Using PCI-Step-4CX, PCI-7324, and PCI-7334 cards and valuemotion,flexmotion,ni-motion libraries together

[CLB1FT]

How can I load multiple versions of the closed loop stepper motion control libraries? Since NI has discontinued use of the PCI-Step-4CX which uses the valuemotion library, I need to use the PCI-7334 card and NI-motion library. However, I have 7 hardware setups in which 6 use the PCI-Step-4CX and the newest wants to use the PCI-7334. I thought I could just check a setting to know which library to use, but seem to have a lot of trouble on the setups with the older card and libraries. Please let me know what I can do to get these to work together properly.

[JedRetherford]

CLB1FT,

In your post, you correctly point out that National Instruments has discontinued the ValueMotion line of products. Products that were included in this line were the PCI-SERVO-XXX, PCI-STEP-XXX, PCI-7314, and PCI-7324 motor controllers. This series of devices utilized ValueMotion driver software and libraries and ValueMotion VIs for programming within LabVIEW. 

National Instruments also offered a line of products known as FlexMotion. With the discontinuation of the ValueMotion products, FlexMotion products are now referred to as Motion or NI-Motion products. The NI-Motion/FlexMotion product line includes the 733x, 734x, and 735x series of motion controllers that are available in both PCI and PXI form factors. In the past, this group of devices used FlexMotion software and libraries and FlexMotion VIs for programming within LabVIEW. Starting with version 5.2 and going forward, FlexMotion software will be referred to as NI-Motion. 

Now, to address the issue in your post, you sound like you want to use both ValueMotion and FlexMotion hardware in the same system. In the past, both ValueMotion and FlexMotion could be installed on the system, but the newest NI-Motion/FlexMotion version (6.1 and later) cannot be installed on the same system as ValueMotion. Therefore, if you are interested in using both ValueMotion and FlexMotion hardware and software on the same system, you will need to revert back to an older version of FlexMotion software. 

Hopefully that will get you going in the right direction.

Regards,
Jed R.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[CLB1FT]

Thank you Jed. You have been very helpful! I am reverting back to FlexMotion v5.1.1 and ValueMotion v5.0.2 so that they will work together. This seems to be working fine so far.

[NThony]

I have a PCI Step 4CX card and some related VIs which work on Windows 2000. However, we need to change the computer that use this card and it would have a Win XP OS. I don't really understand if :

-> I need to use an other software like NI-Motion ?

-> Or is ValueMotion 5.0.2 compatible with Windows XP ?

Thanks for your help.

[Jochen]

Nthony,

As the ValueMotion product line is obsolete for about 8 years now, ValueMotion is not supported under Windows XP. You could still give it a try, but there is no guarantee that this will work.
NI-Motion is the driver that supports the current motion control product line of 733x, 734x and 735x boards, but it doesn't work for ValueMotion boards. Here you can find a complete compatibility chart for NI motion control products.

In fact the PCI-7334 is a good replacement for ValueMotion stepper boards, but changing your application to this board would require some reprogramming and rewiring.

Kind regards,

Jochen Klier
National Instruments

[NThony]

Ok thanks for this quick answer.

We'll see what's the best solution for us.

[oody]

I have gotten a PCI-STEP board working with ValueMotion 5.02 and Windows XP.

I installed the software, shutdown, installed the hardware.

Device Manager still showed a yellow ? for an unknown PCI Board.

About to give up, somehow I decided to right-click on this yellow ? and choose "Update Driver"

I let windows do a search and by some miracle it actually identified the board.

It shows up now under "Measurement & Automation Explorer", reports to be working, and my custom program seems to be working too.

Although I haven't actually plugged it into my NuDrive to see the motors move, I'm fairly confident that it will work at this point.