RapidPy — Python rock magnetometer control software for the modern era

Released Apps

Subsystem control modules

Each module is a self-contained executable — operators can run only the panels they need without installing the full system.

Released

Gaussmeter Control

Driver-backed operator panel for the FW Bell 908A USB gaussmeter. Live field readings, configurable sampling sessions with alarm thresholds, and an interactive hover tooltip on the session plot.

Backendusb5100.dll (64-bit USB) or gm0.dll (RS-232)
OutputTimestamped CSV session export
BundleIncludes FW Bell USB driver installer

Open app page → Manual ↗

Released

VRM Decay Logger

Three-axis SQUID live-view logger for viscous remanent magnetisation decay experiments. Configurable log/linear time steps, per-axis calibration, and direct legacy INI file loading.

BackendRS-232 SQUID serial stream (X/Y/Z)
CalLoads from legacy Paleomag_v3.INI
OutputTimestamped 3-axis CSV

Open app page → Manual ↗

RapidPy ADwin Communications Tester screenshot

Released

ADwin Communications Tester

Diagnostic and dense-capture panel for validating ADwin digital I/O, direct DAC and ADC channels, and board-timed loopback waveform acquisition before running AF demagnetisation hardware.

BackendADwin Gold II via Python bindings
PurposePre-flight comms bench test
OutputDense waveform capture + PNG / CSV export

Open app page → Manual ↗

Released

COM Port Mapper

Utility for detecting and assigning serial COM ports to each hardware device (gaussmeter, SQUID, motor controllers) before starting a measurement session.

DetectionAuto-probes port list
DevicesGaussmeter, SQUID, XY/Z motors
SavesJSON config read by all modules

Open app page → README ↗

In Progress

AF Tuner

Alternating-field coil tuning panel — Python port of frmAFTuner. Manages ADwin-driven AF ramps, relay selection, and field calibration curves.

VB6 srcfrmAFTuner.frm
BackendADwin AF ramp via adwin_af.py

Open app page → README ↗

Released

XY Sample Changer

Stage-centric operator panel aligned to frmDCMotors. Supports click/double-click tray moves, Active Cup calibration edits, and optional XY-only operation when the Z axis is disconnected.

VB6 srcfrmDCMotors.frm
MotorQuicksilver XY via hardware.py

Open app page → Manual ↗

Released

Up/Down Control

Z-axis operator panel aligned to frmDCMotors. Combines raw-count motion, top-switch readback, vacuum control, and SQUID-guided MeasPos scanning in one window.

VB6 srcfrmDCMotors.frm
ScanSQUID baseline + fit-assisted MeasPos

Open app page → Manual ↗

⚗️

In Progress

Unified operator interface replacing the VB6 MDI shell. Sidebar navigation across Sample Queue, Sequence Builder, Live Measurement, and System Settings. Phase 2 complete: all dialogs (Zijderveld plots, SQUID comm, IRM/ARM, vacuum, sample select, debug console) fully wired.

VB6 srcfrmProgram.frm (MDI orchestrator)
Phase2 of 4 — UI complete, backend Phase 3
PanelsDashboard, Queue, Sequence, Measure, Settings

Open app page → README ↗

Released

RapidPy DataViewer

Standalone demagnetisation data viewer with 2D component plots, 3D vector view, equal-area stereonet, normalized moment quicklook, and lightweight next-step hints. Opens CIT `.sam` sets, MagIC directories, and auto-reloads watched files.

Plots2D, 3D, stereonet, intensity, paleointensity
InputCIT `.sam`, MagIC, legacy CSV
DepsPySide6 + pyqtgraph

Open app page → README ↗

Manuals

Compiled app manuals and VB6 transition sheets

Use this index to see which compiled apps already have a full manual, which ones still rely on a README, and where a dedicated VB6 transition sheet has already been written.

📚

Index

Manual Index

Repo-side index of compiled executables, manual sources, website app pages, and current VB6 transition-sheet coverage.

