Mitutoyo MUX2, Digimatic Micrometer heads and Labview7

[m4nd4li4]

Dear all,

As a newbie Labview user, one of my first task is get readings from 2
Mitutoyo Digimatic micrometer heads (Series 164) which are connected
to a Mitutoyo MUX2 multiplexer (Series 264). The MUX2 is connected to
a PC via RS-232C port.

I'm using Labview 7 Express (Student Edition) and I would like to just
read the data from the micrometers. How do I go about doing this??
Please remember I am a newbie!!!!

Regards,

Bharesh Mandalia

[Conseils]

You need to split this down into various sections.

1) Electrical connections
2) Communications Protocol
3) Software

1.1 Obtain cables for the Mic's to the MUX
1.2 Obtain cables from the MUX to the PC
1.3 Plug them all in
1.4 Test the system

2.1 Obtain data for the comms protocol
2.2 Understand the comms protocol

3.1 Implement some serial code to 'talk' to the unit
3.2 Display the data in the desired format

Well that's a very basic start.
So I guess you have more questions.. but you need to provide some more information before progressing.

i.e What you know and what you don't.

[unclebump]

Does Mitutoyo have a sample communication program that you can run on your computer to test cabling, etc?? It may not give you the specific data that you want, but knowing that you can talk to it will eliminate many questions. The instrument assistant express vi's might be a good place to start, but I am not sure they exist in the student edition. I have used the Visa functions to read data and control a YOKOGAWA DL708 oscilloscope. I downloaded the driver and added a few commands for my application. You will need a detailed manual that lists commands that you can execute and the expected results.

[unclebump]

Here is a link to a third party Mitutoyo serial port program on the NI site. http://sine.ni.com/apps/we/niepd_web_display.display_epd4?p_guid=D52A66C728FC4950E034080020E74861&p_node=DZ52363&p_source=external

[unclebump]

Here is another website with a labview program to download for the digimatic

http://gaugelink.com/index.htm

[Conseils]

The main problem with gauge link is that you need to purchase the gauge link device.

When you use or have the MUX series of devices the digimatic interface products connect through MUX to the serial port through the MUX.

P.S. MUX stands for Multiplexor.
There are a number of types of these devices, including off the top of my head the MUX10, MUX2 and MUX50


In summary Gaugelink would not be suitable as the interface device exists in the form of the MUX.

[Conseils]

To the very best of my knowledge (fairly extensive in this particular area, though not necessarily 100%).

No they do not, they have a line of SPC software which they sell to handle data from the Digimatic instruments.

[Conseils]

Again this is for gaugelink and is not a suitable answer to the question posed. Gaugelink is a third party product (Not by Mitutoyo), the MUX2 is I believe a Mitutoyo product.

I strongly suspect that gaugelink does not use the same command protocol as the MUX devices. I have had a quick look at the sample VI and have not had chance to compare that with any other data yet. Should I discover they are the same command set I will add to this comment.

[m4nd4li4]

Dear All,

Many, many thanks for the replies. You all answered my initial
question and others that I hadn't thought of. So to summerise, I
cannot use Labview to communicate with the Mitutoyo MUX2 unit without
using the GaugeLink, which I have to purchase. I don't want to do
this. Mitutoyo do sell the SPC software to handle data from the
Digitmatic instruments. Again, I'd rather use Labview. I'm not sure
what my options are. I suppose there would an equivalent NI
card/module which I could connect the micrometers?? Any alternative
soultions would be gratefully received.

Many thanks for all your help.

Regards,

Bharesh


Conseils wrote in message news:<506500000005000000F2820100-1079395200000@exchange.ni.com>...
> To the very best of my
knowledge (fairly extensive in this particular
> area, though not necessarily 100%).
>
> No they do not, they have a line of SPC software which they sell to
> handle data from the Digimatic instruments.

[m4nd4li4]

Dear All,

Many, many thanks for the replies. You all answered my initial
question and others that I hadn't thought of. So to summerise, I
cannot use Labview to communicate with the Mitutoyo MUX2 unit without
using the GaugeLink, which I have to purchase. I don't want to do
this. Mitutoyo do sell the SPC software to handle data from the
Digitmatic instruments. Again, I'd rather use Labview. I'm not sure
what my options are. I suppose there would an equivalent NI
card/module which I could connect the micrometers?? Any alternative
soultions would be gratefully received.

Many thanks for all your help.

Regards,

Bharesh


Conseils wrote in message news:<506500000005000000F2820100-1079395200000@exchange.ni.com>...
> To the very best of my
knowledge (fairly extensive in this particular
> area, though not necessarily 100%).
>
> No they do not, they have a line of SPC software which they sell to
> handle data from the Digimatic instruments.