Soft Mode
An operating characteristic in which the command is applied to the motor in a smoothed form, with acceleration and deceleration ramped in steps. Lever movements become more fluid and the jolt caused by sudden starts and stops is reduced. On the AXI HCT402 this mode is enabled when the blue mode wire is connected to negative.
Instead of applying the joystick command directly, soft mode follows it along a defined ramp. As a result the same joystick movement produces a more measured hydraulic response. In applications requiring precise work this brings three concrete benefits:
- Load swing is reduced: the implement on the hitch does not swing on a sudden stop.
- Hydraulic shock is lowered: pressure surges caused by the valve opening and closing abruptly are smoothed.
- Operator error is forgiven: accidentally shoving the lever hard does not translate directly into a harsh movement.
The cost is response delay: in work requiring fast successive corrections the movement can feel "lazy". That is why the HCT402 is not locked into a single characteristic and offers Dynamic mode as a second behaviour.
Making the mode selection over a wire instead of a menu is an advantage in the field: the installer decides once and the user cannot change the mode by mistake. For operators working mostly on precise placement, soft mode is the default choice.
Context in which this term is used: Converting a tractor hydraulic lever to electronic control