ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Data Acquisition & LabView

• Lecture goals…– Learn the basics of how to use and modify LabView Virtual

Instruments– Become familiar with the data acquisition hardware used in the

lab

Note: some screen shots may be from prior versions of LabView, but the functionality is essentially unchanged…

Getting Started

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Start Programs National Instruments LabView

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

More than 100 pages…some very useful info….

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

This front panel area is essentially the “front panel”of the virtual instrument that you will create. The userof your VI sees this.

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

This block diagram (aka wiring diagram) is the “guts” ofyour virtual instrument. The user does not see this, butthis is essentially what controls the functionality of yourInstrument. It is comparable to the inside of an actualInstrument.

You can see both the block diagram and front panel togetherby clicking “Window Tile Left and Right” or “… Tile Up andDown”

Block diagram and front panel menus

• File• Edit• View• Project• Operate• Tools• Window• Help

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Front Panel Buttons

• Run• Run continuously• Stop• Pause

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Block Diagram Buttons

• Highlight execution

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Useful Toolbars – Controls and Functions

• Right click in Front Panel to get Controls

• Right click in Block/wiring Diagram (back panel) to get Functions

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Functions

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Functions

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Functions

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Functions

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Functions

Select a vi

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Sample vi

• Open LabView and select New vi

• In wiring diagram add 2 numeric constants and a multiplication operator

• In Instrument window add a numeric indicator or meter

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

• Cursor turns into a wiring spool.

• Click on appropriate terminals to connect inputs and output of multiplication operation

• Click Run button in Front panel to obtain result.

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

LabView tips and shortcuts

• Undo last <ctrl> z• Remove all broken wires

<ctrl> B• Right click on a function

or control to learn more about it– Properties– Description and Tip– Help (gets wiring diagram)

• Wires/connections are color-coded for variable type

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

ME 411/511 Prof. Sailor

Data Acquisition in ME 411/511

• Hardware:– USB 12-bit Data acquisition cards– USB 24-bit 4-channel Thermocouple

cards

• Software:– Labview (8.x)– Virtual Instruments