Mix and match modules in USB data-acquisition system
Staff -- Test & Measurement World, 5/1/2006
National Instruments' NI cDAQ-9172 lets you configure a USB data-acquisition system using up to eight signal-conditioning modules from its NI 9200 series. The modules cover a wide range of inputs such as voltage, thermocouple, and digital signals. Analog modules contain their own analog-to-digital converters, and the mainframe is small enough for bench or field measurements. The modules also work in NI's CompactRIO systems.
NI's C series modules let you build a custom system. They range from a $12, eight-channel DIO module to a $235, four-channel, 50-ksample/s digitizer for audio and vibration measurements. Modules are hot-swappable so you can reconfigure a system without powering down.
Software support includes NI-DAQmx, a driver that provides a datalogging application. Programming interfaces include LabView, Visual Studio .NET, and C/C++.
Price: mainframe—$999. National Instruments, www.ni.com/compactdaq.
