Any suggestions on good material for learning Labview for my project?

[belae1ka]

For my senior design project I am in charge of designing the control system for a shock dynamometer.

Components of the control system;

-load cell

-temp sensor

-data acquisition device (DAQ)

-3 phase motor

-variable frequency drive (VFD) 

**I am using ModBus to communicate to the VFD using a USB-RS485 adapter**

First, we are to run the motor until the Temp sensor reaches a desired temperature (sensor is attached to shock being tested). Next, the user inputs a frequency reference for the motor to run at. Once the motor is running at a constant frequency, a graph is to be plotted. This will be a plot of Force (from load cell) vs Speed (frequency of motor). Once enough data points are plotted, the motor will turn off.

At the moment I am having difficulty communicating to the VFD through ModBus. I finally understand how ModBus works but the problem is trying to implement that through Labview.

 I understand you can't really take "shortcuts" when learning Labview but I am ideally looking for material or tutorials that involve designing a control system that use serial communication through NI-VISA. Bonus points if ModBus and/or RS485 is incorporated in the tutorial.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

-Kevin

[ks30]

Hi Kevin,

In regards to getting started with LabVIEW, we do have several online resources like the one below that would be a good starting point:

Introduction to LabVIEW
https://www.ni.com/getting-started/labview-basics/

If you have access to online self-paced training with your ni.com account then that would also be helpful. Finally, if you can sign-up for an in-person course such as LabVIEW Core 1 and LabVIEW Core 2, that would be the best for you:

NI Customer Education
http://www.ni.com/training/

Next, in regards to your question about Modbus, we essentially have four options for interfacing with Modbus from LabVIEW. Two are officially supported, and two aren’t supported.

The two unsupported options are:

MODBUS Library for LabVIEW
http://www.ni.com/example/29756/en/

LabVIEW Modbus API
http://forums.ni.com/t5/NI-Labs-Toolkits/LabVIEW-Modbus-API/ta-p/3524019

The two supported options are:

Modbus I/O Servers (part of the DSC Module and LabVIEW Real-time)
http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/370622M-01/lvmve/dsc_modbus_using/

Modbus VIs
http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/370622P-01/lvmve/modbus_pal/

If you have LabVIEW DSC or LabVIEW Real-time, then I would recommend that you use one of the two supported options. If you don’t, then you would be limited to the two unsupported options. When getting started with your project I would recommend utilizing examples for the API of your choice as a starting point, and then incrementally modifying them to meet your needs.

Finally, the following White Paper provides a good overview to using Modbus in LabVIEW:

Introduction to Modbus
http://www.ni.com/white-paper/7675/en/

Regards,

Kyle S.
Applications Engineer
ni.com/support

[Hooovahh]

All good information in there.  In addition to that here are the basic training links usually sent around to new users of LabVIEW.  I think you might want to look at the myRIO Project Essentials guide for electrical connection and basic DAQ concepts.  It is very focused on how to hook up sensors to a myRIO but the electrical principals are the same with other hardware.

NI Learning Center

NI Getting Started

-Hardware Basics

-MyRIO Project Essentials Guide (lots of good simple circuits with links to youtube demonstrations)

-LabVEW Basics

-DAQ Application Tutorials

-cRIO Developer's Guide 

Learn NI Training Resource Videos

6 Hour LabVIEW Introduction
Self Paced training for students
Self Paced training beginner to advanced, SSP Required

[JÞB]

Learn 10 Functions in NI-DAQmx and Handle 80 Percent of Your Data Acquisition Applications

Upcoming webinar for that is on  03/14/2017 | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.CDT Note: Daylight Savings in the US starts 3/12

Your VFD manufacturer may have a similar tutorial to this one by Ceres Controls

Note: read the comments there are some nice links there too!

And "Bonus Points" are Kudos here.  Just hit the gold star in the replies

[RavensFan]

Jeff,

Double check your link to the VFD tutorial.

Spoiler

I don't want you to hide a destroy queue in there. 

[JÞB]

Link Edited and fixed

Spoiler

Thanks for paying attention today

[RavensFan]

Thanks for posting a link to something that sounded interesting and I wanted to click on it.

But now that I've started reading it, it looks like whoever wrote it has English as their 3rd or 4th language.