NIDAQ-driver

Python library for NI DAQ modules

Installation

pip install NIDAQUSBDriver

Import the library into your project with:

from NIDAQUSBDriver.NIDAQClient import NIDAQThermo
from NIDAQUSBDriver.NIDAQClient import NIDAQVoltage

Example

from NIDAQUSBDriver.NIDAQClient import NIDAQThermo
from NIDAQUSBDriver.NIDAQClient import NIDAQVoltage

# Create an instance of the client for thermocouple reading.
# This thermocouple module is installed in position 2 in the NI DAQ cage:
daq = NIDAQThermo(position=2, thermocouple_type='J')
daq.start()

# Here, use the `read_samples` method whenever you need to read from the channels.
data = daq.read_samples()

# Print the data here in the console
print("Received Thermocouple Data:")
print(data)

daq.stop()
daq.close()



# Now, read a voltage sensor installed in the NI cage in position 4:
daq = NIDAQVoltage(position=4)
daq.start()

# Here, use the `read_samples` method whenever you need to read from the channels.
data = daq.read_samples()

# Print the data here in the console
print("Received Voltage Data:")
print(data)

daq.stop()
daq.close()

The output will look something like this:

Received Thermocouple Data:
[1376.34 1376.34 1376.34 1376.34 1376.34 1376.34 1376.34 1376.34]
Received Voltage Data:
[3.27506 3.27454 3.31136 3.29971 3.32641 3.30917 3.33307 3.3026  3.16697
 3.15747 3.18815 3.15947 3.19679 3.17848 3.19905 3.16965 3.25606 3.25605
 3.29187 3.28341 3.30896 3.29355 3.31831 3.29019 3.16315 3.15645 3.18703
 3.16075 3.19613 3.17977 3.19904 3.1716 ]

Usage

The NI DAQ 'cards' must be addressed by their position in the cage. The cage positions are represented in the ASCII art below:

-----------------------------------------------
|             |       |       |       |       |
|  National   |   P   |   P   |   P   |   P   |
| Instruments |   O   |   O   |   O   |   O   |
|             |   S   |   S   |   S   |   S   |
|   NI cDAQ   |   I   |   I   |   I   |   I   |
|             |   T   |   T   |   T   |   T   |
|             |   I   |   I   |   I   |   I   |
|             |   O   |   O   |   O   |   O   |
|  []  USB    |   N   |   N   |   N   |   N   |
|  []  Power  |       |       |       |       |
|             |   1   |   2   |   3   |   4   |
|             |       |       |       |       |
-----------------------------------------------

For example if a thermocouple card is inserted in position 3, you must initalize the reader as

daq = NIDAQThermo(position=2, thermocouple_type='J')

You can read the samples from the card with the following:

data = daq.read_samples()

This code will return a list of values from the card. Thermocouple cards will return eight values, relating to thermocouple channels 0 through 7. Voltage cards will return thirty-two values, relating to channels 0 through 31. You can pull these values into the rest of your code to save or transmit to other parts of your code.