Step 1. Define Your Objective
The first step in building a PXI system is to define your objective.
For example, are you integrating PXI into an existing system or
are you building a new system? Will you work with an integrator
to build your system? How might you want to expand your PXI system
in the future? As the leading supplier of PXI hardware and software,
we have a thorough understanding and expertise in PXI system architecture.
Our experienced worldwide sales and support organization is backed
by some of the world's leading PXI hardware and software experts.
We are ready to answer questions and to ensure that PXI is a success
for you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact
a National Instruments technical representative.
Configure Your New PXI System Online with the PXI Advisor at ni.com/pxiadvisor
The fastest and easiest way to specify and configure your new PXI
system is by using the online PXI Advisor or PXI/SCXI Advisor. The
Advisors lead you through a series of questions to help you build
your new PXI system with a system controller, software, modules,
accessories, and PXI or PXI/SCXI combination chassis. With PXI Advisor,
you build your PXI system by answering simple questions and selecting
the products best suited to your goals. You can print or export
the image of your PXI system for use in proposals or design reviews.
Additionally, the Advisors will make recommendations on technical
matters such as specific slot placement of modules, cables and terminal
accessories, as well as integrated software packages. The Advisors
also use behind-the-scenes logic to prevent configurations that
are incompatible. For example, if you select a LabVIEW Real-Time
PXI Controller, the Advisor tool will automatically restrict PXI
measurement module selection to only those with LabVIEW Real-Time
support.
When you are satisfied with your configuration, you can pass that
configuration to a National Instruments representative for order,
or even order automatically through the online store. With NI Factory
Installation Services as part of your order, you will receive your
PXI system just as you configured it. We will install any PXI modules
you select in your chassis, plus any memory upgrades, any National
Instruments application software, and any required driver software
on your embedded controller.
Step 2. Select a Remote or Embedded PXI
Controller
A first fundamental choice of the PXI system is the selection of
controller. Choices include PC Control with MXI-3, embedded controllers
with Windows, embedded controllers running LabVIEW Real-Time, and
remote ethernet control.
PC Control of PXI with MXI-3 technology will typically provide the
combination of the lowest cost control with the highest CPU performance.
By using a MXI-3 control link to PXI, you can use standard desktop
or server PCs to remotely control a PXI system. The MXI-3 link consists
of a PCI MXI-3 board, connected with a copper or fiber-optic cable
to a PXI MXI-3 board in slot 1 of the PXI system. The link is completely
transparent, so all PXI modules in the PXI chassis are identified
at boot time as if they were PCI cards in your system. More information
on PC Control with MXI-3 is available in the National Instruments
online catalog.
Embedded Controllers with Windows allow you to build a single-system
solution, with the PC functionality contained inside the PXI chassis.
The embedded controller is essentially a small, modular, rugged
PC. Embedded Controllers with Windows have familiar features such
as Windows 2000/XP, serial ports, parallel ports, USB ports, and
keyboard/monitor/mouse connections.
Real-Time embedded controllerscome equipped with a LabVIEW Real-Time
engine and a real-time operating system rather than a Windows operating
system. With LabVIEW Real-Time applications running on the embedded
controller, you can create stand-alone measurement, automation,
and control systems, with the determinism and reliability of a Real-Time
operating system. Development occurs on a host PC, and the resulting
LabVIEW code is downloaded to the PXI Real-Time embedded controller
over ethernet. If needed, the host PC can handle tasks such as monitoring
data, ActiveX/OPC, and Internet access. Meanwhile, the real-time
embedded controller runs time-critical control tasks. Even if you
must reboot your monitoring PC, real-time applications on the embedded
controller continue to execute.
Using Ethernet Control of PXI, you can remotely control a PXI system
over the Ethernet. This allows for distributed measurement configurations,
remote control from a Laptop, and network or internet based measurement
server applications. To implement Ethernet Control of PXI, we simply
combine software technologies with an embedded controller. For example,
you can use LabVIEW Real-Time on a Real-Time embedded controller
to remote a data acquisition system over ethernet. The PXI chassis
operates headless (no keyboard, monitor, mouse connection), instead
relaying data back to a host PC or laptop over ethernet. Alternatively,
use standard LabVIEW technologies such as Datasockets and TCP/IP
functions, or standard Microsoft technologies such as Windows XP
Remote Desktop, in combination with a Windows-Based embedded controller
to create remote, headless control of PXI systems.
