National Instruments PXIe-8246 User manual

GETTING STARTED GUIDE
PXIe-8246
PXIe, 4-Port, GigE PXI Frame Grabber Module
This document describes how to install and configure the necessary hardware and software
components to begin using the PXIe-8246.
You need the following items to set up and use the PXIe-8246.
• PXIe-8246 GigE interface device
• GigE Vision Camera
• Ethernet cable
• PXIe computer running Microsoft Windows 10 with at least one available slot
• NI-IMAQdx 20.5 or later driver software, included with NI Vision Acquisition Software
(VAS)
• LabVIEW 2020
• Optional software for developing applications:
– NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection
– NI Vision Development Module (VDM)
Note Before you begin, install and configure your chassis and controller.
Contents
Verifying the System Requirements..........................................................................................2
Unpacking the Kit..................................................................................................................... 2
PXIe-8246 Kit Contents............................................................................................................2
Preparing the Environment....................................................................................................... 2
Installing Application Software and Driver.............................................................................. 3
Installing Vision Builder AI.............................................................................................. 3
Installing the Vision Development Module...................................................................... 3
Installing the PXIe-8246........................................................................................................... 4
Confirming the Device is Recognized.............................................................................. 5
Front Panel................................................................................................................................ 5
Configuring the PXIe-8246 in MAX........................................................................................ 6
Troubleshooting........................................................................................................................ 7
What Should I Do if the PXIe-8246 Does Not Appear in MAX?.................................... 7
Where to Go Next..................................................................................................................... 7
Worldwide Support and Services.............................................................................................. 8

Verifying the System Requirements
To use the PXIe-8246, your system must meet certain requirements. For more information
about minimum system requirements, recommended system, and supported application
development environments (ADEs), refer to the readme, which is installed or available at
ni.com/manuals.
Unpacking the Kit
Notice To prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) from damaging the device, ground
yourself using a grounding strap or by holding a grounded object, such as your
computer chassis.
1. Touch the antistatic package to a metal part of the computer chassis.
2. Remove the device from the package and inspect the device for loose components or any
other sign of damage.
Notice Never touch the exposed pins of connectors.
Note Do not install a device if it appears damaged in any way.
3. Unpack any other items and documentation from the kit.
Store the device in the antistatic package when the device is not in use.
PXIe-8246 Kit Contents
The following items are included in the device kit:
• PXIe-8246
• Documentation:
–PXIe-8246 Getting Started Guide (this document)
–PXIe-8246 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information
Preparing the Environment
Ensure the environment in which you are using the PXIe-8246 meets the following
specifications.
Operating environment
Ambient temperature range 0 °C to 55 °C
Relative humidity range 10% to 90%, noncondensing
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Maximum altitude 2,000 m (800 mbar) (at 25 °C ambient
temperature)
Pollution Degree 2
Indoor use only.
Note For complete specifications, refer to the specifications document for your
device at ni.com/manuals.
Installing Application Software and Driver
Before installing the PXIe-8246, you must install the application software and device driver.
National Instruments provides two options for developing machine vision applications.
• NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (Vision Builder AI)—Interactive, menu-
driven configuration software for developing, benchmarking, and deploying machine
vision applications. You must also install NI-IMAQdx.
• NI Vision Development Module—Programming library for developing machine vision
and scientific imaging applications. The NI Vision Development Module requires an
application development environment—LabVIEW and NI-IMAQdx.
Installing Vision Builder AI
Install the following software to use Vision Builder AI to develop applications.
1. NI-IMAQdx—Refer to the NI Vision Acquisition Software Release Notes on the NI
Vision Acquisition Software installation media for system requirements and installation
instructions for the NI-IMAQdx driver.
Documentation for the NI-IMAQdx driver software is available by selecting Start »All
Programs »National Instruments »Vision »Documentation »NI-IMAQdx .
2. Vision Builder AI—Refer to the NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection Readme for
installation instructions.
Documentation for Vision Builder AI is available by selecting Start »All Programs »
National Instruments »Vision Builder AI »Documentation .
Installing the Vision Development Module
Install the following software to use Installing the Vision Development Module to develop
applications.
1. LabVIEW—Refer to the LabVIEW Release Notes for installation instructions and system
requirements for the LabVIEW software. Refer to the LabVIEW Upgrade Notes for
additional information about upgrading to the most recent version of LabVIEW.
Documentation for LabVIEW is available by selecting Start »All Programs »National
Instruments »LabVIEW »LabVIEW Manuals .
2. NI-IMAQdx—Refer to the NI Vision Acquisition Software Release Notes on the NI
Vision Acquisition Software installation media for system requirements and installation
instructions for the NI-IMAQdx driver.
PXIe-8246 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments Corporation | 3

