Interfacing TETRIX/NXT HiTechnic Motor controller to myRIO

I am an Adjunct instructor at a Junior College.
We are implementing the Intelitek "Advanced Engineering with myRIO" curriculum.
This is a brand new program and we have received the software, course materials
and the myRIO controller but it will be close to mid term before we get the
rest of the hardware based on the TETRIX Prime robotic platform and interface
board.
I have borrowed an older TETRIX kit from a local High School that was used with
the LEGO NXT and it hast the HiTechnic Motor controller with the NXT connector
interface.
What I am wanting to do to get the student started (we just had the 2nd week
meeting of a 14 week course) is take the motor controller with the NXT cable
and interface it to the I2C interface on the myRIO.
I had found online a German site that has a board that will directly connect
the NXT sensors to a myRIO.
I was wondering if you have any VIs that might help met get this working
quickly, even the code details from the NXT version of Labview for the Tetrix
controllers would probably help.
Thanks in advance
Scott Willis

Hi Swillis,
Unfortunately we do not have an specific library to communicate with the Tetrix controllers. The following link, contains information related to the NI LabVIEW Module for LEGO® MINDSTORMS®, but it is not supported and will not necessarily work fine for the myRIO programming.
Regards
Regards,
S.Jimenez

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Hi there,
I'm new with both Labview and CANopen and I'm trying to write a RXPDO on my Linmot motor controller(VI attached). I'm using a PCI CAN Series 2 card.
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Hi Loura,
thank you for your suggestion. Unfortunately I already know those labview VIs, they are well developed but they don't run over the CANopen protocol.
I think the problems I'm having in using my controllers with Labivew and CANopen could depend on the fact that the LV canopen library are not intended for use with the latest version of Labivew (which is the version I'm actually using).
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Look at the examples for the serial VISA vi. Something like Basic serial write and read.vi is a good starting point.
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Message Edited by Henrik Volkers on 07-13-2009 04:21 PM
Greetings from Germany
Henrik
LV since v3.1
“ground” is a convenient fantasy
'˙˙˙˙uıɐƃɐ lɐıp puɐ °06 ǝuoɥd ɹnoʎ uɹnʇ ǝsɐǝld 'ʎɹɐuıƃɐɯı sı pǝlɐıp ǝʌɐɥ noʎ ɹǝqɯnu ǝɥʇ'

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Hi,
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Hi Mystery,
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As far as setting the speed of the motor, section 6.3.3 of the manual describes how to set the speed using an external voltage source. It appears as if you could output an analog voltage from 0V-5V and connect it to pin 9 on the controller - or "Spd9" as they call it. If I were you though, I'd read over the manual again just be double-check what I'm saying. I don't have the controller in front me, so it's just my idea.
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I hope this helps!
PS This was the manual I referenced: http://www.faulhaber.com/uploadpk/EN_BLD5018_im_MIN.pdf

LabVIEW driver for a ControlTechniques motor controller

Anyone know of LabVIEW driver for a ControlTechniques
Unidrive motor controller?
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Any help much appreciated
Paul
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LV can interface to 232, 485, Devicenet... depending on what the controller has.
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If you would like to try developing your own instrument driver (or modify the existing one), we have documentation, model instrument drivers, and driver templates to help at :
http://www.ni.com/devzone/idnet/development.htm
We also have a syndicate of third party vendors that specialize in National Instruments' products and services. Some of the vendors specialize in driver development. I would suggest contacting one of the Alliance members at:
http://www.ni.com/alliance
An instrument driver is a collection of functions that implement the commands necessary to perform the instrument�s operations. In short, someone read the instrument user manual and implemented some of the functionality in a program for the end user. Instrument drivers are not necessary to use your instrument. They are merely time savers to help you develop your project so you do not need to study the manual before writing a program. With all of this work already done for you in the driver, instrument drivers can significantly reduce development time.
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ni.com > NI Developer Zone > Development Library > Instrument Connectivity
http://search.ni.com/?col=alldocs&layout=TechResources&ql=a , to search examples and knowledge bases
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Overiew:
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Solved!
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problem.jpg ‏124 KB

