myThrust - Hardware Timed PWM Output and Strain Gage Measurements with a myDAQ

[Jack._W]

In this small project I have created a test platform for characterising the thrust given off by any motor and propeller combination.

I used a myDAQ to do this and was able to control the motor speed and measure thrust using LabVIEW to automate a test structure.

The following YouTube video describes the project:

If you want to learn more please have a look through the tutorial document attached below. This gives an overview of the project and some guidence on how you can make it yourself as well as specific information on how to achieve the two data acquisition  and generation tasks required in the project:

- Analogue input to read the value from a strain gage after an amplification stage.

- Reliable hardware timed 20ms PWM output using the myDAQ's counter that can be changed on the fly.

The project is also attached with the test application featured in the video and an example VI for the counter output.

[BAParcells]

Thanks a ton for this, your bit on how to change the counter frequency on the fly was just what I was trying to figure out for my own project.

[DSync]

Is it correct to measure the thrust so close of the bench? I mean ...you might get different data if you give some free space underneath the motor. May be the thrust would be lower? (less turbulence).