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Questions about MKS instruments by using RS-232.

Hi,

I hope to use one computer to control serveral instruments including 3 MKS instrments with RS-232 port: 600 Series Pressure controller; Type 247 4-Chennel Readout; Type 937A Gauge Controller. Did anyone use Labiew program to control them? Can anyone provide some examples of the Labview programs? Moreover, in general, there are 2 Serial ports on one computer, but I need control more than 3 intruments with RS-232 port. How can do that?
Thanks a lot.
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I'm not familiar with those instruments, but I've controlled MKS mass flow controllers via RS-485 from LabVIEW and found it straightforward. I think there were some VI's from MKS that used the old serial functions, but I decided to write my own driver using VISA. As long as you have the manual for the command protocol from MKS you should have no problem. If there's a setup or utility program from MKS for these instruments, use that first to verify communication and to check that the instrument settings such as serial baud rate are correct.

As for the RS-232 ports, you'll need to add extra ports using either a card or a USB adapter - both are fairly cheap and widely available. Many PC's now have only one RS-232 port, so check how many you need to add.
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Hi,

Thank you for your answer. I have not seen any Labview program for RS-232, although I am fimiliar with the Labview program for GPIB. Can you or anyone provide an example Labview program for RS-232? If this example were for the MKS instruments, it would be better. Thanks.
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The 247 controller does not have RS-232 capability; it has only analog I/O, so you'd need to connect to a DAQ card. And if you're doing that, you might want to bypass the 247 completely and control the mass flow controllers directly from the computer. But you'd need power supply for the mass flow controllers.

Larry
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Hi Did you have any joy in connecting to the 937A using RS232, I also would like to connect to the 937 and 937a to read the pressure.

Tom

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