Speed

Overview

The Speed Pane allows you to set:

• Speed - This is the current speed of the selected motor

• Max Speed - will prevent the motor from exceeding this speed

• Default Speed - this will be the default speed for each cue that uses this motor

• Default Accel - this will be the default Acceleration and Deceleration for each cue that uses this motor

• Max Jogging Speed - The max percentage of speed when jogging

• Min Jogging Speed - the min percentage of speed when jogging, this is best set to 3% to reduce any brake fluttering that happens at super low speeds.

Determining Max Speed

If you’re using one of Creative Conners’ stock machines, the Max Speed has already been tested and set. If you’re using your own machine, this process can be done by yourself, but it is much easier and safer if you have a second set of eyes.

At the very top it shows Speed 0”/Sec (this example shows inches, but whatever unit you used for the Position Scale will also show up here).

Verify the full required travel path is clear for the unit.

While watching the Speed section, smoothly slide the Manual Jog Slider until it is at 100% (or use the jogging controls on the Stagehand face). Look at what speed is being indicated in the Speed section of the Stagehand Properties Panel.

Depending on encoder sensitivity, you may see the number flicker. It’s best to use the smaller of these numbers, or if there is a large discrepancy between the flickering numbers, use a number slightly lower than the highest.

If you are getting help from a friend, it is best practice to have the person controlling the unit watch the unit. Look for any obstructions, and know when you need to slow down and stop at the end of travel. Your friend will watch for the Speed in Spikemark.

Once you know the speed, type that into the Max Speed input field and press Tab or click in the white space on the Cue Grid to confirm the number.

DEFAULT SPEED AND DEFAULT ACCEL

Default Speed and Default Accel are used as the initial values when a new movement is created on the Cue Grid for that particular unit, and they can be set only as fast as the Max Speed. These values are also used when moving to a Spike position from the Spikemark Pendant. These numbers are purely up to personal preference, but a good rule of thumb is to use a number that is ⅓ to ¾ of your Max Speed for your Default Speed, and then ¼ to ½ of your Default Speed for Default Accel. This will give you room to speed up as necessary with a smooth 2-4 second acceleration time (ramp time).

Example table of Default Speeds and Default Accels for 36”/s Max Speed.

Default Speed Ratio	Default Speed	Default Accel Ratio	Default Accel
1/3	12”/s	¼ (4 seconds)	3”/s2
1/3	12”/s	⅓ (3 seconds)	4”/s2
1/3	12”/s	½ (2 seconds)	6”/s2
1/2	18”/s	¼ (4 seconds)	4.5”/s2
1/2	18”/s	⅓ (3 seconds)	6”/s2
1/2	18”/s	½ (2 seconds)	9”/s2
2/3	24”/s	¼ (4 seconds)	6”/s2
2/3	24”/s	⅓ (3 seconds)	8”/s2
2/3	24”/s	½ (2 seconds)	12”/s2
3/4	27”/s	¼ (4 seconds)	6.75”/s2
3/4	27”/s	⅓ (3 seconds)	9”/s2
3/4	27”/s	½ (2 seconds)	13.5”/s2

Max And Min Jogging Speeds

While the Max and Default Speeds are specifically for controlling Cues, the Max Jogging Speed and Minimum Jog Speed are only for controlling the speeds for manual movements using the Manual Controls in Spikemark, the Showstopper 3 Consolette, or the Spikemark Pendant. Each setting is a percentage that will automatically scale all speed signals to be within the Minimum and Maximum values.

Let’s say that when you are manually jogging from the Stagehand, you note that at full speed your unit is moving 36”/s. With your Max Jogging Speed set to 100%, if you jog from Spikemark, you will also achieve 36”/s. However, if you set Max Jogging Speed to 50%, Spikemark will automatically calculate 50% of your full speed 36”/s), so that at full control deflection (moving the slider bar completely to the right), your unit will only receive 50% of your full speed signal, which in this case is 18”/s. The default Max Jogging Speed for a new motor is 100%.

The same concept applies to the Minimum Jogging Speed. When set to 0%, Spikemark will begin to send speed signals at the minimum possible levels. Setting this to 3% will cause Spikemark to automatically calculate 3% of the Full Speed Signal, and send that as your slowest speed. This helps cleanup slow speed chatter and choppy motion when attempting to jog at super slow speeds. We’ve found that most drives work well down to 3%, so the Min Jogging Speed defaults to 3% for a new motor.

Minimum and Maximum jog speeds do not affect manual movement from the face of the Stagehand motion controller or cued motion.