PCI-6230 suitable to control mass flow controllers?

[lorenzo figura]

Hi everyone,

I write you for a quick confirmation that the NI board I want to buy really suits my needs.

I want to use a NI PCI-6230 DAQ board to control 4 mass flow controllers. I need to do the following:

--- accept four set point readings, one from each of the FCs     range:  0V to +5 V

--- send four set point signals, one to each FC                       range:  0V  to +5 V

--- send 4 digital signals to shut off the flow, one to each FC    range: +0.4 to +0.8V=off, +2.4 to +5V=on

The board should be able to output the set point as a continuous signal, but the 500KS/s, which makes 125KS/s on each channel,

should be enough.

I have the following question:

1) do you think the product is appropriate for my application? I checked by myself that resolution and accuracy are good, I am

wondering if there is any problem I do not see.

2) is what I want to do the same as using a TTL logic? If not, would this be better and which board would be suitable?

3) Can I use the 4 analog inputs + 4 analog output + 4 digital output at the same time?

　

Thank you very much for your help

Lorenzo Figura

Mech. Eng. Dep, Yale University

9 Hillhouse Av

203 432 4337

[Margaret F.]

Hello Lorenzo,

Thank you for posting to the NI Forums!

I would agree with you that this seems to be an appropriate card for your application. Yes, your digital levels are considered TTL. 

You can use the AI, AO, and DO at the same time, but you will need to do some special timing if you are interested in synchronizing your AI, AO, and DO. Will you be using some sort of external clock? Is synchronization your goal, or do you just want the ability to use all three at the same time?