6-Chan Load Cell Conditioning- Which NI Products?

[User002]

We are building a machine with 6 strain gage based load cells. We need simple signal conditioning, including power supply, between the 6 load cells and our data acquisition system. What are the NI products we need to buy?

[AVR]

Your might consider the following stsyem:

DAQ Card: 6052E series

Conditioning:
SCXI 1000 Chassis
SCXI-1520 Strain Gauge Module
SCXI-1314 Terminal Block
SCXI-1349 Cable Assembly

This system will give you 8-channels of simultaneous sample-and-hold input with excitation and bridge completion for strain gauges. The 6052E series (PCI or PXI) will give 16-bit accuracy at a maximum rate of 333 kS/sec. Other E-series DAQ cards would also work - it is really a function of accuracy requirements versus cost. As the SCXI bus is only capable of a maximum sample rate of 333 kS/sec, DAQ cards with higher bandwidths would be limited by the SCXI bus.

[User002]

Thanks for the feedback. However, we don't need the A/D capability. Instead, all we need is to condition the load cells to feed high level (+/- 10V) signals to our existing A/D's. We're trying to keep this really simple and cheap.

Ideas on what product(s) would work?

[AVR]

Sure. For simple signal conditioning, go to www.omega.com (Omega Engineering)and take a look at the following Bridge Conditioning Modules:
DMD-460 Series
BCM-1 Series
OM2 Series
All of these devices provide some/all of the capability you require. Omega Engineering has an extensive line of products to support accurate, economical, and easy pressure, force, and strain measurement. (No I do not work for Omega Engineering; however, I have used their products over the last 20 years and have always been satisfied with the results). Omega will also send a complete reference set of their current catalog in "paper form"(about 70 lbs) upon request. These catalogs have technical instructions and application notes that rival those found at NI
.

[User002]

AVR,
Many thanks! Just the info I needed.