I am looking for tuning device (Knob box)!!

[ruedi]

Hello,

may be this is not the right place of the forum, but however.

I am looking for a type of tuning device for my aplication.

Better discription:

I plan to control a "plant" with several DAQ's ADC's DigIn's and DigOut's via LabView.

There are several parameters, on wich you can (or have to) tune very carefully.

Especially older colleages, prefer to have a "real Hardware knob" or control.

In my "plant" there are many of these parameters and I don't want to spent a separat knob to each of it.

So I am looking for a hardware box whith some knobs (may be incremental encoders or potentiometers) and maybe some switches.

This box should be connected with the control- computer.

On the softwareside there should be something like "drag & drop".

So if I want to increse i.e. the amplitude, then I drag the amplutude- control in a knob- box area and have now the possibility to play with the amplitude.

Has someone a idea where to find such kind on control, or is someone using something, that is working in that way???

Hope on some creative and helpful postings.

Greeting Ruediger

[AnalogKid2DigitalMan]

First thought to cross my mind is to use 10 turn precision linear potentiometers connected to a 10V supply. Wired up so they can output nearly 0-10V over their range. Their outputs are read by analog inputs on a DAQ card. Not sure yet on how to multiplex with switches, other than to do a sample and hold in software.

Cannot guarantee you will get all way down to 0 volts, may be worth experimenting with one. You did not specify physical distance from box to PC, if long then noise may be an issue. Any safety issues? What are knobs controlling and can someone get hurt? What if box becomes unplugged, etc.

Or, just train the 'old dogs' new tricks.