Obtaining temperature signal from a pyrometer using DAQ USB 6008

[bjames585]

Im trying to set up a task in MAX to use for a program that will read the temperature from the analog output from a pyrometer.  The pyrometer is an Ircon Ultimax 20P  Portable Radiation Thermometer.  I have LabVIEW 8.5.1, and I'm pretty new to programming in labview.  I attached the pyrometer manual if that helps.  Thanks, Brian

[dansch]

Hi Brian,

After glancing at the manual for the device, it appears that the analog output signal from the device will be a 0-1 V signal. You should be able to read this using the USB-6008. The easiest method I would recommend for you is to use the DAQ Assistant in LabVIEW to configure your task for Analog Input » Voltage. You can specify which channel of the 6008 to use, and then configure specific settings within the DAQ Assistant such as the range (0-1 V) and the timing (finite or continuous acquisition). Finally, you can create a custom scale which allows you to enter a formula for converting the voltage output of the pyrometer to some corresponding temperature value.

Creating the task in MAX works the exact same way as using the DAQ Assistant in LabVIEW. You can right-click on the USB-6008 device in MAX and select "Create Task...". From there, it is the same as above to select the type of measurement and the configuration settings. For more information on programming with DAQmx, you may refer to the DAQmx Getting Started Guide. From there, you will find links to many different tutorials regarding programming with DAQmx. For specific information on creating a task within MAX, I would recommend the tutorial titled "Creating a Task in NI-DAQmx and Using it in LabVIEW". There is also an NI-DAQmx Express VI Tutorial. 

Hope this helps, 

[bjames585]

Thanks that helps a lot!  I haven't been able to test it to make sure it works because signals are only generated when an experiment is being ran that requires the use of the pyrometer.  Just a question, what does it mean when I click run and the DAQ Assistant icon in the block diagram flashes?  Is this just a result of no input signal being registered?  Thanks again.

[dansch]

Hi Brian,

Having a subVI or Express VI (such as the DAQ Assistant) flash on the block diagram when running the program just indicates that some error occurred. The reason it flashes momentarily is so that the user can easily identify where the error occurred within the code. However, after it flashes, a window should pop-up indicating what the error is and where it occurred. In your case, as long as you have the device connected and configured properly, you should still be able to take a reading regardless of whether anything is connected to the USB device or not (though the reading could be any kind of noise or even a railing value). If the icon flashes soon after running the program, it would indicate that the error is due to some kind of improper setting you have tried to configure, or that the device is not present. If the error occurs after some time, it is probably a timeout error indicating that the data has not been read within the specified amount of time. You may want to try and create an "error out" indicator as well which should display the error information on the front panel. Hope this helps,