Can I connect two devices to one computer running LabView?

[trex296]

Both devices (motors)need to be controlled independently with different settings.

[aderogba]

This is possible. How the connections are established will depend on the connection features (GPIB, RS-232, etc) offer by the devices.

[mikeporter]

What is the interface to the motors? Do they have some sort of standard interface, or do they use proprietary io boards that plug into the PC?

In general, what you are trying to do should be very easy. With a little more detail we can give more detailed answers.

Mike...

[trex296]

The motors are connected to two motion controller boxes which contain PIC-SERVO motion controllers connected to serial port converters. The motion controllers allow for both position and velocity control of the motors (both sinusiodal and trapezoidal motion).

I currently have a program (written by someone else) that runs one at a time but would like to run both simulaneously on one computer if possible.

Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Theresa

[mikeporter]

Basically, this shouldn't be too difficult. The only thing to check is that the software allows you to define two independent serial connections. Often simple programs will be written basically assuming that there is only one serial port and it has exclusive access to it.

How is the serial port configuration data handled in the program?

Mike...

[trex296]

I am not sure exactly what you mean.

There is no option on the main vi of the program to pick which serial port is connected but in the sub vis there is an option for which port to use. I can change these from 0 (port 1) to 1 (port 2).