Control & Output with

LabVIEW
Thursday, Feb 2nd
LabVIEW DAQ Output for
Voltage,
Sensor Excitation,
and Control Systems

Part 1:
A Brief History of Some
LabVIEW Stuff Youve Done
So Far in ME-241

LabVIEW Application
(Review)
LabVIEW can work with Data Acquisition
(DAQ) Platforms in order to capture signals
from a variety of instruments.
These include the instruments you have
used so far in ME241, such as:
Thermocouples, Pressure Transducers,
Load cells, Strain gages (& anything
that uses a Strain gage)
Linear Variable Differential Transformers

LabVIEW Application
(Review)
We capture data in the form of electrical
signals by wiring our instrument into a
DAQ device.
These devices include boards that plug
into the PC via a USB-port or
More sophisticated devices that use PCI
cards inside a PC that plug into some
benchtop device.

LabVIEW Application
(Review)
The DAQ devices allow us to capture
signals from a given instrument. These
instruments allow us to measure the
physical phenomenon that we are
interested in.

LabVIEW VI Creation
In class and laboratory we have used
LabVIEW to write virtual instruments (VIs).
We typically write a VI so that it can talk
to the outside world (the experiment on
the bench).
In order to do this we use the DAQ Assistant.

LabVIEW VI Creation
We use the LabVIEW block diagram to create code
that measures, displays and records voltages.

The DAQ Assistant is key.

The DAQ Assistant allows us to tell
LabVIEW which channels on the DAQ
device to sample.

For instance if we use a USB-6008 we

might set up four channels as follows

This will yield data from 4 separate

channels.

Part 2:
LabVIEW Can Generate
Output!

DAQ Device Output

Most DAQ devices have the ability to
generate signals as well as collect
signals.
The DAQ devices are able to do this via the
port they connect to via a cable.
Most standard DAQ devices can generate a
signal of 5-10 VDC.
This voltage is ample enough to power
some small transducers and instruments.
This is important to the proper collection
of data.

Tank Draining Experiment

Apparatus
We use a battery to power the
pressure transducer. The battery
provides 9 volts.
Tank

+ + +
-

Pressure Transducer
Tube

9 VDC Battery Pa

Tank Draining Experiment Apparatus

Possible Alternative
We could have used a DAQ Device to power the pressure
transducer

SCXI to PC

Tank

AO0
9 VDC Output
From DAQ Device

Tube
Pressure Transducer

Advantage:
PC provides power. Batteries not needed. Power provided is
steady.

Voltage Output
The BASICS:
Most DAQ devices have the ability to
produce their own signals.
We can use these signals to interact with the
experiment or equipment we are using.
We can use these signals to power
equipment.
We can use these signals to trigger events
and make stuff happen.

Part 3:
HOW do I make a DAQ
device provide a voltage???

 The BASICS:
LabVIEW Application

You need 3 things..

MAX

DAQ Device

Voltage Output
Note the ANALOG side of
the USB devices near
your computers.
There should be terminals
labeled AO0 and AO1
AO stands for Analog
Output.
Most of the NI devices
have at least 2 such
terminals
For output we wire a
terminal and a ground.

Voltage Output

We access the analog output functions via

LabVIEW. To do this we can access the DAQ
Assistant.
We can right-mouse click and access
Functions on the Block Diagram.
Select the DAQ Assistant on the OUTPUT
Menu

Voltage Output
When the DAQ Assistant is selected you get 2 choices:
Acquire Signalswhat we have used so far
Generate Signals choose this one for voltage output!

 Once you select Generate Signals choose Voltage

The device or devices will appear. Choose either
one or both channels (depending on how many
signals must be generated.)

DAQ Assistant for Voltage

Output

Compare
Differences/Similarities

Build a Control to Dial 0-5

volts
On the Front Panel place a dial.

Connect this to data on the Output DAQ

Assistant.

Build a Control to Dial 0-5

volts
Turn the knob to some arbitrary value
and press the run arrow.
This vi will produce

We can confirm this value by adding an

INPUT DAQ Assistant.
Build one that reads from input channel
AI1.
Add a graph or indicator to your vi
to show output.

Exercise:
Build A VI to Generate an
Output and
Collect that Voltage as an
Input

Part 4:
Applications and
Demonstrations

DEMO Application 1
Sometimes we need more than just 5 or
10 volts
How can the LabVIEW output function
help us to run a pump or motor?
Application: We need to use LabVIEW to
control a motor. The motor uses a
variable voltage from 60 to 120 volts to
adjust from top speed to low speed.

DEMO Application 1
In this case we would use a device with the
motors manual control electronics.
The controller will accept a grounded DC
signal and generates a proportional output
voltage.
This output can be supplied to the speed
setting circuit of the motors controller.
This will drive the motor at a speed
proportional to the signal that LabVIEW
sends to it.

DEMO Application 1
Turn-Table with experiment
Main power supplied
By 120 VAC outlet

0-10 VDC control volts from Lab

Control box
With SCR-based
potentiometers

Drive
Motor

Power line
from
control

Turntable Control
Application

DEMO Application 2
Using LabVIEW with advanced NI
hardware.
In this example we want to send
simple commands to control the
speed of a stepper motor.
We will use a PCI-card in the PC, a
smart encoder/motor power board,
and LabVIEW software.

Demo Application 2
stepper

Coil wires
SCXI cable

PCI-card

LabVIEW Control VI

Demo Application 3
Use LabVIEW to
send commands
and receive data
from a balance.
In this case we have
no DAQ or PCI cards
We can only use the
PCs serial port to
talk to the
balance.

Demo App 3: Balance vi

To use a stand-alone instrument
like the balance we have to:
1. write a vi that talks to a serial
port
The vi
2. wire up a cable per the
reads
0.847 g
manufacturers specs
0.847
g
Balance

PC
Cable has 2 RS-232 (9 pin) connectors

Demo Application 3
In this case we will write data to the
balance using LabVIEW.
LabVIEW will assign the serial port to
transmit data (Tx) and commands to
the balance.
The balance will use the same port to
send (Rx) data and information.
In this case we will use a vi called a
binary converter in order to write
between LabVIEW and the balance.

DEMO Application 4
Using LabVIEW with non-NI hardware.
In this example rather than control
voltage directly via a DAQ we will send
commands directly to circuit boards.
As in the Balance DEMO we will use only
the serial bus to link LabVIEW with the
circuit boards.
HOW can LabVIEW talk directly to a
circuit board?

DEMO Application 4
We talk to the circuit board by using
Op-Code.
Op-Code will serve as a bridge
between LabVIEW and the binary
assembly language that a circuit
board expects to see.

DEMO Application 4
Think of it as translation
English Spanish Irish
Good Morning Buenos Dias
duit!
LabVIEW
G-Code

Dia

PC Interface
Circuit Board
Op-Code Assembly

DEMO Application 4
PC with LabVIEW

Serial Communications Card

Power Supply

24 VDC
0-15 volts

Power Board with SCR-based Transformer

Train Track