Motor Controller - BI-CEM meeting

Wednesday 17 Sept 2025, 14:15 → 17:00 Europe/Zurich

774/1-079 (CERN)

Minutes and summary on Overleaf

14:15 → 14:20 Intro & Objectives

• Clarify meeting goals: feasibility of SAMBUCA vs. MCOX and next steps

Speaker: Federico Roncarolo (CERN)

14:20 → 14:30 BI Systems Overview

Based on Recap of BI-PM internal discussion (Aug 28 notes)

• Class of instruments equipped with motors
• Present installations & migration needs
• New systems required for LS3 (quantities)
• Identification of systems difficult to maintain outside BI (e.g. HIR DBs)

Speakers: David Belohrad (CERN), Federico Roncarolo (CERN), Stephane Burger (CERN)

14:30 → 14:45 Current BI Controllers

(also from Aug 28 notes)

• Legacy VME systems
• MCOI with GEFE
• MCOX SoM based

Speakers: David Belohrad (CERN), Stephane Burger (CERN)

mcoi_mcox.pdf

VME Stepper_ADC.pdf

VME Stepper_ADC.pptx

14:45 → 15:00 MCOX (BI) – Status and Perspectives

• Prototype status and pending Gateware porting from VFC to SoM (~3 months FTE ?)
• Expected cost per channel
• Applicability beyond BI (potential inclusion in CEM portfolio)
• Risks: long-term Phytron procurement, production/maintenance burden

Speaker: David Belohrad (CERN)

15:00 → 15:20 SAMBUCA (CEM) – Status and Perspectives

• Prototype status (phase 2, collimators)
  • final LS3 production roadmap - schedule
• Expected performance for BI use cases (low-power motors, cabling, form factor)
• Software/firmware support and maintenance responsibilities
• Expected cost per channel
• Availability for BI testing

Speakers: Enrico Bravin (CERN), Dr Mario Di Castro (CERN)

TH2BCO04_Talk.pdf

TH2BCO04_Talk.pptx

15:20 → 15:40 Comparative Review, wrap-up & Discussion - ALL

(Aim at preparing bullet points for discussion - BI-PM team)

• Cost, performance, and integration trade-offs
• SAMBUCA integration to existing systems
• BSR and AWAKE existing + upgrades - options
• keep AWAKE legacy , recuperating electronics form HRM, BGC, LAbo which will be moved to new system
• Operational responsibilities (design, production, exploitation, maintenance)
• Standardisation vs. diversification of solutions

Future Ownership & Collaboration Options

• Scenario: CEM taking over responsibility for MCOX
• Scenario: CEM contributing to MCOX design completion while BI retains ownership
• Pros/cons for BI and CEM in both cases (resources, know-how, long-term support)

Speakers: Daniele Butti, David Belohrad (CERN), Federico Roncarolo (CERN), Dr Mario Di Castro (CERN), Stephane Burger (CERN)