Beginner question

[Godu]

Hello,

I am a software engineer and have very basic knowledge in electronics.

I want to build a PC based system that will collect data from 12
counters.
This is the counter I am using:

http://www.baumersensorsolutions.com/product.html?id=95624d061775613b36110de0e27bbc5a〈=en&product=34716

I also want to put sensors on switches that will signal my PC if the
switch is on or off.

I plan to connect all the sensors to one or several PCI cards and
access it with my own written software (thus I need a PCI card that is
supplied with drivers).

Can some one direct to some information on:
1. What PCI card I need to buy ? Please note that sensors will be
counting some 1000 counts per minute.
2. What sensor do I need for the switches ?
3. Id be very thankf
ul if someone can point me to a basic tutorial.


Thanks In Advance !
Godu

[ryanm]

The IFRM 08P1701/L listed above is a switch. I am assuming you wish to count the number of times it switches on/off and be able to determine its current state. The PCI-6515 and PCI-6514 are industrial 24 V logic DIO boards with 32 inputs. Either of these boards could work well with your switches. To connect the switches to the PCI board the SCB-100 is recommended.

National Instruments supports LabVIEW, Lab Windows/CVI, Visual Basic, and C++. Hopefully the software you wrote is in one of these languages. If so you will be able to interface with the card. For examples, please visit the Developer Zone code library at http://www.ni.com/devzone/dev_exchange/ex_search.htm.