VB6 → Python 64-bit modernisation of the UC Berkeley RAPID paleomagnetic magnetometer controller.
The original VB6 source is archived at sourceforge.net/projects/paleomag (GPLv3). The VB6/ folder in this repo contains the Berkeley-specific variant operated on the Hargraves magnetometer, upgraded 2024-2025 and deployed at the Institute for Rock Magnetism (University of Minnesota, 2025).
Modern replacements live under RapidPy/ — self-contained Python apps with a shared hardware abstraction layer and a unified UMN maroon-and-gold UI style.
A driver-backed operator panel for the FW Bell 908A USB gaussmeter.
Supports live field readings, configurable sampling sessions with alarm thresholds, and a snap-to-point hover tooltip on the session plot.
Ships with a bundled FW Bell USB driver installer (install_fwbell_drivers.exe).
- Backend:
gm0.dll(legacy 32-bit via ctypes) or FW Bellusb5100.dll(64-bit) - Connection: RS-232 / COM port or USB auto
- Output: timestamped CSV session export
- Docs: Gaussmeter User Manual · Developer Guide
Three-axis SQUID live-view logger for viscous remanent magnetisation decay experiments.
Reads X/Y/Z moment via serial, applies per-axis calibration, and streams live curves with configurable logarithmic or linear time steps.
Calibration constants can be loaded directly from the legacy .INI file used by the VB6 system.
- Backend: RS-232 SQUID serial stream
- Calibration: load from legacy
Paleomag_v3.INIor enter manually - Output: timestamped CSV with X/Y/Z columns
- Docs: VRM Logger User Manual
A diagnostic panel for testing ADwin digital/analog I/O before running AF or DC motor routines.
Provides channel-by-channel read/write controls and a live square-wave output visualisation.
- Backend: ADwin Gold II via
ADwin.bas-compatible Python bindings - Purpose: bench-test ADwin comms without launching the full RAPID orchestrator
- Docs: ADwin Comms Manual
RapidPy/
├── rapidpy_common/ # Shared hardware layer
│ ├── ui.py # UMN maroon/gold liquid-glass style sheet
│ ├── hardware.py # Quicksilver motor protocol + motion helpers
│ ├── adwin_af.py # ADwin AF ramp backend
│ └── gaussmeter.py # gm0.dll / FW Bell wrapper + reading helpers
├── gaussmeter_control/ # FW Bell 908A operator panel
├── vrm_logger/ # Three-axis SQUID VRM decay logger
├── adwin_comms/ # ADwin I/O diagnostic tester
├── af_tuner/ # AF coil tuning panel
├── changer_xy_control/ # XY sample changer queue and controls
├── updown_control/ # Vertical axis (up/down) motor panel
├── dc_motor_control/ # General motor panel
└── system_shell/ # Operator launcher for all subsystem panels
All Windows executables are one-file PyInstaller bundles output to dist/:
| Executable | Description |
|---|---|
RapidPy_Gaussmeter.exe |
Gaussmeter Control |
RapidPyVRM.exe |
VRM Decay Logger |
RapidPyADWin.exe |
ADwin Communications Tester |
install_fwbell_drivers.exe |
FW Bell USB driver installer (bundled with Gaussmeter Setup) |
Build from the repo root with:
# Gaussmeter
Set-Location RapidPy\gaussmeter_control ; conda run -n paleomag cmd /c build_windows.bat
# VRM Logger
Set-Location RapidPy\vrm_logger ; conda run -n paleomag cmd /c build_windows.bat
# ADwin Comms
Set-Location RapidPy\adwin_comms ; conda run -n paleomag cmd /c build_windows.batRequirements: conda env create -f environment.yml → activates paleomag environment (Python 3.13, PySide6, pyqtgraph, PyInstaller).
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| fw-bell-gaussmeter-user-guide.md | Operator setup, driver installation, DLL placement, and GUI usage |
| fw-bell-gaussmeter-developer-guide.md | Direct driver work, helper usage, SCPI communication |
| gaussmeter-user-manual.md | Full Gaussmeter Control app manual |
| vrm-logger-user-manual.md | VRM Decay Logger full manual |
| adwin-comms-user-manual.md | ADwin Communications Tester manual |
GPLv3 — see LICENSE.