Controll PXI-4072 via VISA

[DBD]

Hello,

I try to communicate with the PXI-4072 by using VISA drivers. I´m using Fluke MetCal / MetTrack to calibrate the 4072 and want to

do that automatically, without using th niDMM FrontPanel.

But Fluke MetTrack will only scan the RS-232, LAN, GPIB and USB Bus for an device, not the PXI Chassis.

Does anyone knows a solution to calibrate or adjust the PXI-4072 FlexDMM (or any PXI device)?

Thanks

Robert

[TobiasG · Accepted solution]

You need to use the NI-DMM API to calibrate the 4072. The generic VISA driver won't cut it, as you won't be able to open a calibration session, take measurements, perform adjustments, or really do much of anything other than read/write specific registers, which is not supported or recommended. Additionally, you cannot use the Soft Front Panel to perform calibration, as it must be done in a very specific order in a calibration session.

I am not personally familiar with MetCal/MetTrack, but it appears that Fluke has provided some procedures for the PXI-4065 and USB-4065. Since they don't appear to have a published procedure for the PXI-4072, if you want to use MetCal you will need to code your own version of NI's published Calibration Procedure, which is installed with NI-DMM, and is also available via this link (I searched ni.com for "4072 calibration").

In general, for any PXI device, you don't want to use VISA to communicate, but instead use the appropriate API, calling into that API's dlls (nidmm_32.dll or nidmm_64.dll in the case of NI-DMM).

Your other alternative is to use NI Calibration Executive, which has the calibration procedure for all NI-DMMs ready to go.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Tobias

Staff Software Engineer

Modular Instruments

National Instruments