Step 3. Choose Your Software
Software is one of the most important considerations for your PXI
system. Your software decisions affect not only overall system performance
and capability, but also development time, productivity, maintenance,
and software reuse for future projects. You want to choose software
packages that have complete debugging tools and application development
environments (ADEs), that work with the most popular operating systems
and programming languages, and that generate software that can easily
be reused from one application to the next. Because PXI is an open
standard compatible with the mainstream PC architecture, there are
many programming languages, operating systems, ADEs, and application
software packages from which to choose. It is important to make
the right decision to realize all the advantages that PXI has to
offer, while minimizing your development costs now and maintenance
costs later.
To simplify your programming task and have the capability for all
of your measurement and automation applications, you should consider
an application development environment (ADE) such as LabVIEW graphical
programming or Measurement Studio (LabWindows/CVI, C/C++, and Visual
Basic development tools). If you are developing a real-time application,
use LabVIEW Real-Time. For automated test systems, use TestStand
which provides parallel testing, operator interface templates, and
supports a wide variety of development environments. For demanding
industrial automation applications, use Lookout or LabVIEW with
the Datalogging and Supervisory Control Module. Our leading Web-based
tools also are available to add Internet technology to your application
in all of these development environments.
Another advantage of PXI is that vendors are required to supply
driver software. In the early days of automated test when many hardware
vendors did not supply driver software, users would have to learn
all the commands for an instrument and write the driver themselves.
With PXI, driver software is required, which eliminates the time-consuming
and expensive process of developing and maintaining your own driver
software.
To give you more power and even faster development time, National
Instruments has implemented Virtual Instrument Software Architecture
(VISA) and Interchangeable Virtual Instruments (IVI) with PXI. VISA
eliminates the need for low-level programming for instruments. It
makes communication with instruments easy - independent of the bus
used. You can communicate across different buses, such as GPIB or
serial, regardless of the controller. This makes building hybrid
systems of PXI/CompactPCI, VXI, VME, GPIB, and serial much easier.
IVI improves these benefits even further by adding more robust performance,
an instrument simulation mode, and instrument interchangeability.
Step 4. Select Your PXI Modules
National Instruments offers the widest breadth of modules for PXI
systems. Whether your application is in test, measurement, data
acquisition, or industrial automation, you can choose modules to
meet the specific requirements of your application. Because PXI
is an open standard adopted by numerous companies worldwide, you
also can complete your system with special-purpose modules from
other vendors.
Instrument Modules
National Instruments modular instrumentation combines high-performance
measurement hardware and optimized measurement software to deliver
the functionality of today's popular electronic instruments. These
general-purpose PXI instrumentation modules serve as the building
blocks for fast and flexible automated measurement systems. A 100
MHz digitizer can measure a wide range of signals with the probe
options available. Use the 6 ? digit multimeter to measure current,
resistance, and voltage up to 300 V. Choose from several different
multiplexing switch modules to bring more channels into your instruments.
Generate stimulus signals with our arbitrary waveform generator.
Of course, with our GPIB and MXI-3 interfaces you can connect to
existing GPIB, VXI, and VME instruments. You can lock your instruments
to the PXI 10 MHz reference clock in order to synchronize them.
The PXI 10 MHz reference clock is accurate within 25 parts per million
(ppm), which is accurate enough for most applications. For even
higher system timing accuracy you can insert the PXI-6608 oven-controlled
crystal oscillator (OCXO) counter/timer instrument into your PXI
system to drive a 10 MHz reference clock with a stability of 75
parts per billion (ppb). All instruments inherit the 75 ppb stability
when they lock to the OCXO clock.
Data Acquisition Modules
Our complete line of data acquisition modules covers a broad range
of applications. If you need a high-speed digitizer for transient
analysis, waveform generation, frequency measurements, or data logging,
choose from our E Series multifunction data acquisition modules.
With these modules you can control SCXI signal conditioning and
take measurements with thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors, strain
gauges, transducers, or other measurement devices. We also offer
analog output, counter/timer, and digital I/O modules capable of
handling a wide range of applications.
Image Acquisition Modules and Motion Controllers
Choose an analog or digital image acquisition module for monochrome
and color acquisition in real time. Features include triggering,
digital I/O, synchronization with PXI data acquisition modules,
programmable acquisition, and powerful image analysis software.
Combine this machine vision capability with our open and closed-loop
stepper and servo motor controllers to build high-performance positioning,
assembly, and inspection systems. Our motion controllers, which
come with easy-to-use software, can control up to four axis per
module.