SourceTop-level docs markdown
CoverageCompiled apps only

Open manual index ↗ App pages →

Transition Sheet Live

Up/Down Control

Current reference manual for the new transition-sheet format, mapping frmDCMotors and vacuum tasks onto the Python Z-axis panel.

ManualFull
VB6Transition sheet included

Manual ↗ App page →

🗂️

Manual Coverage

What Exists Today

Full manuals currently exist for Gaussmeter Control, VRM Decay Logger, ADwin Communications Tester, XY Sample Changer, and Up/Down Control.

README-onlyCOM Port Mapper, AF Tuner, Main Shell
Transition sheetsUp/Down, Gaussmeter, XY Changer

Changer manual ↗ Coverage table ↗

Codebase

Architecture

A shared hardware abstraction layer sits beneath all subsystem apps, keeping driver code in one place and subsystem UIs thin.

RAPID/
├── RapidPy/
│   ├── rapidpy_common/         # Shared layer
│   │   ├── ui.py               # UMN maroon/gold style sheet
│   │   ├── hardware.py         # Quicksilver motor protocol + motion helpers
│   │   ├── adwin_af.py         # ADwin AF ramp backend
│   │   └── gaussmeter.py       # gm0.dll / FW Bell wrapper
│   │
│   ├── gaussmeter_control/     # ✅ Released
│   ├── vrm_logger/             # ✅ Released
│   ├── adwin_comms/            # ✅ Released
│   ├── af_tuner/               # 🔧 In progress
│   ├── changer_xy_control/     # ✅ Released
│   ├── updown_control/         # ✅ Released
│   ├── dc_motor_control/       # 🔧 In progress
│   ├── data_viewer/            # ✅ Released — standalone demagnetisation data viewer
│   └── rapid_main/             # 🔧 Phase 2 — full system shell
│
├── installer/               # PyInstaller specs + Inno Setup
├── docs/                    # User and developer manuals
└── VB6/                     # Original VB6 source (reference)

Transition Plan

Migration roadmap

Subsystem-by-subsystem replacement, each validated against real hardware before the next one begins.

2024 — Phase 1

Instrument drivers & shared layer

Python wrappers for gm0.dll, FW Bell usb5100.dll, Quicksilver motor protocol, and ADwin AF ramp. UMN maroon/gold Qt style sheet.

2025 — Phase 2

Core operator panels released

Gaussmeter Control, VRM Decay Logger, and ADwin Communications Tester released as standalone Windows executables. Deployed at IRM, University of Minnesota.

2025–2026 — Phase 3

Motor control & AF panels

XY changer and up/down vertical-axis panels are now released as standalone executables. AF tuner and the deeper DC motor workflows remain in active validation against hardware limits and safety interlocks.

May 2026 — Phase 4

RAPID v4 System Shell — Phase 2 complete

Full operator UI shell (rapid_main) reaches Phase 2: all 8 settings tabs populated, 9 dialog windows wired (Zijderveld plots, SQUID comm, IRM/ARM, vacuum, sample select, debug console), standalone data_viewer utility released. Backend hardware integration (Phase 3) now active.

2026→

Full system orchestration

Measurement flow engine, live SQUID & ADwin comms, file export, and calibration routines. Full VB6 parity with no parallel VB6 required.

RapidPy — Python rock
magnetometer control
for the modern era.

From legacy VB6
to maintainable Python

Subsystem control modules

Gaussmeter Control

VRM Decay Logger

ADwin Communications Tester

COM Port Mapper

AF Tuner

XY Sample Changer

Up/Down Control

RAPID v4 Main Shell

RapidPy DataViewer

Compiled app manuals and VB6 transition sheets

Manual Index

Up/Down Control

What Exists Today

Architecture

Migration roadmap

Get involved

From legacy VB6to maintainable Python

Subsystem control modules

Compiled app manuals and VB6 transition sheets

Manual Index

Up/Down Control

What Exists Today

Architecture

Migration roadmap

Get involved

From legacy VB6
to maintainable Python