09-19-2007 07:43 AM
09-19-2007 09:35 AM
09-20-2007 04:17 AM
I aabsolutley agree with ssk, but want to add some detail:
You can install the VISA-driver (you can either download it for free from the NI Website, or just install the driver CD that comes togehter with LabVIEW), to communicate via the serial port. So this will be good for RS 232 and 485.
If you want to communicate with a CAN or MOST device, you will need an interface-board. NI provides CAN-Interfaces, and ships free drivers for LabVIEW with these devices.
For the MOST bus, you would have to find a vendor, that overs an interface board. Depending on the vendor, you might geht LabVIEW VIs or a Windows-driver. If the second is true, you can call this windows-driver from laBVIEw via the driver dll.
The same is true for PCI: You can access the PCI bus on register level via VISA as well, but normally you will have a windows-driver for your PCI-board, and can use this driver directly from laBVIEW via calls to the driver-DLL.
Concerning PLCs, as they use different communication to your PC (ethernet, profibus, etc.) it depends. Most PLCs will have an OPC-Server that you install on your computer to access your PLC. You can communicate directly with this OPC-Server from LabVIEW.
Hope this helps!
André
09-26-2007 07:28 AM