Crio 9068 Training alternatives for Learning test project

[FlybyWire]

Hello

I have a $500ish budget for a project to learn LabVIEW in order to run load cell, pneumatic cylinders and thermal couples.  We currently use a 9068 for a test setup that I need to learn how to duplicate, but I am not allowed to modify the setup.  Our plan is to Buy a NI DAQ with similar functions to get the feel for NI coding to bring it in house.  The set up needs built for around $500 total $1000ish pushing it with parts.  I need to learn how to control all Items listed and plan to buy some cheep cylinders just to run in and out. Idea is a hands on training rig for Labview.   Any Ideas Welcome.  I was looking into the NI USB 6009 but am not sure it has all functions we need or if it will be close enough to get used to running the crio...note communicating by ethernet cable is a plus we would like to learn.

[ZYOng]

cRIO-9068 does not support NI-DAQmx thus you cannot use any DAQ devices as the replacement. 

You can try NI Hardware | NI Trading Post to search for used cRIO. 

[FlybyWire · Accepted solution]

So would it be worth it on a new system to have DAQmax? Maybe get something with DAQmax and learn it than when we design our our new machines we get DAQmax on them...Me are basically just trying to learn labview and want practice connecting to and running something..

[crossrulz · Accepted solution]

I do not recommend handing a cRIO to somebody who is brand new to LabVIEW.  There are just too many pieces.

So now the question is how many TCs and Load Cells are you trying to read from?  Channel count is your biggest factor in any hardware recommendation at this point.

And with that said, I do not trust any simple DAQ for anything that requires determinism or safety.  That would be a reason to go with the cRIO.  But for simple training, a basic DAQ can work just fine.

[FlybyWire]

So Main objective is to just get used to making something run through a DAQ.  The list of requirements I gave is just things we would like to learn they do not need hooked up at the same time necessarily or be super accurate so long as it works.  When we do a actual machine we will buy higher end equipment, but that's like a year away.  Plan is to use this to train and get confident in coding LabVIEW and linking to physical devices.

[crossrulz]

There is a community initiative for something that would work well for this situation, but it is not quite ready.  It uses a RaspberryPi Pico ($4-$5 board) with a specific build and LabVIEW API to do various things (DIO, Analog Input, and maybe pulse width modulation).

But in the mean time, something like a USB-6001 might do the job for you.  It has 8 single-ended analog inputs, 2 analog outputs, and 13 DIO for ~$300.

[FlybyWire]

It would be super cool if they had like a $500 starter training kit that simulated bigger applications.  There's no way my boss is going to let me program a massive test piece of equipment without hands on simulating on a smaller/Safe scale.  I was looking at the 6009/6008 but have not looked at the 6001.  I am having trouble understanding differences and to some part that is because I do not fully understand how LabVIEW works.  Seams like they have tons of DAQ and no clear way to simply narrow down the options...   

[crossrulz]

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@FlybyWire wrote:

I was looking at the 6009/6008 but have not looked at the 6001.  I am having trouble understanding differences and to some part that is because I do not fully understand how LabVIEW works.

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The differences have nothing to do with LabVIEW.  LabVIEW is a programming IDE.  NI just has really good drivers to easily integrate their DAQ devices with LabVIEW.

Since you are just looking for a simple DAQ to use with LabVIEW, you should start here: Multifunction I/O.