Problem controlling Varian pump

[Tom W]

I am using a VISA command in Labview 6i to try to control a Varian ProStar 210 pump using RS-422. I have only one pump on the RS-485 port (first port on an NI PCI-485/4 card) on a short (12') cable. I can get the pump to respond with its ID when I do a query, but whenever I send it a command it does not understand and when I ask it for a response, I only get the first character of the response. The timeout is long enough and the number of characters set to be read I have varied from 2 to 72.

Their protocol is 19200 baud, even parity, 8 data bits, 1 start bit, one parity bit, and one stop bit. I know the baud, parity, data bits, and stop bits are set correctly. The pump frequently ignores a second command indicating it is disconn
ected. This will occur when it detects a parity error.

[pavanb]

Hello Matthew:

Have you tried a loopback test? If you go to ni.com >> Technical Support >> More Products (option 2) >> Serial >> (option 2) "Serial Communication Starting Point" you will get it. There are example VI's that do something simillar to what you are trying to do. If you go to the Help menu >> Examples.. >> I/O >> Serial Communication you will see a couple. Try tweaking those examples.

Hope this helps. If you have any questions, please let us know.

-NI Support.

[db1]

Hi Tom
Did you sort out the probleme. I intend to control a Varian V70 turbo pump, and am looking for any driver that might be  a good starting point

[Phoonzang]

Hi,

I recently got the task to use LabVie to control a TV70 with the TV70 Navigator. Easiest thing to do is to use serial communication (RS232) via VISA (Open, Weite, Read and Close) and then use the documented communication protocol. Works like a charm for my purposes, if you have any further question or need a sample code, feel free to email me.

Regards,

Dave

[thehobbs]

You can share your code with the rest of the LabVIEW community by submitting it to the Instrument Driver Network:

https://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.sub_driver

[db1]

Hi Dave
I think I have just about cracked the protocol and I will post my code when its finished, but I would be interested to compare with yours
I can't see how to send an email using this forum though

[Tom1984]

Hi!

I also need to control a Prostar 210 Pump using Labview 8.2, can anyone send me some code or protocol information for it?

Best regards, Tom

[Adam W]

Hi Tom,

I tried google and searched around for any information without much luck.  I did find a link to the user manual, which you can get from Varian, Inc.  Maybe that will help.

Regards,

Adam W
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[ziceva]

This is an antique thread and I am sorry for resurrecting it ... But the problem of controlling a Varian Prostar 210 pump seems to never be out of fashion ...

I also need to control such a pump with Labview and do not seem to find any information regarding the protocol. Has anyone managed to find a description of the protocol?

Thank you.

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

---

@ziceva wrote:

This is an antique thread and I am sorry for resurrecting it ... But the problem of controlling a Varian Prostar 210 pump seems to never be out of fashion ...

I also need to control such a pump with Labview and do not seem to find any information regarding the protocol. Has anyone managed to find a description of the protocol?

Thank you.

---

Start with the manual if you can find one.