Connexions

You are here: Home » Content » Measurement & Automation Explorer (Windows Only)
Content Actions
Lenses

What is a lens?

Lenses

A lens is a custom view of Connexions content. You can think of it as a fancy kind of list that will let you see Connexions through the eyes of organizations and people you trust.

What is in a lens?

Lens makers point to Connexions materials (modules and collections), creating a guide that includes their own comments and descriptive tags about the content.

Who can create a lens?

Any individual Connexions member, a community, or a respected organization.

This content is ...
Affiliated with (?)
This content is either by members of the organizations listed or about topics related to the organizations listed. Click each link to see a list of all content affiliated with the organization.

  • This module is included in aLens by: National InstrumentsAs a part of collection:"LabVIEW Graphical Programming Course"

    Comments:

    "A full introductory course on programming with LabVIEW."

    Click the "National Instruments" link to see all content affiliated with them.

    National Instruments
Also in these lenses

  • This module is included inLens: Connexions Books Available for Print on Demand
    By: ConnexionsAs a part of collection:"LabVIEW Graphical Programming Course"

    Comments:

    "This book is available through the Connexions beta version of print-on-demand from online materials."

    Click the "Printable Books" link to see all content selected in this lens.

    Printable Books
Tags

(?)

These tags come from the endorsement, affiliation, and other lenses that include this content.

Measurement & Automation Explorer (Windows Only)

Module by: National Instruments

Summary: In this exercise, the objective is to use MAX to examine the current DAQ configuration and test the device interactively. Complete the following steps to examine the configuration for the DAQ device in the computer using MAX and use the test routines in MAX to confirm operation of the device.

Problem 1

1.a) Examining the DAQ Device Settings

  1. Launch MAX by double-clicking the icon on the desktop or by selecting Tools>>Measurement & Automation Explorer in LabVIEW. The utility searches the computer for installed National Instruments hardware and displays the information.
  2. Expand the Devices and Interfaces section to view the installed National Instruments devices. Figure 1 shows the PCI-6024E and a PCI-GPIB device.
    maxpci.png
    Figure 1
    MAX displays the National Instruments hardware and software in the computer. The device number appears in quotes following the device name. The Data Acquisition VIs use this device number to determine which device performs DAQ operations. MAX also displays the attributes of the device such as the system resources that are being used by the device.
    Note: You might have a different device installed, and some of the options shown might be different. Click the Show Help/Hide Help button in the top right corner of MAX to hide the online help and show the DAQ device information.
  3. The Device Routes tab provides detailed information about the internal signals that can be routed to other destinations on the device. This is a powerful resource that gives you a visual representation of the signals that are available to provide timing and synchronization with components that are on the device and other external devices.
    maxdevicerout.png
    Figure 2
  4. The Calibration tab provides information about the last time the device was calibrated both internally and externally.
    maxcalibration.png
    Figure 3
  5. Right-click the NI-DAQmx device in the configuration tree and select Self Calibrate to calibrate the DAQ device using a precision voltage reference source and update the built-in calibration constants. When the device has been calibrated, the Self Calibration information updates in the Calibration tab.

1.b) Testing the DAQ Device Components

  1. Click the Self-Test button to test the device. This tests the system resources assigned to the device. The device should pass the test because it is already configured.
  2. Click the Test Panels button to test the individual functions of the DAQ device, such as analog input and output. The Test Panels dialog box appears.
    1. Use the Analog Input tab to test the various analog input channels on the DAQ device. Channel Dev1/ai0 is connected to the temperature sensor on the DAQ Signal Accessory. Click the Start button to acquire data from analog input channel 0. Place your finger on the sensor to see the voltage rise. You also can move the Noise switch to On on the DAQ Signal Accessory to see the signal change in this tab. When you are finished, click the Stop button.
    2. Click the Analog Output tab to set up a single voltage or sine wave on one of the DAQ device analog output channels. Change the Output Mode to Sinewave Generation and click the Start button. LabVIEW generates a continuous sine wave on analog output channel 0.
    3. On the external DAQ Signal Accessory box, wire Analog Out Ch0 to Analog In Ch1.
    4. Click the Analog Input tab and change the channel to Dev1/ai1. Click the Start button to acquire data from analog input channel 1. LabVIEW displays the sine wave from analog output channel 0.
    5. Click the Digital I/O tab to test the digital lines on the DAQ device. Set lines 0 through 3 as output and toggle the Logic Level checkboxes. As you toggle the boxes, the LEDs on the DAQ signal accessory turn on or off. The LEDs use negative logic.
    6. Click the Counter I/O tab to determine if the DAQ device counter/timers are functioning properly. To verify counter/timer operation, change the Counter Mode tab to Edge Counting and click the Start button. The Counter Value increments rapidly. Click Stop to stop the counter test.
    7. Click the Close button to close the Test Panel and return to MAX.
  3. Close MAX by selecting File>>Exit.

Comments, questions, feedback, criticisms?

Discussion forum

Send feedback