how to create a valve

[ran]

ok, so i've read lot of postings regarding how to make or create a valve but couldn't find anything that i want.

my question is this. i valve to control the flow of a fluid/gas using a valve but i can't find a symbol for valve on any of the pallets.
does anyone knows how or where to find these? by the way, i'm using LabView Express 7.0 ... in case that helps.

in the examples folder of the labView, there is a vi (contol mixer process.vi) and it uses a valve to control fluid flow but again i don't know how they did that.

any insight or tips?
thanks

[altenbach]

You can customize any control using the control editor (e.g. select a button and do "edit..customize control". Now you can import a picture for each state. The possibilities are endless.

In your case, you apparently already found a suitable control in some example code. Why don't you just copy it to your VI an use it? You can even place it in you "user controls" palette for easy access in the future.

[ran]

altenbach,
thanks for the great info. i was able to copy it! had no idea that was possible.

1. i've been trying to save it in the "user control palette" by copy and past method but doesn't work. how do i handle that?

2. when i drag n drop a tank on the screen from the palette, there seem to be only on input or output terminal but in this example (see attached file), the tank seem to have 2 terminals (one for in-flow of fluid and the other for out-flow).
i could copy n paste that example also, but what i'm trying to do is a little bit different.
should i assume that if i connect a pipe to the side of the tank and flow some fluid thru the pipe, the tank will automatically begin to fill-up or receive the fluid?

also, for the tank that i'm using,
it's initially filled (for example, a gas tank or cylinder ... filled with say Oxygen or Nitrogen). hope you get the idea.
thanks

-r

[altenbach]

The tanks are just indicators and the pipes cosmetic elements. You need to wire a number to the terminal on the diagram to indicate the tank level desired (basically, it's just a fancy slide indicator.)

To place the custom control in the user menu, open it in the control editor and give it a nice icon so you reognize it. Now save the control to the "user.lib" folder (typically found in C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW 7.0\user.lib or similar). Next time you start LabVIEW, you'll find your user control in the user menu. It's magic!

[ran]

hi,
you said: "The tanks are just indicators and the pipes cosmetic elements. You need to wire a number to the terminal on the diagram to indicate the tank level desired (basically, it's just a fancy slide indicator.)" how exactly do you do that?

also where can i locate the "control editor". you're not referring to the control palette, are you?

🙂
-r

[altenbach]

Control editor: In LabVIEW, select your valve, then do "edit..Customize control". Voila! your in the control editor.

Tank: Click on your tank and select "find terminal". Your program code must provide a value to it. An indicator simply displays a value, how it displays it depends on the indicator. A numeric indicator shows the value as a number. A tank shows the value as a colored level. See attached example.

[ran]

ok,
so i haven't said anything for a while because i wanted to work on it for a while to figure it out.

the example that you sent, did you create the tank yourself or it was somewhere in the palettes?

i will like to create a similar tank with the ff. specs:
-tank with an opening at the top so that i can connect on side of a valve to it and the other side to, (say), a mass flow control to measure the flow rate (sccm).

that's what i'm currently trying to do. any ideas? i know you got tons of ideas/insights

thanks
-r

[altenbach]

I copied the tank from the example you attached higher up ;-).

Personally, I would not focus too much on cosmetics at this stage. It is much more important to get the code working properly. Only once everything works as designed, you can add some finishing touches by adjusting the cosmetics.