Temperature measurement alongside other data measurement

[Laura_H]

Hi all,

I'm using Labview to automate a drop delivery process. I am installing temperature controllers and want to first bring the temperature up to a certain range, then start the drop process, and also display the temperature the entire time the drop process is running. My idea was to start the temperature controllers in Labview, wait until the output temp reaches within a certain range, then start the rest of the process but in the meantime keep displaying the temperature.

The best way I've found to do this so far is to make a stacked sequence. In the first frame, I start the temperature controllers, use a timed loop that "continues" until the temperature reaches a certain range, then cause it to go to the next frame. The next frame has another timed loop so the temperature can keep being read, and the drop delivery code. The problem with this is I have two output boxes for the temperature and I'd like just one.

So I guess I have two questions - I'm sure someone could think of a better way to do this, or if my way described seems feasible, if there's a way to have an output from two separate loops in two separate frames in a stacked structure display as the same output in the interface.

Hopefully I explained that okay! I appreciate any and all advice!

Laura

[Wire_Warrior]

Laura, Welcome to the forums and the Developer Zone! Your idea of using the stacked sequence will certainly get the task done as you have described it. The downside of the stacked sequence is that it is impossible to repeat a previous sequence state or otherwise alter the execution sequence programmatically and editting the structure to insert new states (in the middle not the ends per se) can be a bit painful. A more versatile option is the "state machine" architecture. It offers much of the sequence control features of the stacked sequence but gives you more versatility in ordering your states. Check out this community page to see some examples. https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-8410 You might also check out the JKI String Based State Machine architecture. They have a drag and drop template for a real solid state machine setup and some tutorial videos on their site for using it. Good luck Wire Warrior

[MStewart]

Here's a quick example

[Laura_H]

Ah, this is great! I didn't even think to do this. Thanks so much!

[Wire_Warrior]

And that's the beauty of the NI ecosystem, people helping people.