DAQ Plot Overview Spectra DAQ Plot launches with its main interface, which includes a multi-channel time sequence signal plot on an amplitude v.s. Time or date plot or an associated format depending on the exact settings. An example of the signals is shown in this figure: Using the DAQ Plot. The documentation about PLX-DAQ is complete and clear. The PLX-DAQ takes commands in uppercase and every data row have to end with a ‘carriage return’. The serial port speed required by PLX-DAQ is particular, because it derives from Parallax world.
Last week, I assembled the first prototype of the load cell system. It was able to read the force applied to the sensor and send the data to Arduino serial terminal. However, it's still a bit inconvenient to process the data like plotting or doing mathematic operations in the serial terminal. With PLX-DAQ, we can send the real-time data collected by Arduino into Excel, where it's much easier to process data.
Note: this post referenced this instructable tutorial.
First, download the PLX-DAQ software here and install it;
Daq Polaris
Arduino Part
In the setup function in the arduino sketch, include these codes:
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println('CLEARDATA');
Serial.println('LABEL,Acolumn,Bcolumn,..');
Deq Poteau Oklahoma
Serial.println('RESETTIMER');
These are control directives for the PLX-DAQ. CLEARDATA clears the previous data in the column, LABEL directive specifies the name of the columns and RESETTIMER resets the internal timer.
In the loop() function, first include this control directive:
Daq Plots
Serial.print('DATA,TIME,TIMER,');
DATA specifies that the rest of the serial output will be labeled as data and recorded in the column. First two parameters are TIME which specifies the current time and TIMER which records the elapsed time since it starts.
After that, just simply print out the values that needed to be printed. Don't forget to start a newline and include a delay in the end:
Da Plot
Serial.println();
delay(100); Shuttl driver.
Excel Part
Open up PLX-DAQ spreadsheet; click OK on the dialogue box. Then this will show up:
Choose the correct port in Arduino and the correct baud, click on 'connect', and the data should be showing up in the excel file. (Don't forget to upload the Arduino code)
Reading example:
There are three tabs in the excel file, they are simple data, simple data with plots, and interactive bar graph. The script will execute on the first tab position; move tabs accordingly to cater different needs.
Da Pilot
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE REFER TO THE HELP FILE OR INSTRUCTABLE TUTORIAL
Developer VVI announced on Wednesday that its voltage measurement tool DAQ Plot is now compatible with Mac OS X. DAQ Plot takes voltage readings delivered by a data acquisition device through your Mac’s USB port and displays them in real-time strip chart recorder fashion. You can save and append the voltage time series as well as export it for use in a spreadsheet or other application. DAQ Plot sells for US$249 and requires Mac OS X v10.3.
Dag Plot
VVI also noted that its programming tool Vvidget Pro, which was used to build DAQ Plot and which engineers can employ to create similar applications, is also now compatible with Mac OS X. System requirements are the same and VVI asks you to contact them for pricing information.