GPIB to send strings to third party software run machine

[fazlay42]

Hello Everyone,

I am working on a machine called EM tester which is controlled by their software called Autowave. Is there any way to connect it to labview through GPIB and read and write data. I can initialize but getting error to read the string or to convert it into a graph in LabVIEW. Thanks in advance.

Best regards,

Fazlay

[fazlay42]

Hello Everyone,

I am working on a machine called EM tester which is controlled by their software called Autowave. Is there any way to connect it to labview through GPIB and read and write data. I can initialize but getting error to read the string or to convert it into a graph in LabVIEW. Thanks in advance.

Best regards,

Fazlay

[Minions]

Seeing how this software is supposed to work with any programmable power supply capable of driving at least 10V, then try one of the following:

• Using VISA Write, write "ID?\n" (Just the data within the quotes) then use a VISA Read to check for a response [Pre-SCPI (pseudo-SCPI)]
• Using VISA Write, write "*IDN?\n" (Without quotes) then use VISA Read to check for a response [SCPI compliant]

You can also use the Query option in NI-MAX to perform the VISA Write/Read combined.

The voltage should be set in a similar method using "VSET 5\n" for a 5 volt setting.

The current setting/limit is set using "ISET 0.5\n" for limiting current to 1/2 and Amp.

The output should be turned on/off using the matching identification above:

• "OUT 1\n" or "OUT ON\n"  is used to turn on the output and likewise, "OUT 0\n" or "OUT OFF\n" is used to turn off the output
• Use OUTP instead of just OUT for supply output control "OUTP 1\n" for turning on supply 

Some of the supplies may require a ":" colon symbol as a prefix to the command (IE ":OUTP 1\n")

[fazlay42]

hello,

Thanks for the reply, I am having a problem finding a driver for the Voltage drop simulator(VDS) and auto wave they are both from EMtester and their parent company is Ametek. I have used driver search to find them and the NI ID network, but no luck.

If there is any help regarding that. I would really appreciate it.

Best regards,

Fazlay 

[Minions]

Many pieces of equipment are able to talk without drivers.  Select the VISA resource that you are attempting to control, then try entering the commands/queries from my previous message into this.

[fazlay42]

Hello,

I am so sorry to be such a noob. I was already sending *IDN? with NI max. Since I need to do the following task

1) Initialize auto wave and call test files and segment

2) Initialize VDS 200N

3) run test through it

I thought drivers are a good place to start. Here is the manual, if you have any example VI how to send this command properly one after another Since I am getting errors for just sending VSET. I don't think that's the way.

[Minions]

Well, according to those excerpts, VSET alone is not a valid command for either piece of equipment.

It is not in the VDS manual at all.  In the Autowave manual, the commands dictate that the VSET must be followed by which output is to be used (I.E. "VSET:OUT1 5\n" in order to set the Output1 voltage to 5 volts).

The VDS manual states that every command must be followed by an 8-bit checksum {100H - Sum (each byte)} prior to sending the <LF> command.

[fazlay42]

"VSET:OUT1 5\n" is what I wrote, I think this machine needs to be initialized then send it on after another command. I am thinking of creating a state machine. But just confused about what should be the cases and how to connect them. 

[Minions]

Just for your Information, You cannot be connected to the instrument via NI-Max and talk to it through LabVIEW.  In fact, some instruments become so confused that you might need to power down the instrument and the PC together in order to break the confusion.  Before connecting with LabVIEW, make sure that you have exited NI-Max.