Bus Interfaces
A wide variety of bus interface modules are available in PXI for
connection to other systems. For example, you can preserve your
investment in stand-alone instruments by using a GPIB, USB, Serial,
or Ethernet bus interface to connect to the instrument. Additionally,
a variety of interfaces are available for connecting to VXI systems,
such as MXI-2, MXI-3, and IEEE-1394 (Firewire). For high-performance
hard-drives and other peripherals, you can add a SCSI interface
to a PXI system. With this wide range of bus interfaces, you can
easily integrate your PXI system with a variety of other devices.
Third Party Modules
While National Instruments is a leader in the PXI market, their
are many other companies that build PXI hardware and offer functionality
not available from National Instruments. At the end of 2002, over
880 PXI products were available on the market from over 50 member
companies of the PXI Systems Alliance. To see a list of common non
National Instruments modules integrated with PXI systems, please
visit the PXI Third Party page. Even if the functionality you need
is not listed at this location, links to other websites where PXI
products can be found are included at the bottom of the third party
page. Additionally, with over 880 PXI modules available on the marketplace,
do not neglect the simple search on www.google.com if you still
cannot the PXI module that you need.
Step 5. Select Your Accessories
Once you have your modules selected, it's time to consider connecting
your signal to the modules. Connectivity is a very important part
of every application. Complete high-performance systems require
superior connections that are easy to use. National Instruments
has a broad selection of cable assemblies, terminal blocks, and
other accessories for connecting your PXI system to test fixtures,
field sensors, and process control points. Signal conditioning options
range from our SCC low-cost, modular conditioning products to our
SCXI high-performance signal conditioning modules for large signal
counts. The most common accessory part numbers are listed together
with respective products in the National Instruments catalog. Additionally,
if you use the PXI Advisor, then accessories and cables are automatically
recommended for each module.
Step 6. Select Your PXI Chassis
The requirements of your application tie directly into your choice
of PXI chassis. National Instruments offers you several choices
that span a wide variety of applications. Filtered, forced-air cooling
and conformance to strict requirements for reliable operation in
noisy, humid, vibration, and shock-prone environments are benefits
common to all National Instruments PXI chassis. PXI chassis are
differentiated to ideally suit a variety of application environments.
We offer chassis tailored for use as portable systems, as bench-top
systems, as rack-mount systems, or embedded into your systems. The
chassis vary in the number of available slots, the size of power
supplies, and the integrated features. You can choose between chassis
with four, eight, or eighteen PXI slots and integrated features
such as SCXI signal conditioning. All chassis are available with
AC power supplies, and some have optional internal DC input power
supplies. However, any chassis can be used with DC power by using
an external DC to AC power inverter. You are sure to find a chassis
that is ideal for your application.
PXI-1006 18-Slot Chassis
The PXI-1006 is a general-purpose 18-slot chassis. The PXI-1006
is powered by a rugged, removable 600 W universal AC power supply
with integrated fans in a single modular unit. It comes with tilt
feet for bench-top applications and a handle for portability. An
optional rack-mount kit is also available. With the high number
of PXI slots and high-density interconnect solutions available,
the PXI-1006 provides an ideal platform for manufacturing test,
data acquisition, and large switching applications.
PXI-1042 8-Slot Chassis
The PXI-1042 is a general-purpose 8-slot chassis. It is available
with a standard universal AC input. It comes with tilt feet for
bench-top applications and a handle for portable applications. An
optional rack-mount kit is also available.
PXI-1002 4-Slot Chassis
The PXI-1002 is a low-cost, compact 4-slot chassis. At half the
size of the PXI-1042, it is ideal for embedded applications where
space is limited or where the required number of modules is small.
It is available with a standard universal AC input and has optional
kits for rubber feet, a handle, or rack-mount brackets.
PXI-1010/1011 PXI/SCXI Combination Chassis
The PXI-1010 and PXI-1011 are ideal for applications requiring high-performance
signal conditioning. The PXI-1010 features four SCXI signal conditioning
slots with eight PXI slots. The PXI-1011 has eight SCXI slots and
four PXI slots. The signal conditioning section is controlled through
an internal interface from any E
Series multifunction I/O module plugged into the rightmost PXI slot.
Both have optional rack-mount kits and are available with standard
AC inputs.
Step 7. Select NI Factory Installation Services
For the fastest and easiest way to get your PXI system up and running,
select Installation Services. National Instruments will install
your hardware and software, configure your system to your specifications,
and deliver your system ready to use.
Once again, please do not hesitate to contact a National Instruments
Technical Representative if you have any questions. In addition,
we recommend the PXI Advisor and PXI/SCXI Advisor as the fastest,
easiest, and most powerful method of configuring your PXI system.
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