Is this driver/controller compatible with LabView

[GEAviation]

Good afternoon,

My question is in regard to this driver/controller for a stepper motor application.

http://www.linengineering.com/drivers-Controllers/R256.aspx

I am wondering what it would take, if anything, to make this compatible with LabView

and run the stepper motor via an open loop system. If I need a specific product please

post the link. If it is something to add into the code please let me know what that is.

Thank you for your time. 

[Dennis_Knutson]

It says that it has an RS-485 interface so you would write the code using the VISA serial functions. You would also need an RS-485 interface added to your pc with its driver. After installing NI-VISA, the com port should be visible in MAX and then you can select it in LabVIEW.

[GEAviation]

So I will need an RS-485 interface added to my pc with its driver. Are these hardware components. Can you help direct me on where to buy these products. Also, is NI-VISA free? What type of coding is this. The other option is this driver which is "compatible" with Labview.

Link to the Galil DMC-30017:

http://www.galil.com/motion-controllers/single-axis/dmc-3x01x#info=1

Following is a link for Galil / Labview:

http://www.galil.com/download/application-note/note4414.pdf

The secondary option is for a closed loop system so I would need an encoder on the

stepper motor. It is an accurate motor and I am controlling the angle of a 6in. gear using

microstepping to rotate it from -10 to +10 utilizing 1 degree incremenets. Should the open

system work. Let me hear your thoughts. Thank you for your time!

[Dennis_Knutson]

Yes, RS-485 is a physical interface.

Search for one with Google.

Yes, NI-VISA is free.

You have a note from the vendor explaining how to you use their api with LabVIEW so your question does not make much sense.

[GEAviation]

That note is not for the motor that I am using. Is the actual code written in NI VISA or labview and NI VISA is only used

to get the stepper motor to show up in Labview. I am confused on how to wire this all up.

http://www.linengineering.com/drivers-Controllers/R256.aspx

http://www.linengineering.com/stepper-motors/5609.aspx

[Dennis_Knutson]

Do you understand how a controller and motor work? The controller is the one that would show in LabVIEW since it has the RS-485 connection to the pc. The controller also connects to a motor and that will not appear.

[GEAviation]

Yes. I understand that the software indicates position and the controller communicates that to the driver which then outputs the corresponding voltage/current pulses. 

I want to know if NI VISA is where I will program the actual positions and options for the degree of stepping or if it is just the vehicle to convert from Labview to the controller.

I would like to use NI Motion Assistant; is that possible with out using an actual Labview Driver.

I would also like to know if a motor has a 0.9* step angle and I have the option of microstepping does that divide that 

indiviual step into 2-256 pieces?

Thanks. 

[Dennis_Knutson]

NI-VISA is the api for serial communication in LabVIEW. You will be sending commands to the controller that you find listed in its manual.

I believe that the motion assistant only works with NI hardware.

[GEAviation]

So..will I be able to set certain commands and a home position in NI VISA and then link that to Labview 

to create an array on the user interface to set variables such as how many angles to stop at and the 

desired spacing between said angles. 

[Dennis_Knutson]

You can write whatever commands that the controller supports. It is LabVIEW that calls VISA functions such as Write or Read.