Need tutoring in writing VB6 code for USB-9100A

[Jim Tonne]

I have a program written in VB6 and will be integrating into it a USB-9100A module.  I have never

interfaced into such hardware and of course need help!  Is there a tutorial on how to "trigger" and/or

"read" the output of the 9100A?  I want to read the output of a strain gauge, down in the millivolt

region, and plot that output.  All the graphics and other interface items are already written.  Right now

I have a "simulator" that generates a signal that will hopefully be what the 9100A delivers.  But I think

I am supposed to tell the device to start delivering data, and then read that data.  Are there posted

somewhere examples of how to do this?  I have browsed through the 400-megabyte download but

don't really see such examples.  Is there a listing posted on the NI site somewhere of the various

commands for the 9100A, such as "DAQmx_Val_VoltageUnits1_Volts . . ." and so on?  Feedback

will be MOST appreciated.

[AlanArmstead]

Hello Jim,
I'm not sure you put the correct product number in the post.  I'm assuming you are referring to the USB-9211A or USB-9215A.  In either case, the device is supported by NI-DAQmx.  So first and foremost, you need to have NI-DAQmx 7.5 installed.  It looks like you might already have that, but if you don't you can download it free.  As for examples, they will install by default here:  C:\Program Files\National Instruments\NI-DAQ\Examples\Visual Basic 6.0
Hope some of this info helps!
-Alan A.

[Jim Tonne]

Alan A:

Could I contact you off-forum?  The project I am working on is a pro bono for the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.  They have an annual contest wherein kids build foot-long wooden bridges and subject them to a stress test.  Best ratio of stress to bridge weight wins.  The stress is measured using a strain gauge a.k.a. "load cell."  Code all written excepting how to read the strain gauge.  No dollars or profit involved on my part.  I would appreciate the ability to contact you.  My e-mail address is tonne (at) comcast.net

Thanks for your input so far!

- JimT

[AlanArmstead]

Jim,

Respectfully, I'd like to keep this on the forums, for the sake of anyone else who might be get some use out of the information in this thread.  If you are trying to acquire some strain samples, I would recommend looking at the VB 6 analog input example (C:\Program Files\National Instruments\NI-DAQ\Examples\Visual Basic 6.0\Analog In\Measure Voltage\Acq-Int Clk), and then take a look at the ANSI C example here (C:\Program Files\National Instruments\NI-DAQ\Examples\DAQmx ANSI C\Analog In\Measure Strain\Cont Strain Samples).  You really just need to integrate the ANSI C strain example into VB.  Feel free to re-post if you have any problems.

-Alan A.