Looking for digital IO module and connector block with over 45 channels for FlexRIO FPGA

[iron_curtain]

Greetings,

I'm building a laser scanning microscope system and would like to use NI FlexRIO FPGA (likely a 797xR) to digitally control the X/Y scanning mirrors and to acquire TTL pulses from three photon detectors. For that purpose, I'd need to have 40 digital output channels (16 data + 4 control channels for each mirror) and 3 digital input channels. I may also need a few more channels for shutter control, signal synchronization, etc. in the future. Therefore I have the following question:

1. I located NI 6581 and 6583 digital adapter modules. Which one would you recommend? Or is there a better option other than these two? 

2. How can I wire the adapter to peripheral devices (mirrors, detectors, etc)? Can I just insert single conductor wires directly to the module's DDC pins? If a connector block (like SCB-68A for R series FPGA) is needed, which one should I get?

Thanks,

Bing

[lucaso3]

Hi Bing,

It depends on how you would like to control the lines. If you want to control ports, you can use the 6581 or if you rather control the channels, you can use the 6583. I would like to attach the specifications sheet for both of them just in case we want to have more information about each of them:

https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/ni-6581-6581b-seri/resource/372629c.pdf

https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/ni-6583r-specs/resource/ni-6583r-specs.pdf

Also, on the page on the devices on our webpage on the pricing tab you will be able to visualize all different accessories that we can use with each one of them. For example, for the 6583 you will be able to visualize the following two:

NI SHC68-H1X38

https://www.ni.com/en-us/support/model.shc68-h1x38-cable.html

NI SMB-2163

https://www.ni.com/en-us/support/model.smb-2163.html

The accesory Will dependo on the connectors you would like to have and how are yougoing to interact with the laser.

My suggestion for you would be contacting your Local Representative and he/she will be able to assist you better on the components that you require for your application.

Regards,

Luis

[iron_curtain]

---

@lucaso3 wrote:

Hi Bing,

It depends on how you would like to control the lines. If you want to control ports, you can use the 6581 or if you rather control the channels, you can use the 6583. I would like to attach the specifications sheet for both of them just in case we want to have more information about each of them:

https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/ni-6581-6581b-seri/resource/372629c.pdf

https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/ni-6583r-specs/resource/ni-6583r-specs.pdf

Also, on the page on the devices on our webpage on the pricing tab you will be able to visualize all different accessories that we can use with each one of them. For example, for the 6583 you will be able to visualize the following two:

NI SHC68-H1X38

https://www.ni.com/en-us/support/model.shc68-h1x38-cable.html

NI SMB-2163

https://www.ni.com/en-us/support/model.smb-2163.html

The accesory Will dependo on the connectors you would like to have and how are yougoing to interact with the laser.

My suggestion for you would be contacting your Local Representative and he/she will be able to assist you better on the components that you require for your application.

Regards,

Luis

---

Hi Luis,

Thanks for your response.

I did check the two accessories that you recommended. However the cables of SHC68-H1X38 cannot connect to our photon detectors. SMB-2163 should work but it would be too complicated and too expensive for our system as it needs to use at least 43 channels (40 outputs and 3 inputs), i.e., at least 43 SMB cables. 

Right now we are using 7842R with SCB-68A connector blocks. Since the laser scan controller has screw terminals as input channels, we just use regular hook-up wires to connect SCB-68A and the controller and it works fine. 

I am waiting for feedbacks from local NI support team. But simply put, my question is: can we directly connect the laser scan terminals to FlexRIO Digital IO adapter pins (picture attached) with hook-up wires? Or say, is a connector accessory (such as SHC68-H1X38 or SMB-2163) required to connect a FlexRIO adapter to peripheral devices?

Thanks,

Bing

[tcap]

Hello Bing,

The Front-End of the FlexRIO Adapter Modules and R Series Cards are VHDCI connectors. You cannot connect wires directly into this interface. It requires a breakout, such as the, SMA-2164, SMB-2163, SCB-68A, or Custom PCB with a VHDCI Connector. This ensure the highest signal integrity.

Regards,

[iron_curtain]

---

@tcap wrote:

Hello Bing,

The Front-End of the FlexRIO Adapter Modules and R Series Cards are VHDCI connectors. You cannot connect wires directly into this interface. It requires a breakout, such as the, SMA-2164, SMB-2163, SCB-68A, or Custom PCB with a VHDCI Connector. This ensure the highest signal integrity.

Regards,

---

Hi Thomas,

Thanks very much for your reply. Can you please confirm whether SCB-68A is compatible with FlexRIO adapter modules especially NI 6581 and 6583? I cannot find it in the list of the accessories for 6581. Actually our lab have been using SCB-68A with R series FPGA so it'd be great if we can still use it with FlexRIO cards. 

Also,  is SHC68-C68-D4 the only type of cable I can use to connect the adpater module to a breakout box? 

Thanks,

Bing

[lucaso3]

Hi Bing,

As Thomas explained, the Front-End of the FlexRIO Adapter Modules are VHDCI connections. The SCB-68A might be used if the wire has a VHDCI connector to attach the adapter module. Unfortunately this might not be a guaranteed configuration. I would like to show you the following link that I believe might clear some doubts that you may have:

https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/17/scb-68-and-scb-68a---daq-multifunction-i...

SHC68-C68-D4 is the recommended cable to use, but as mentioned before we can use any cable that has a VHDCI connector to attach the adapter module. You should take into account the noise specifications and some other features of it. You might even use the 68-Pin Vertical VHDCI connector if you need to make a customer connection, but that depends on the wiring you would like to have for your application.

Regards,

Luis

[iron_curtain]

---

@lucaso3 wrote:

Hi Bing,

As Thomas explained, the Front-End of the FlexRIO Adapter Modules are VHDCI connections. The SCB-68A might be used if the wire has a VHDCI connector to attach the adapter module. Unfortunately this might not be a guaranteed configuration. I would like to show you the following link that I believe might clear some doubts that you may have:

https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/17/scb-68-and-scb-68a---daq-multifunction-i...

SHC68-C68-D4 is the recommended cable to use, but as mentioned before we can use any cable that has a VHDCI connector to attach the adapter module. You should take into account the noise specifications and some other features of it. You might even use the 68-Pin Vertical VHDCI connector if you need to make a customer connection, but that depends on the wiring you would like to have for your application.

Regards,

Luis

---

Hi Luis,

Thanks for your explanation.

I checked the link you pointed to and it is informative. However I didn't find SHC68-C68-D4 or NI 6581 in the list of compatible devices. I suppose 6581 belongs to High Speed Digital IO? As we already have SCB-68A in the lab, I'm going to get a SHC68-C68-D4 cable and try it with SCB-68A. Hope it works. 

Regards,

Bing