C-990.cd1 | Pi Software Suite

Ironically, the C-990.CD1 also includes specific firmware update utilities for the C-990 series controller itself (a separate hardware product line). Confusingly, the software suite and the controller model share the "C-990" prefix. On the CD, look for C990_FW_Updater.exe.

For many of us, the value of C-990.CD1 lies in its libraries. Let’s look at how it handles the "Big Three" of automation programming.

For LabVIEW users, C-990.CD1 is a godsend. It installs a massive library of Virtual Instruments (VIs) located in the LabVIEW instr.lib folder. These VIs are wrappers for the GCS DLLs. pi software suite c-990.cd1

The original PI Software Suite C-990.CD1 was authored between 1998 and 2005. It expects a 32-bit operating system and relies on setup.exe installers that may fail on 64-bit Windows 10/11.

The most critical component included in the C-990.CD1 is the General Command Set (GCS) infrastructure. Ironically, the C-990

If you are writing code to move a stage, you don't want to write Move_Axis_X(10mm). You want to send a GCS command. GCS is PI’s universal language. Whether you are talking to a stepper motor or a piezo actuator, the command syntax remains logically consistent.

The C-990.CD1 installs the GCS DLLs that act as translators. Your computer sends a high-level command (e.g., "MOV 1 50"), and the suite handles the RS-232, USB, TCP/IP, or GPIB translation to the controller. The suite handles the heavy lifting of the

PI has embraced Python in recent years, and the C-990.CD1 suite includes the pipython package (often installed via wheel files on the CD or pip). The code is clean and Pythonic:

from pipython import GCSDevice
# C-990.CD1 allows generic device instantiation
pidevice = GCSDevice()
pidevice.InterfaceSetupDlg() # Opens a dialog to select USB/TCP device
pidevice.MOV(1, 50.0)        # Move Axis 1 to 50.0
print(pidevice.qPOS(1))      # Query position

The suite handles the heavy lifting of the C-type DLL calls under the hood, making Python automation surprisingly fast.