02-27-2006 08:51 PM
I am fairly new to LabVIEW (6 months) and looking for a solution for test and measurement. I prefer to use LabVIEW as the control system, but I cannot financially justify using LabVIEW. There are a few types of tests that we run: state machines (wait for a certain set of digital inputs), ramping tests (increase output until certain input is hit), and position/voltage control (maintain a position/load/acceleration) and also log test data to a databeas. I would like to create an environment where a user could “program” a test with ease. We currently have the capability of a state machine with digital inputs, but lack the ramping and position/voltage control. I was wondering if the community here could recommend some examples/solutions for this type of application. Also, I was wondering if anyone has examples/resources that allow a user that has no LabVIEW experience to “program” this type of machine. It seems to me that the development time for creating such a LabVIEW application greatly exceeds teach the user how to program PLC ladder logic and logging the information with a VB app over OPC. However, I wish to use LabVIEW for the application. Please respond with your advice!
Thanks,
Brian
02-28-2006 09:24 AM
02-28-2006 09:33 AM
As AK asks, what are you trying to determine. There have been some fairly lengthy threads on this forum regarding justification of LabVIEW vs. other environments, so you might search for those. As for LabVIEW vs PLC ladder logic, yes, there is a longer learning curve to learn to write programs in a full programming language than in a much smaller, limited environment like ladder logic. Of course you can do much, much more in the more complex language than in the simple ones.
Good luck, give us more info in what you are trying to accomplish and we can probably help.
P.M.
02-28-2006 09:47 AM
First, let me clear up and apologize for the confusion
regarding finances. I would like to create a flexible control system that
can do the tasks listed below. In reference to "finance", I was
speaking of development time.
I am fairly new to LabVIEW (6 months) and looking for a solution for test and
measurement. There are a few types of tests that we run: state machines (wait
for a certain set of digital inputs), ramping tests (increase output until
certain input is hit), and position/voltage control (maintain a
position/load/acceleration) and also log test data to a database. I would like
to create an environment where a user could “program” a test with ease. We
currently have the capability of a state machine with digital inputs, but lack
the ramping and position/voltage control. I was wondering if the community here
could recommend some examples/solutions for this type of application. Also, I
was wondering if anyone has examples/resources that allow a user with no
LabVIEW experience to “program” this type of machine. Basically to create an
environment where the user could select certain steps in a sequence and have
that sequence repeat, for example:
Step 1. Output the voltage on channel "n" to 10.0 V
Step 2. Wait for digital input "x" to turn on
Step 3. Increase the voltage on channel "n" at "y" Volts/Sec
03-01-2006 04:59 PM
03-01-2006 07:43 PM
03-02-2006 08:39 AM
Brian:
What version of LV are you using? There are numerous examples of state machines that can be searched for within the example programs that ship with LV under Help. There are also some on NI's site, including white papers that discuss various flavors of state machines. If you need more specific details, let us know.
03-03-2006 05:00 PM
03-06-2006 03:16 PM