Issue with Analog output of PCIe 6361 with BNC 2110

[shriv]

Hi everyone! I am trying to drive a galvanometer scanner using analog outputs of PCIe 6361 through BNC 2110. When I try to measure the analog output (AO0) by giving 1V through NI MAX, I can only measure 0.36V using a multimeter. I used an oscilloscope to see what's wrong, and I can see that the AO0 is getting clipped at 0.36V no matter how much I give. I also tried using a different BNC 2110, but I face the same issue. Please let me know if there is a way to debug this.

[altenbach]

How much power is the scanner trying to draw? (AO is not designed to "drive" anything. According to the specs, you can't get more than 5mA)

What is the measured voltage if nothing is connected?

Start reading here.

[Henrik_Volkers]

Yepp, seems like the coil (or galvano-input)  has about 72 Ohms (0.36V/0.005A) 

If you want to drive it +-10V you need a 140mA (better 200mA) driver (=voltage follower able to source and sink 200mA) and a power source for it.

[santo_13]

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@shriv wrote:

Hi everyone! I am trying to drive a galvanometer scanner using analog outputs of PCIe 6361 through BNC 2110. When I try to measure the analog output (AO0) by giving 1V through NI MAX, I can only measure 0.36V using a multimeter. I used an oscilloscope to see what's wrong, and I can see that the AO0 is getting clipped at 0.36V no matter how much I give. I also tried using a different BNC 2110, but I face the same issue. Please let me know if there is a way to debug this.

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If you want the easy route, the galvanometer supplier may also sell a galvanometer driver or amplifier that you can connect to the 6361 to be able to drive the coils.