I would like to use LabVIEW 6.1 to control an Inficon XTM/2 - deposition monitor -, but I haven't found an instrument driver for it. Is it possible to use the Inficon XTC/2 drivers? Perhaps after a few minor changes??

[akabsent]

I currently have capabilities for RS232, and LabVIEW 6.1. I noticed the Driver for the Controller (XTC/2) was just recently posted (1/1/03). . . is there any reason to believe that the Drivers for the Monitor (XTM/2) is already in the works?

[DiegoF]

Hi,

Since this devices belong to the same family, it is likely that they have a lot of commands in common. You can review the documentation of the device or contact Inficon for compatibility information between the command set of the two devices. You can then modify the existing instrument driver for the XTM/2.

You can contact instrument.driver@ni.com to see if there is any development on this instrument driver.

DiegoF
National

[akabsent]

Thank you DiegoF.

I think I am going to persue standard RS232 communications thru LabVIEW. It will probably be easier, especially since all I really need is to send one command and recieve one piece of data. Do you know how to do this? I also need to know how to send a ctrl-f command. Thanks for any help that you can give.

I have already submitted a request for an instrument driver on www.ni.com; However, I need a solution in the short term.


Dale

[DiegoF]

Hi,

You can use the VISA VIs located on the Function palette >> Instrument I/O >> Serial to send and receive data from the device. For some simple examples go to the help menu >> Find examples and search for serial.

To send a particular caracter or action (as ctrl-f), you need to find the numeric value using the ASCII Table. For the ctrl-f you would send the numeric value 0x06.

In LabVIEW you would place this value in a 8bit integer (U8)control. You then create an array of U8s with the command and other commands if necessary. Then use the "Byte array to string.vi" to transform the array to the string data type used by the VISA
write function. If you display this string you'll see strange characters since the ctrl-f numeric value, for example, does not represent a visible character.

Hope this helps.

DiegoF
National Instruments.

[akabsent]

Thanks.

Your comments have solidified some of the steps I ended up taking. I did it a slightly different way. . . I imported some of the diagram from the other drivers to get around not knowing how to generate a 'Crtl - f' command. This created a string which was sent over RS232. With your comments (and an engineer at this facility), what actually takes place in the vi makes sense. The Link to the ASCII table really helps too, thank you for including that. and I have gained enough knowledge that I think I could generate the hex code using a property node to do the same thing.

Thanks again for your help

Dale

[labmaster]

Hi,
We have also used Inficon XTM/2.
Could you show me your VI code?
I failed to read data from XTM/2 by RS232.

Thanks in advance.

[akabsent]

Yes, See attachments.

Included is:

Generation of Character Sting "s" "8" and "ctrl-f".
Writes this string over COM1 (RS232) to the XTM/2.
Reads from XTM/2 a user setable byte count (modify this in real time to get all of the frequency value. . . It usually works at a value of 11)
Reformats the read character string, plots and logs the Frequency Value.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Dale

[gwong]

I am also interested in some example code. But is it possible to send me a version in LabView 6i. I am still running an older version. Thanks.