SmarAct MCS2 controller channel (pymodaq_plugins_smaract) — device market

Install

Three ways to run this device. Each one serves its fake backend: no instrument, no simulator install and no upstream checkout.

OpenAI4S (one command)

shell

openai4s lab add labs/pymodaq__pymodaq_plugins_smaract

Installs the device into the OpenAI4S Lab on its fake backend and starts it. First time? See setup below.

Or, in the workbench, open the Lab tab → Market → Install.

Standalone MHS endpoint

shell

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/PKU-YuanGroup/OpenMHS.git && cd OpenMHS
PYTHONPATH=MHS/sdk/src python3 -m mhs serve labs/pymodaq__pymodaq_plugins_smaract --port 7400
# in a second terminal, from the same directory:
PYTHONPATH=MHS/sdk/src python3 -m mhs describe --endpoint http://127.0.0.1:7400

Serves the device as an MHS endpoint on port 7400 from an OpenMHS clone (Python 3.10 or later, standard library only); describe prints what it offers.

Any MCP host (Claude Desktop, Cursor, …)

mcp configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pymodaq-plugins-smaract": {
      "command": "python3",
      "args": [
        "-m",
        "mhs",
        "serve",
        "labs/pymodaq__pymodaq_plugins_smaract",
        "--mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PYTHONPATH": "/path/to/OpenMHS/MHS/sdk/src"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add this server to the host's MCP configuration and replace /path/to/OpenMHS with the path of your OpenMHS clone. The host starts the server and talks to it on stdin and stdout.

What it does

Measures

position
units
base_resolution
positioner_type
device_name
number_of_channels
channel

Adjusts

Nothing declared.

Actions

absolute_move: Move the bound MCS2 channel to an absolute position given in controller base units
relative_move: Move the bound MCS2 channel by a relative offset given in controller base units
find_reference: Start the reference search of the bound MCS2 channel (the native find_reference); the search itself is asynchronous
stop_motion: Stop motion on the bound MCS2 channel (the native stop); the controller applies its configured stop profile and the call takes no profile

Names as the driver declares them. Units, limits and the safety declaration are in the package's REFERENCE.md.

First-time setup

The OpenAI4S workbench with the OpenMHS lab, from a source checkout:

shell

# OpenAI4S workbench with the OpenMHS lab (source checkout)
git clone --recursive https://github.com/PKU-YuanGroup/OpenAI4S.git
cd OpenAI4S && ./setup.sh && source .venv/bin/activate
openai4s lab add labs/pymodaq__pymodaq_plugins_smaract
openai4s serve        # open the Lab tab

The standalone endpoint and the MCP server need only an OpenMHS clone and Python 3.10 or later. More in the market's getting-started guide and on the OpenAI4S host page.

Source and evidence

Upstream: pymodaq/pymodaq_plugins_smaract
Pinned commit: eeb3fa8ced4c
Licence: MIT
Stars: 1
Evidence: contract_checked on the fake backend
Backends: fake, hardware

The driver package MHS/drivers/labs/pymodaq__pymodaq_plugins_smaract wraps the upstream code at the pinned commit. Its REFERENCE.md documents the full contract: every value, action, unit, limit and the safety declaration.