vi for VG M741 interface

[lamont]

The instrument I am working on is a Micromass MM-30 thermal ionization mass spectrometer at Lamont of Columbia University. We bought an IEEE and Labview from National Instrument to replace our old IEEE and software. We tried to make communication between computer and magnet supply through VG (isotech, model M741) interface using new IEEE and Labview. Since National Instrument doesn't have vi file of Labview to support our VG interface, we are unable to talk with magnet supply. I would like to know if anyone has any suggestion.

[Dennis_Knutson]

I'm not sure I understand the relationship between the MM-30 and the M741. Are these two separate instruments? Even without a driver, you should still be able to talk to any instrument on the GPIB bus. Assuming you have access to the command set, have you tried using MAX to communicate? LabVIEW 7 and later also has the Instrument I/O Assistant that you can try using. Also, you might try writing your own driver. At the Instrument Driver Network, you'll find a lot of links that will help you develop your own.

[Ricardo_SR]

Unfortunately there are no drivers for these instruments but you should be able to communicate to the instrument in LabVIEW using the VISA commands. The only important thing is to know the commands and how to give them. As Dennis said, you could try from MAX (Measurement and Automation Explorer) to communicate with it. Just expand the Devices and Interfaces tree, and the GPIB tree, right click on the Instrument and choose Communicate with Instrument.
There are several shipping examples in LabVIEW (Help»Find Examples).
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,
Ricardo S.