide for the Motor Control Application Framework that is included in the motorBench Development Suite plug-in. It will help with the understanding of the code that is generated by the plug-in.
Sample MPLAB® X Projects for motorBench Development Suite 2.15
Sample MPLAB X project files that may be used with the motorBench Development Suite plug-in
MCC Peripheral Configuration Guide for motorBench Usage
This document outlines the peripheral configuration in MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) that are required for use with motorBench Development Suite. Sample projects for dsPICDEM™ MCHV-2 Development Board (MCHV-2) and dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board (MCLV-2) are available, but this information allows you to utilize motorBench Development Suite without the sample projects.
Using MCLV-2 with motorBench Development Suite to Support Alternative Current and/or Voltage Ratings
Guidelines for using the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board with motorBench Development Suite when there are hardware modifications to alter current or voltage ratings
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics - MCLV-2
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite with the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics - MCHV-2 and MCHV-3
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite with the dsPICDEM MCHV-2 and MCHV-3 Development Boards
Motor Self-Commissioning Description
Basic description of the motor self-commissioning that is performed by motorBench Development Suite.
Release Notes for motorBench Development Suite v2.15
This document contains information about new features, system requirements, installation, limitations, and known issues.
Motor Control Application Framework User Guide
This is an HTML user guide for the Motor Control Application Framework that is included in the motorBench Development Suite plug-in. It will help with the understanding of the code that is generated by the plug-in.
Sample MPLAB X Project for motorBench Development Suite for MCLV-2 / Sample MPLAB X Project for motorBench Development Suite for MCHV-2
Sample MPLAB X project files that may be used with the motorBench Development Suite plug-in
Using MCLV-2 with motorBench Development Suite to Support Alternative Current and/or Voltage Ratings
Guidelines for using the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board with motorBench Development Suite 2.0 when there are hardware modifications to alter current or voltage ratings
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics - MCLV-2
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite 2.0 with the dsPICDEM MCLV-2 Development Board.
Range Limits of Motor Parameters and Metrics - MCHV-2 and MCHV-3
Analysis of the supported ranges of motor parameters for use in motorBench Development Suite 2.0 with the dsPICDEM MCHV-2 and MCHV-3 Development Boards
Motor Self-Commissioning Description
Basic description of the motor self-commissioning that is performed by motorBench Development Suite
Release Notes for motorBench Development Suite v2.0
This document contains information about system requirements, installation, hardware setup, limitations, operation instructions and known issues.
Motor Control Application Framework User Guide
This is an HTML user guide for the Motor Control Application Framework that is included in the motorBench Development Suite plug-in. It will help with the understanding of the code that is generated by the plug-in.
Comparison and Analysis of AN1292 and MCAF
In this document the code that is generated by motorBench Development Suite plug-in using the Motor Control Application Framework is compared with the code that is available for application note AN1292.
Motor Control Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)
Basic description of the HAL that is used in the code generated by motorBench Development Suite
Motor Self Commissioning Description
Basic description of the motor self commissioning that is performed by motorBench Development Suite
Sample MPLAB X Project for motorBench Development Suite
Sample MPLAB X project file that should be opened before starting motorBench Development Suite plug-in
Release Notes for motorBench Development Suite v. 1.15
This document contains information about system requirements, installation, hardware setup, limitations, operation instructions and known issues.
motorBench Development Suite Training
This free Microchip University class introduces the motorBench Development Suite and demonstrates how it can help you save time in starting up and running new motors, especially when its parameters are unknown.
