Can you tell me the purpose of measurement & automation explorer software & NiDAQmax driver software, & LABVIEW software for DAQ system?

[VBK]

Hi

I am having basic doubt related to all the softwares mentioned above.

Can you descibe it for me?

[altenbach]

NDAQmx is the driver software that lets you interact with the DAQ hardware using highlevel tools. It also lets you explore, configure, and test your measurement hardware. It includes NI Measurement & Automation Explorer, DAQ Assistant, and and LabVIEW SignalExpress LE software which allows you do basic measurements without programming. 

https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/drivers/download.ni-daq-mx.html

It can be downloaded freely and comes with any DAQ hardware from NI.

LabVIEW is a development system that allows you to write programs that can do anything you want, even interact with your hardware via the NIDAQmx drivers.

https://www.ni.com/en/shop/labview.html

What do you want to do? Please read the details at the above links and let us know if you have any more specific questions.

Message Edited by altenbach on 09-12-2007 09:07 PM

[VBK]

I wanted to develop a USB based DAQ system for temperature measurement (RTD/Thermistors as sensors).

Currently i am having NI PCI 4351 alongwith necessary accessories. I tried to configure one channel for thermistors using Measurement & automation explorer. How to incorporate the thermistors parameters in that? (I have noticed that RTD's thermocouple are readily configurable . Job is mere selection)

[Dennis_Knutson]

This shows how a thermistor is configured in MAX. I don't remember how the configuration is done with a 4351. That uses traditional DAQ and not DAQmx. When you get a USB device, that will use DAQmx and only DAQmx, however. Whatever work you do with RTDs, thermocouples, or thermistors with the card you have will need to be redone when you get the USB device. DAQmx has the ability to simulate a good number of devices so if you know what you will be using, you can get started with writing your code before you get the device.

Message Edited by Dennis Knutson on 09-13-2007 12:29 PM

[Elizabeth W]

Hello,

If you are looking into a USB-based thermistor/RTD measurement device, I would recommend the NI 9219 module in the cDAQ-9172 chassis.  To speak immediately with an NI representative who can help you determine the best hardware to purchase for your application, visit www.ni.com/contact. 

I would definitely recommend switching to a newer device as soon as possible that works with the NI-DAQmx drivers if you will be making thermistor measurements.  As Dennis mentioned, your 4351 can only use the legacy Traditional DAQ drivers.  Traditional DAQ does not have a built in thermistor sensor type for analog input, so you will have to manually convert the voltage measurements to temperature.  Thermistors have a resistance-temperature relationship which is approximated using the Steinhart-Hart equation.

There are built in measurement types in Traditional DAQ for ITS90 RTDs, American RTDs, DIN 43760 RTDs, and IEC 60751 RTDs.  To create a Virtual Channel to perform measurements with your 4351, open Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX), right-click on Data Neighborhood, and select Create New... » Traditional NI-DAQ Vitual Channel.

If you upgrade to a new DAQmx measurement device, you can instead create an NI-DAQmx Global Virtual Channel.  NI-DAQmx will allow you to create a thermistor Virtual Channel or an RTD Virtual Channel, which will allow you to measure temperature directly without having to worry about converting from voltage to temperature.

I hope this helps.  Please let me know if you have any more questions!