require advice for daq card choice

[dredaq]

hi guys

i am a teacher in an electronics institute, i would like to  build some laboratoty experiments for some coarses ( control systems, process control, system identification) essentially educational.
basically i need to read analog signals (from sensors, electricical circuits ex RLC, tachometers..) most probably with signal conditionning,and generate analog outputs (for ex drive a dc motor, a simple electrical circuit) with probably some linear amplifications in needed. i dont see any possible need for digital I/O

the board has to be ISA or PCI integrated and not too expensive
i would like to hear your suggestions for this the setup

thanks in advance

[Jennifer O]

Hi Dredaq,

There are many possible solutions  that may work for your labs.  I recommend contacting your sales representative  who can help to make sure that the board(s) will meet all of your instructional needs. There are also great resources for educators in the Academic section of the website including experiments and curriculum

I recommend working with the PCI bus or USB if this might also be an option.  I do not recommend ISA.  For the applications you mention I would recommend a low-cost M-Series board with analog input and output, digital I/O and counter functionality. Often motors are controlled through a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) digital signal which is easily created with a counter.  Digital lines are good for controlling LEDs or relays.  A popular choice is the PCI-6221 board.  You will need a terminal block for sensor connectivity and a programming interface (such as LabVIEW).  Your sales representative will be able to further discuss your needs and find a solution which suits your needs and budget.

Regards,

Jennifer O.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments