Article: How to... ...link data acquisition into an existing company network

If the very thought of integrating data acquisition systems into a corporate data network sends shivers down your spine, don’t worry too much, because many others have been there before you …and there are a surprisingly large number of products available to solve this problem.

For example, one way of monitoring data acquisition systems is to use net standards as an intermediary. If you want to monitor a test going on in the lab from somewhere else on the network, why not set up that test using DASYLab as your control and monitoring software? The DASYLab Net option enables data exchange at rates up to 100,000 samples per second, and you can remotely start, stop and load experiments, including simultaneous starting of several DASYLab Net systems. It’s all done through standard TCP/IP protocols.

Even better, the latest release of DASYLab, version 7.0, has a TCP/IP module enabling users to integrate networking into their applications with the same point-and-click simplicity as other I/O.

If you want to integrate data acquisition hardware directly into an Ethernet-based network, take a look at the NDACS 6000 unit. This clever instrument is supplied with a 10BaseT Ethernet and RS232 serial port as standard, and can be connected directly to many local area networks and modems.

Users can view data in real time or download previously logged data remotely, no matter where the instruments have been deployed. And as the NDACS 6000 can be installed right at the point of measurement, there’s a big reduction in expensive cabling installation costs. Direct connection is supported for a range of signals, such as voltage, current 4-20mA, thermocouple with integral CJC, resistance, RTD sensors, strain gauges and load cells.

Above all, however, talk to people who have experience in integrating data acquisition systems and larger networks. The team at Adept Scientific are waiting to hear from you – call 01462 480055 or email daq@adeptscience.co.uk.