Patent ID: 8175833

Claim:
A startup method for a multi-axis simulation system including a test fixture having a multiple-input-multiple-output linkage, the multiple-input-multiple-output linkage driven by a first actuator and a second actuator, the multiple-input-multiple-output linkage acting on a sample holder to control the position of the sample holder along a first simulation axis and a second simulation axis, the method comprising: receiving a first simulation axis profile characterized by a first profile amplitude and a second simulation axis profile characterized by a second profile amplitude; calculating an initial position for the first actuator based on the first simulation axis profile, the second simulation axis profile, and characteristics of the multiple-input-multiple-output linkage; moving the first actuator to the initial position, the initial position of the first actuator causing the multiple-input-multiple-output linkage to position the sample along the first simulation axis within a subset of a peak-to-peak range of the first simulation axis profile and along the second simulation axis within a subset of a peak-to-peak range of the second simulation axis profile; operating the first actuator to cause the multiple-input-multiple-output linkage to track the first and second simulation axis profiles and constrain first simulation axis values applied to the sample holder to within the peak-to-peak range of the first simulation axis profile while increasing the first actuator's amplitude from an initial value of zero to the first profile amplitude at a predetermined rate which is less than 10% per cycle.