You have a few things you need to look into:
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It looks like Phidget has a lot of documentation on its website. This webpage might be helpful to get started: http://www.phidgets.com/docs/1065_User_Guide . This user guide shows how to connect the wires. Notice that both the motor control cables and the encoder cables are connected to the motor controller. I believe that the position control loops are performed on this controller/drive itself.
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Hi all,
I've been grinding my head for days on this problem.
I've got an NI DAQ reading an analog voltage and a Maxon EPOS2 motor controller.
I want to read analog voltage from the DAQ at a frequency of 1800Hz and around 25 samples. For every set of samples, I want the EPOS2 motor controller to read its encoder position and have write to measurement file log all the data.
The problem I'm having is that although data values from the DAQ are recorded, they lag behind the encoder values provided by the EPOS2 by approx 50ms. This lag time changes as a function of the DAQ's rate and number of samples.
I attached an example data file. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, you'll see that the right most value (time from computer and I believe EPOS?) is different from the left most time value which came from the DAQ waveform.
I've attached my code to this post. Would some form of rendezvous or queue be applicable? Any thoughts would be most helpful.
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Attachments:
APS_linear1_5_stable.vi ‏137 KB
8_17_11_25s_1800Hz_150_2.txt ‏977 KB

Hello Ruben_D
I'm sorry this is causing you an inconvenience! Can you please provide a link to the EPOS2 install file as I seem to be missing a number of their dependent VIs. Thank you very much!
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Can DAQ send signal to motor controller?

Dear all,
I have been busy with a project since 6 months. This project involves a DAQ which acquires loadcell samples while a linear motor pressing on a loadcell.
the DAQ i am using is "NI USB-6343", the linear motor controller is Newport SMC 100(has its labview drivers). I am controlling both of them with labview and I managed to build my application. BUT there is only one problem.
The problem I am facing is: The motor controller has a limited response time like 220 ms while DAQ is acquiring sample in every 1 ms.
So while running the tests, when DAQ's acquired value reached 5 Newton preload, the vi. stops the linear motor using the motor controller's labview drivers. Since motor controller's response time is high, this preload goes over 5 Newton, because the linear motor keeps pressing the loadcell due the the motor controllers late response time.
So what I want to know is that: When the certain value is reached, can I force the Motor Controller to do "stop.vi" action by DAQ? , for example, Can I manage this with DAQ trigger signal options?
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Kindly waiting for your responses,
I really want to solve this problem, please help me.
Sincerely,

Dear apok,
Please see the attached view of my vi. I can not try to enter lower preload to match with what I really want, because it is unpredictable and it is not professional solution.
It is always 220 ms for motor controller. Isn't there any solution with DAQ triggering options or something else?
Kind Regards,
Sincerely.
Attachments:
Loadcell&MotorControl.png ‏286 KB

Is LabView able to read digital inputs from maxon motors controller, EPOS2?

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That's why i would like to ask if LabView can read a direct digital input from the maxon motor controller.
Thank You & Regards,
ParkyPak
Attachments:
sensor.vi ‏34 KB

Hello Parky,
I understand now. I check on the motion controller and it is connected through USB to your computer. In term of controlling the motion controller, you are using some LabVIEW library from maxon. The photosensor is connected to the motion controller may be as a switch or as a limit switch.
In order to read the value of the Digital input port, you may need to take a look of the libraries to check on what function call and the supported command to check the digital input port. If this is not successful, then question or referring to examples from Maxon motors would be the best.
I hope that this helps.
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Please help, i need the driver for the step motor controller MM4006
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Thank you for your help,
JB

JB,
National Instruments has the driver for MM4000, of the Newport's 4000 series Motion Controllers.
Visit our website:
http://ni.com/devzone/idnet/
You will find help on developing your own driver, or if you need instrument driver expertise to develop your instrument drivers, contact one of our experienced Certified Instrument Driver Developers.
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VXM Stepping Motor Controller Driver

Hello All,
It's my first time to write in this forum. I am a new with using LabVIEW and very optimistic to get assistance.
I am trying to controll a stepping motor controller (VXM-1 Model) with Labview, which is moving a Velmex Unislide. I need help to do a code LabVIEW that control VXM-1 Model and measure the displacement of a Velmex Unislide. How could you help me out ?.
Please be advised that I am using LabView 2010 and Windows XP.
I am looking foeward to hearing from you.
Thanks for any assistance in advance.

Using VISA 5.0.3 is fine, but upgrading couldn't hurt.
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The command set is explained there as well. A couple important notes from that manual:
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Motor controller RTA and driver Plus L

Hallo!!!
It's possible to controll a step by step motor with LabView ?
The name of the driver is Plus L and the motor is SANYO?
exist some Labview "Pallete" dedicated to the motor controller?
Thank's

I think you are asking if it is possible to control a stepper motor with LabVIEW. The answer is Yes, and No.
LabVIEW, by itself, cannot make a stepper motor do anything. A stepper motor needs a drive circuit to generate pulses, and regulate current to the motor.
You need a stepper driver (this is hardware) first. Secondly, you need an NI motion controller board. This would be a very expensive solution if all you want to do is experiment with a stepper motor.
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What is your application? Maybe I can suggest other alternatives.
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Interfacing TETRIX/NXT HiTechnic Motor controller to myRIO

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