How do I program the USB-5133 to read data from a 10 MHz transducer?

[cdavid19]

Hi all,

I haven't had a lot of experience using LabVIEW but I need to use it for a school project. I'm using a 10 MHz transducer for a school project and was having a little trouble. I followed the example code from the PdM Series II: Sound Advice in Ultrasonic NDT Test, http://zone.ni.com/wv/app/doc/p/id/wv-101, but I am not able to see any echos that correspond to the front wall and back wall of my test material. In addition to the digitizer, I'm using a pulser/receiver from Panametrics as well. If it helps the RF Out on the pulser/receiver is connected to CH0 on the digitizer. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Craig

[Dan_K]

Hello Craig,

I looked at the webcast you referenced and wanted to see how your setup differs from the one described in the webcast itself. If you set up your SCOPE Express VI and receiving a signal from your transducer there shouldn't be any issues.

A good way to test your setup to better diagnose where the problem is occurring would be to connect a signal generator to your digitizer directly and simulate the signal you are expecting from your transducer. If you are able to see this signal, then the problem is in your external setup. If you cannot see this signal I would recommend first using the NI-Scope Soft Front Panel (found under Start»Programs»National Instruments»NI-Scope) and using Autosetup with your signal connected in order to check for the functionality of your Digitizer.

Let me know the result of this test so that we can get you moving forward on your project.

[cdavid19]

Thanks Dan. I am getting a signal, but now I think my problem is how to set up my parameters correctly to show the same peaks from the webcast. Along with the 5133-USB Digitizer, I am using a pulser receiver from Panametrics. CH0 from the digitizer is connected to the RF Out on the pulser/receiver, and CH1 is connected to SYNC Out on the P/R. I am also using a 10 MHz transducer instead. The parameters in the NI-Scope Express function are the same as the webcast, but once my transducer is placed on a material, I am not seeing any huge peaks on my graph. Any advice on how to set it up correctly?

Craig

[Dan_K]

Hello Craig,

Try changing the vertical range to a smaller value. The USB-5133 has a variety of vertical ranges available, from ±20 mV to ±20 V. By changing this vertical range you can increase the size of your signals.

If you could post a picture of your actual output so that I could see exactly what signal you are seeing it could help diagnose exactly what is going on with your system.