Documentation for the NI-IMAQdx driver software is available by selecting Start »All
Programs »National Instruments »Vision »Documentation »NI-IMAQdx .
3. NI Vision Development Module—Refer to the NI Vision Development Module Readme
on the NI Vision Development Module installation media for system requirements and
installation instructions.
Documentation for Vision Development Module is available by selecting Start »All
Programs »National Instruments »Vision »Documentation »NI Vision .
Installing the PXIe-8246
Notice To prevent damage to the PXIe-8246 caused by ESD or contamination,
handle the module using the edges or the metal bracket.
1. Ensure the AC power source is connected to the chassis before installing the module.
The AC power cord grounds the chassis and protects it from electrical damage while you
install the module.
2. Power off the chassis.
3. Inspect the slot pins on the chassis backplane for any bends or damage prior to
installation. Do not install a module if the backplane is damaged.
4. Remove the black plastic covers from all the captive screws on the module front panel.
5. Identify a supported slot in the chassis. The following figure shows the symbols that
indicate the slot types.
Figure 1. Chassis Compatibility Symbols
NI PXIe-1062Q
12 3 45
1. PXI Express System Controller Slot
2. PXI Peripheral Slot
3. PXI Express Hybrid Peripheral Slot
4. PXI Express System Timing Slot
5. PXI Express Peripheral Slot
6. Touch any metal part of the chassis to discharge static electricity.
7. Place the module edges into the module guides at the top and bottom of the chassis. Slide
the module into the slot until it is fully inserted.
8. Secure the module front panel to the chassis using the front-panel mounting screws.
Note Tightening the top and bottom mounting screws increases mechanical
stability and also electrically connects the front panel to the chassis, which can
improve the signal quality and electromagnetic performance.
9. Cover all empty slots using EMC filler panels or fill using slot blockers to maximize
cooling air flow, depending on your application.
10. Connect an Ethernet cable to a GigE Vision camera, then connect the camera to the
PXIe-8246 front panel.
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11. Power on the chassis.
Note The first time you start the development computer after installing the
hardware, allow several seconds for the drivers to load.
Confirming the Device is Recognized
To confirm that the device is properly installed and the hardware is recognized, complete the
following steps:
1. Select Start »All Programs »National Instruments »Measurement & Automation
Explorer to open Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX).
2. Verify that the camera connected to the PXIe-8246 appears under My System »Devices
and Interfaces »NI-IMAQdx Devices .
Front Panel
The following figure shows the PXIe-8246 front panel.
Figure 2. PXIe-8246 Front Panel
PXIe-8246
Image Acquisition
0 1 2 3
PoE
0
1
2
3
PXIe-8246 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments Corporation | 5

The PXIe-8246 provides four standard Gigabit Ethernet ports (Port 0 to Port 3) to acquire
images from GigE Vision cameras. When the PXIe-8246 is providing PoE, the LED that
corresponds to the port will be lit.
Table 1. PoE LED Status Definitions
LED Status Definition
Red PoE protection is triggered1
Green PoE is operational
Unlit PoE is off
Table 2. Ethernet LED Status Definitions
LED Status Definition
Activity/Link Unlit No link has been established
Solid A link has been negotiated
Blinking Activity on the link
Speed Unlit No link, or 10 Mbps link
Green 100 Mbps link
Amber 1,000 Mbps link
Configuring the PXIe-8246 in MAX
Use Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) to configure your NI hardware. MAX
informs other programs about which NI hardware products are in the system and how they are
configured. MAX is automatically installed with NI Vision Acquisition Software (VAS).
1. Launch MAX.
2. In the configuration tree, expand Devices and Interfaces to see the list of installed NI
hardware.
Installed modules appear under the name of their associated chassis.
3. Expand your Chassis tree item.
MAX lists all modules installed in the chassis. Your default names may vary.
Note If you do not see your module listed, press <F5> to refresh the list of
installed modules. If the module is still not listed, power off the system, ensure
the module is correctly installed, and restart.
1PoE has exceeded the absolute maximum power. To reset the LED, power cycle the system after
the camera/load is removed.
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4. Record the identifier MAX assigns to the hardware. Use this identifier when
programming the PXIe-8246.
Troubleshooting
If an issue persists after you complete a troubleshooting procedure, contact NI technical
support or visit ni.com/support.
What Should I Do if the PXIe-8246 Does Not Appear in
MAX?
1. In the MAX configuration tree, expand Devices and Interfaces.
2. Expand the Chassis tree to see the list of installed hardware, and press <F5> to refresh
the list.
3. If the module is still not listed, power off the system, ensure that all hardware is correctly
installed, and restart the system.
4. Navigate to the Device Manager. Right-click the Start button, and select Device Manager
5. Verify the PXIe-8246 appears in the Device Manager.
a) Under an NI entry, confirm that a PXIe-8246 entry appears.
Note If you are using a PC with a device for PXI remote control system,
under System Devices, also confirm that no error conditions appear for the
PCI-to-PCI Bridge.
b) If error conditions appear, reinstall the NI Vision Acquisition Software (VAS) driver.
Where to Go Next
Refer to the following figure for information about other product tasks and associated
resources for those tasks.
PXIe-8246 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments Corporation | 7

SUPPORT
Services
ni.com/services
NI Community
ni.com/community
Software Support
ni.com/info>swsupport
Support
ni.com/support
SOFTWAREHARDWARE
Learn LabVIEW Basics
ni.com/gettingstarted
NI PXIe-8246 Specifications
ni.com/manuals
NI PXIe-8246 User Manual
ni.com/manuals
Worldwide Support and Services
The NI website is your complete resource for technical support. At ni.com/support, you have
access to everything from troubleshooting and application development self-help resources to
email and phone assistance from NI Application Engineers.
Visit ni.com/services for information about the services NI offers.
Visit ni.com/register to register your NI product. Product registration facilitates technical
support and ensures that you receive important information updates from NI.
NI corporate headquarters is located at 11500 North Mopac Expressway, Austin, Texas,
78759-3504, USA. For up-to-date contact information for your location, visit ni.com/contact.
8| ni.com | PXIe-8246 Getting Started Guide

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378324A-01 August 12, 2020