Simple control of Thorlabs Elliptec devices from Python.

Elliptec

Simple control of Thorlabs Elliptec devices.
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About The Project

ThorLabs Elliptec devices offer a neat way to quickly set up automated workflows in optical systems. This project aims to provide a simple and quick way to control them directly from Python. It uses the pyserial library and is inspired by the TL-rotation-control project by Chris Baird. The end goal of the project is to reproduce the entire functionality of the official Elliptec Software.

This library is still under active development. Serious bugs are present and breaking changes will be introduced.

List of supported devices

Currently (somewhat) supported devices:

• Rotation Mount (ELL14) - Thorlabs product page - typically used for polarization state generators
• Dual-Position Slider (ELL6) - Thorlabs product page - typically used as a shutter
• Four-Position Slider (ELL9) - Thorlabs product page - typically used as a filter wheel

As of right now, I do not have access to any other devices from the Elliptec family. If you are interested in controlling a device that is not on this list, feel free to reach out to me.

What works and what doesn't

What works:

• basic movement
• getting information about the device
• getting information about individual motors

What is missing:

• documentation
• safety (no library performed bounds checks etc)
• consistency (across methods, devices, returns, ...)
• automated discovery of devices
• adding devices by serial number
• searching for optimal motor frequencies
• (re)setting permanent parameters (home positions, motor frequencies)
• cleaning and optimization procedures

Some of the missing functionality can be performed using the official Elliptec Software.

Support

If you are going to use this code in any way, please let me know via email/twitter/issues or find my contact info on my website. I am working on this project in my spare time and need every piece of encouragement I can get! ;)