QAxis

• QAxis software allows motion control cues to be created, edited and run using a very friendly interface.
• The number of cues that can be created is vast and any cue can control up to 24 axes simultaneously.
• QAxis has a very easy cue creation and editing facility that allows for fast programming of cues.
• QAxis utilises proprietary Omron PLCs, selected for their exceptional reliability and global availability, ensuring consistent performance wherever your production travels.
• QAxis uses the industry proven Omron FINS (Factory Interface Network Service) over ethernet protocol for reliable and stable communications.
• QAxis has 128 named deads (trims) that can be used as many times as required for any axis in any cue.
• Six groups (playbacks) allow axis to be either run together or split during the running of cues with individual speed control.
• The position and status of all axis are displayed the whole time.
• The time or distance to complete moves and cue speeds are displayed the whole time.
• QAxis has a 3D scene page that can display, demand positions, actual positions and run an animation in 3D. Extra Full HD monitor required.
• There is a weight readout facility with over and under weight settings.
• There is a dedicated revolve interface to simplify revolve projects.
• QAxis has a show log to record all operator commands and any system error codes.
• Control of axis is restricted by a password, a keyswitch and a deadman pedal to prevent unintended movement.
• The single axis controller allows control of any one axis whilst other cues are running for immediate control of an axis without the need to write a cue.
• The manual page allows easy control of any axis without the need to write a cue for maintenance and installation purposes.
• QAxis runs on compatible Windows 10 or 11 computers with Full HD display and Ethernet port to communicate with the QAxis hardware.
• Remote diagnostic support is available if Windows Pro is installed and the user can provide an internet connection.
• QAxis has a DMX output via sACN for integration with LX systems (Up to 60Hz speed).
• QAxis has a PosiStageNet output for projection and video mapping (Up to 60Hz speed). QAxis also has a comprehensive built in PSN Sniffer for maintenance and commissioning of PSN systems.
• QAxis has an OSC (Open Sound Control) input and output for loading and firing automation cues from external control systems or between multiple QAxis systems.
• QAxis has an MTC (Midi Timecode) input for synchronisation with external control systems.
• QAxis has a time script facility to trigger cues from internal or external timecode.
• QAxis has a cue reset facility to recall the start positions for the previous 10 cues.
• QAxis has a screenshot and video capture facility to send AVW information when required.
• QAxis has a useful IP scanner to detect all devices on its network.

• Jersey Boys UK Tour 2
• Kinky Boots UK Tour 3
• Phantom of the Opera, Teatro Renault, Sao Paulo
• Only Fools and Horses, Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
• Shipwreck, The Almeida Theatre, London
• The American Clock, The Old Vic, London
• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
• Life of Pi, Sheffield Crucible
• Life of Pi, UK Tour 2023/24
• The Hunt, The Almeida Theatre, London
• The Hunt, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn, NYC
• Breaking The Waves, Scottish Opera
• Breaking The Waves, Detroit Opera
• Breaking The Waves, Houston Grand Opera
• And Juliet, Shaftesbury Theatre, London
• Guys and Dolls, Sheffield Crucible
• The Wheel, TV Show, BBC
• Potters Christmas Show, Potters Resort
• The Grange Festival, Hampshire
• The Good Life, UK Tour
• Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, London Palladium 2022
• Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, UK Tour 2022/23
• Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, UK Tour 2024/25
• Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Australian Tour 2022/23
• Jersey Boys, Trafalgar Theatre, London
• Get Up Stand Up, Lyric Theatre, London
• The Drifters Girl, Garrick Theatre, London
• She Loves Me, Sheffield Crucible
• Ava: The Secret Conversations, Riverside Studios (QAxis software and design only)
• The 47th, The Old Vic, London
• Running with Lions, Hammersmith Lyric, London
• Tammy Faye, The Almeida Theatre, London
• Phantom of the Opera, South Korean Tour 2023/24
• The Wizard of Oz, London Palladium (Overstage automation only)
• Miss Saigon, Sheffield Crucible
• Pygmalion, The Old Vic, London
• Just For One Day, The Old Vic, London
• Lord of the Rings Musical (World tour)
• The Real Thing, The Old Vic, London
• Roots, The Almeida Theatre, London
• Just For One Day, Mirvish Theatre, Toronto
• Just For One Day, Shaftesbury Theatre, London
• Oedipus, Old Vic, London
• Diamonds and Dust, Emerald Theatre, London
• Gladiators TV Show
• A Christmas Carol, The Old Vic, London
• Romans, Almeida Theatre, London
• Operation Mincemeat, UK Tour
• American Psycho, Almeida Theatre, London

QAxis treats stage automation as predictable motion over time. Rather than PID-based supervisory motion control, it uses deterministic trajectory generation based on classical Newtonian motion profiles. Each axis is defined by position, velocity, acceleration, and deceleration parameters, producing smooth, repeatable moves that are straightforward to commission and debug.

Because modern drives handle inner velocity and torque loops, QAxis focuses on trajectory planning and synchronisation. PLC scan times are kept below 10ms for responsive cue execution and stable multi-axis coordination, resulting in motion operators typically describe as calm and predictable.

Synchronisation is primarily time-based: axes are coordinated to arrive together according to cue duration. For tightly coupled mechanisms (for example dual-winch systems), master-slave coordination can be implemented at PLC level without complicating normal cue programming.

The workflow is intentionally familiar: cue lists, axis states, and motion parameters are visible together in a single-screen interface designed to maximise operator awareness during live performance and enable rapid changes during commissioning and technical rehearsals.

QAxis typically supports up to 24 axes per controller. Larger productions can use multiple coordinated QAxis nodes, with cue control distributed via OSC messaging, preserving deterministic local motion control while allowing expansion.

Overall, QAxis is deliberately conservative in design: standard industrial hardware, simple deterministic motion, high operator visibility, and systems that remain serviceable for decades — more like a show-motion control system than a robotics controller.