New to DAQ, need to know if it will do what I need before I spend

[Chadman]

I am looking at Labview and a DAQ board for my aplication. Starting from scratch.
I need to make an automated life cycle tester.

My test routine sequence:
1) Switch circuit board on (120VAC source)
2) Square wave (Pic) out at 20hz for 10 seconds (200 pulses)
3) Switch the circuit board off for 3 seconds
4) goto 1)

I would like to count the number of cycles completed on my display(1-4 above)
During the cycle I would like to indicate the number of missing output pulses from my square wave at 2 or 3 points and display that number missed.

Later I might like to add a thermistor and drive a heat source to monitor test under extreme temp conditions.

What I'd like to know is if Labview and something like the NI DAQPad-6016 meet my needs to accomplish this?
My needs are pretty modest. Nothing we make is running very fast.

I'd like to drive a relay from the DAC board to power the circuit board.
Evetually I'd like to make some multi-head automated exercisers for my circuit boards for pre-packaging test purposes. I want o monitor voltages in a few key places as well.

Will Labview and DAQ boards get me there?

Appreciate any help

[Odd_Modem]

a digital out will not have the current sink rating to drive a relay directly, unless it is a very special relay, so you need to look at options there, like the use of a solid state relay or a transistor driver for the relay.

Other than that, you can set up those things in MAX, either as tasks or global channels, and call them from LabVIEW, and it should be quick to get going.