I first posted a question related to this to a LabView discussion forum here: http://forums.lavag.org/Advice-on-planning-new-Labview-project-t10441.html as I thought that LabView would be the best tool for the job. After recieving a lot of great feedback about LabView, it became apparent that my extensive programming background and complete newbie status to LabView meant a steep uphill battle to learn the new language in order tackle this project.
So now I am wondering if
Measurement Studio for .NET is a better tool for the project (considering my background) Here are the details of the project. There is an automation control project I am thinking about taking on and I am looking for advice on how big a project this might be, how long it would take me to do using Measurement Studio for .NET, and when I said "thinking about" it means I also need your advice as to whether I am crazy for trying to tackle a project such as this in the first place so let me start by explaining what it is. (I apologize as I don't know the correct terminology but will do my best to explain.)
The project is a computer controlled ski flex tester that would have one screw-drive pressure sensitive plunger working on a vertical plane to compress and measure flex pressure on top of the ski (directly in the middle.) There would be a second linear motion system that runs a pressure sensor and separate height measurement tool under the whole length of the ski using a highly accurate indexed stepper motor (to match position with height/pressure). So we have a total of 2 motors, 2 pressure sensors and one height sensor. It would need feedback control from the vertical pressure/plunger system, as well as data capture and database storage with a graphical analysis and GUI control interface for certain parameters (ie start test for 150lbs person).
Now for the second part of the equation: me. I have 15 years of programming experience in VB, C, ASP, .NET, am strong with databases, have some experience in RS232 hardware communication, but very little robotics and only high school electronics education.
So here are the questions:
1. Is Measurement Studio a good tool for such a project?
2. What is a ball-park estimate of time for a) a Measurement Studio expert, and b) me.
3. Am I crazy to start this as a newbie to automation control and Measurement Studio?
Many thanks for any help you folks can provide.