Unable to send commands to Chemyx N3000 Pump

[Hosty]

Hello,

I am attempting to control a Chemyx N3000 series syringe pump via LabView using simple serial commands, and I am having difficulties communicating with the machine. Before I go on, let me say that I have almost no experience with LabView, so please do not make any assumptions in terms of my configuration. I am learning on the fly. 

I connected the instrument via RS-232 --> USB to my computer and opened MAX. The device was recognized on com1 with the correct settings, and when I validated I was informed that a VISA sessions had been successfully opened. I then went into the VISA test panel where I was able to successfully send the unit a write operation with the *IDN\n cmd; however, I was unable to query the instrument with this command; perform a successive read then write; or read the status byte. When I attempted to do these operations, the error code Hex 0xBFFF003A was displayed. I attempted to increase the timeout to 10,000 ms but this did not help. 

I also attempted to send the machine serial commands via the Instrument I/O Assistant. This was also unsuccessful and would frequently result in the port becoming locked up, requiring the machine to be disconnected and reconnected to the computer. 

Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

a query almost always has a question mark, there it should be *IDN?

[aeastet]

I would check to make sure that you are using the correct termination character. That will make a big difference if you see the response.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Did you actually find that command in the programming manual or did you just make it up? Whether or not you have any LabVIEW experience or not, you can only issue commands that the instrument actually supports. The *IDN? command is required by IEEE-488.2 so any pure RS-232 isntruments are very unlikely to use it.

[Hosty]

As I said, I have very little experience with LabView or coding in general. I sent a series of commands which were present in the Visa Test Panel to the machine at random essentially to see if I could get a response using any of them. In addition to this, I attempted to send a restart and a start command (commands stated to be supported by the machine) to the machine using write functions via Instrument I/O Assistant. These did not induce the machine to restart or start operation.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Sending random commands is not good engineering practice. You must attach the programming manual if you want any help and include the Instrument I/O Assistant code.

[Hosty]

Linked below are pictures of my Instrument I/O Assistant in it's current configuration, and I have attached the programming manual for my pump.

http://puu.sh/zc6f

http://puu.sh/zc90

[Dennis_Knutson]

I'm not going to some odd third party site to view some images. Why would you not directly attach the images to your post?

[Hosty]

I have attached the pictures and manual below. 

Thanks for your patience

[Dennis_Knutson]

Have you tried using a program such as Hyperterminal? That would be the first place I'd start. Also, you are terminating the command with a line feed. I don't see anywhere in the manual what is correct. Try a cr and a cr/lf.