Control stepper motor with NI USB-6216

[vicbelien]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie trying to control a RS (5350489) Stepper Motor through a NI USB-6216. Any idea how to get started? I installed DAQmx. I have no inputs to process only digital outputs.

Thanks for your help

[_Bryan]

My 1st suggestion would be to add more information to your post. 

What have you done? 

Did it work? 

Did some of it work? 

What are you having problems with? 

Attach any code you have to help explain.

Have you looked at the examples that ship with LabVIEW? 

Do you have a link to the stepper motor documentation?  Who has the time to search the internet and hopefully find your exact model?

What version of LabVIEW are you using?

Have you taken any of the free online courses?

Is this for school?

Etc.

Etc..

Etc...

[vicbelien]

I've created a .VI that actually counts in binary (2,4,6,8) to mimic the state of the coils in the motor. (See attachment motorsturing)

The link to the only page about the motor is this one

The counter itself works but I have no idea how to connect commands to the DAQ Assistant.

I'm using the 2013 version of LabVIEW and this a school project. The stepper motor will eventually steer an oil supply which will lubricate a smokewire in a wind tunnel.

Thanks in advance

[falkpl]

you will want a drive to go with the stepper motor.  Then you can give the drive step and dirrection from daq no problem.  

[vicbelien]

So which drive should I attach? Any advice? 🙂

[GerdW]

Hi vic,

just search for "stepper motor" on RS catalogue and you will find stepper motor drivers…

[CollindeWit]

Hi!

Nice to see you are working on this school project! When is it due? Are you working alone on this project or with a team? What is the goal that you need to achieve with this project? Im very interested to know and with that information I can see what other solutions I can give.

I have looked at your VI. It seems to me you are doing good starting with this. How ever I think its better if you look at the option to configure the DAQ tasks itself, so not use the DAQ assistent. Then you have more flexibility in your program and more control. But the main reason is, I recommend users to start using the DAQ assistent only when they understand good what the DAQ tasks are. Because it is very difficult to use the DAQ assistent if the DAQ tasks are not clear. (you will not understand your program good) So please have a look at this. https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/06/getting-started-with-ni-daqmx--main-page... that link everything about DAQ is explained, the DAQ assistent, programming etc. 

About the system design. I hope you have, or are going to design, an analog circuit after the USB 6216. This is needed if you verify the output specs of the 6216 and the motor. (the drive you are talking about before) It would be easier to simply purchase this drive, this will control the voltage and current values for the motor. As it is mentioned on the website of the motor "The motors are directly compatible with stepper motor drive boards" You need to look for this motor drive board. Because the USB 6216 cannot output the current values needed by the motor. (verify datasheet of USB 6216 and specs of motor)

Which DAQ driver version are you using with labview 2013?

To know good how to design your controller (labview) you need to know good which drive board you will use. Please let me know about this so i can see about more specific information to give.

Please take a good look at the page of the link i posted before in this post. This has the basics and advanced information about the possibilities. Please start with this information here https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/06/learn-10-functions-in-ni-daqmx-and-handl...

Let me know how things advance. And on what part you need more information. Also let me know if you have experience or not with LabVIEW.

Met vriendelijke groet / Best regards,

Collin de Wit
National Instruments
Applications Engineering

[CollindeWit]

Hi!

I was wondering if you were able to solve the issue already? Please let me know so I can see how I can help you further.

Best regards,

Collin de Wit
National Instruments
Applications Engineering

[vicbelien]

Hi Collin,

the problem remains unsolved. I've ordered a driver. In the mean time I'm playing around with an Arduino Uno and see what I can achieve with it.

Thank you for your interest  😉

[ysjman]

I can help you to make your application work. Measure motor coils resistance. If it is 2 - 15 Ohm then almost every stepper controller can control it, just make sure it can handle max motor current. I can help you to write your control application if you can pay for my time.