do you have recommendation for my DAQ system?

[gebrax]

my institution(biomechanic laboratory) is trying to do research in human gait analysis.

this year our institution will do research in term of kinetic parameter for human gait analysis.

we have plan to make a real time force sensing through designing,manufacturing forceplate(sometimes it known as force platform).

the forceplate consist of 4 loadcell. every load cell has 3 strain gages located on it. so it can generate 12 signal(voltage)

but unfortunetly, we just have few equipment and money to do that research. 😞

in order to make an affordable DAQ system, we need an integrated signal conditioning-DAQ card.

we already search in NI product catalog, we found NI 9237(integrated, 4channel analog input). it cost  $1,264.

some friends give advice to buy three of NI 9237 so that we can built a 12 channel DAQ system. but it costs to much for our institution.

my other friend give advice to build multiplexer based system. so we just need 1 NI 9237.

what do you think?

should we buy 3 NI 9237 or build DAQ system consist of 1 NI 9237 and multiplexer?

do you have recommendation or plan DAQ system for our institution?

thanks

danniel

[JustinP]

Hello Danniel,

Depending on the criteria of your analysis a multiplexer may not meet your needs due to the fact that the data would not be acquired simultaneously, the mutliplexer would switch through each channel one at a time. The NI-9237 can sample all four channels simultaneously and the modules can be synchronized with one another.  The NI-9237 is a module that is used in the CompactDAQ platform and National Instruments Switch modules are in PXI form factor.  Therefore a switch would require a second system which would not only add cost but also complexity.  A single CompactDAQ chassis with three NI-9237 would allow you to take 12 channels of Quarter (with NI-9944 or NI-9945 accessory), Half, or Full Bridge configuration.  To determine which configuration is right for your application you can refer to this document that describes the different types. To determine how to connect the strain gauges the NI-9237 refer to this KnowledgeBase article. I hope this information will help you in determining the appropriate system for your application.

Regards,

Justin