Has anyone interfaced an Instron 5500 with Labview?

[NCDoubleDown]

I'm trying to get my company to buy labview.  If I can get it to control an Instron 5500 they will be sold.  Has anyone attempted to do this?  Instron tells me that they do not have Labview drivers.

[AnalogKid2DigitalMan]

We have an Instron 3344 and I looked at what I could do to control it with LV. Unfortunately, it appears that it uses a proprietary interface card in the PC. No hooks/handles exposed that I could see. IF the 5500 has a GPIB port, you may have a good chance. I would contact Instron to see what interfaces are available and will they supply the command set.

[NCDoubleDown]

I did talk to Instron.  They were not any help.  The 5500 does not have a GPIB.  It looks like I'm out of luck.  One more reason I should have bought an MTS.

Thanks.

[Process_Systems]

I did a couple of Instrons with Labview a few years back, but they were older models (2725 and 2734 if my memory serves me right for numbers). I wrote the daq and machine control software in Labview from scratch. Neither of these machines was new enough to have a GPIB port, they were the type with the old mechanical recorder outputs. I had to re-work some of the machine mechanics and electrics to take a custom interface adapter from a NI Lab 1200 Daq card. I also had to build a custom extensometer for one unit. I don't know if I could be of any help to you, but I would be willing to work with you via e-mail and offer what assistance I can. I have 38 years in custom machine controls and general process instrumentation, so I have quite an extensive background to call upon. If you are interested drop me an e-mail at: ve3eoq@iaw.com Dave

[davidtphillips]

May I ask why you want to control the machine via labview rather than the instron bluehill software?

[instron]

The Instron 5800 was designed with a GPIB for use with LabView.  You can put a 5800 controller on the 5500 frame.

Did Instron say that the 5500 was designed for LabView?  A bit unfair to go after them if you got the wrong controller and they didn't mislead you.  The MTS EM frames don't work with LabView.

[NCDoubleDown]

 I'm sure when I wrote this I was still upset with Instron because I had trouble with a brand new machine that randomly shot sparks out the bottom of the machine.  After two years they brought me a new machine and it works great.

I don't think they ever said the 5500 was designed for Lab View.  I didn't feel like they were misleading me.