Recommendation for simple AI/AO/DI/DO interface?

[J. Jennings]

Wanted: a little advice for a mechanical engineer wanting to install a
simple control bench in his basement . . . low cost is a priority.

I would like to set up data acquisition and control from my laptop to
several field points as follows:
- 2+ analog inputs
- 2+ analog outputs
- 2 digital inputs
- 2 digital outputs

Communications could be via Ethernet / Serial / USB / Parallel/ or PCMCIA

Need recommendation for low-cost interface systems. National Intruments
looks quite professional, but wouldn't it cost several thousand?

Any source for used?

Thanks very much,

J. Jennings
North Carolina

[pcf]

the only way i can think of for low cost solution is build ur own I/O card
from http://www.kitsrus.com/

I think they are relatively inexpensive

cheers

"J. Jennings" ¼¶¼g©ó¶l¥ó·s»D
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> Wanted: a little advice for a mechanical engineer wanting to install a
> simple control bench in his basement . . . low cost is a priority.
>
> I would like to set up data acquisition and control from my laptop to
> several field points as follows:
> - 2+ analog inputs
> - 2+ analog outputs
> - 2 digital inputs
> - 2 digital outputs
>
> Communications could be via Ethernet / Serial / USB / Parallel/ or PCMCIA
>
> Need recommendation for low-cost interface systems. National Intruments
>
looks quite professional, but wouldn't it cost several thousand?
>
> Any source for used?
>
> Thanks very much,
>
> J. Jennings
> North Carolina
>
>

[nealpederson]

Checkout http://www.labjack.com. It is a USB device with multifunction I/O
and great LabVIEW drivers for only $99. Also, although NI is much more
expensive than this, they do have I/O cards for a lot less than "several
thousand." They have some good multifunction I/O cards for several hundred
dollars.

[Kamran S.]

The resolution and sampling rate will affect the price of any system you choose. There are a few options for you with either PCMCIA or USB. I think the cost of PCMCIA boards from NI is lower than DAQ products in the USB form factor.

The DAQCard-6024E seems like it would be best for your needs:
http://sine.ni.com/apps/we/nioc.vp?cid=3408〈=US

The best thing would be to just use the online Advisors: http://www.ni.com/advisor/

Through these you can specify your requirements and find matching hardware. The one you'll probably find most useful is DAQ Advisor - http://amp.ni.com/board/jsp/boardconfig.jsp?productFamily=Data%20Acquisition

Best of luck,
Kamran

[Filipe A.]

Hello;

I believe the most cost efective solution for you would be to use a couple of Field Point modules, and use Labview to communicate with those through either Serial or Ethernet.

For more information on the Field Point modules, visit www.ni.com/catalog.

Hope this helps.
Filipe A.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments