National Instruments Quanser QNET MI User manual

Quick Start Guide
QNET Mechatronic Interfacing for LabVIEW™
Step 1: Check Components and Details
Figure 1: QNET Mechatronics Interfacing Board
The Quanser QNET Mechatronic Interfacing consists of a single PCB module (shown in Figure ??)
Note: The QNET curriculum resources are available for
download at www.ni.com/ni-elvis/courseware or www.quansershare.com/qnets
Step 2: Additional Components Required for Setup
(a) ELVIS II
(b) Power Supply (c) USB Cable
Figure 2: ELVIS II(+) Components
To complete your QNET Mechatronic Interfacing setup, you will
also need the following hardware:
1. NI ELVIS II or ELVIS II+ workstation
2. +5VDC / 5A, +15VDC / 2A, -15VDC / 0.8A Power Supply
3. USB Cable
QNET MI Quick Start Guide v 1.0

Step 3: Install LabVIEW and Add-Ons
Make sure the following versions of LabVIEW™ and required add-ons are installed:
1. LabVIEW™ 2013 or later
2. NI-DAQmx 9.8 or later
3. NI ELVISmx 4.5 or later
Step 4: Setup Hardware
To setup the QNET Mechatronics Interfacing, please read the following instructions carefully. For full details, see
the QNET Mechatronic Interfacing User Manual.
Ensure that the NI ELVIS
II(+) power switch is in the off
position.
A
Place the handle on the front of the QNET
board over the bracket located on the front of
the NI ELVIS II(+).
B
Slide the PCI connector at the back of the
QNET board into the female connector on the
NI ELVIS II(+).
C
QNET MI Quick Start Guide 2

Connect the power supply to
the back of the NI ELVIS
II(+).
D
Connect the USB cable to
the back of the NI ELVIS
II(+).
E
Power on the NI ELVIS II(+)
using the power switch on
the rear of the workstation.
The READY and ACTIVE
LEDs should briefly light, fol-
lowed by the READY LED
alone.
F
QNET MI Quick Start Guide v 1.0

Power on the QNET MI module by turning the
NI ELVIS II(+) prototyping board power
switch. The POWER LED next to the switch
should light up.
H
Ensure that the "+5V Power" LED on the
QNET board is lit.
I
The LCD screen should display the Quanser
and National Instruments logos. If the LCD
shows a blank screen or another image,
please contact Quanser's technical support
team.
J
QNET MI Quick Start Guide 4

Step 5: Testing the QNET MI
Make sure your PC, NI ELVIS II(+), and
QNET module are powered ON
A
Open the Quick Start folder from the
Mechatronics Interfacing folder in the
QNET Resources. The QNET Re-
sources are available for download
from www.ni.com/ni-elvis/courseware and
www.quansershare.com/qnets
B
Open the LabVIEW VI (*.vi)
found under the Quick Start
folder.
C
Select the device name that
matches your NI ELVIS II(+)
device as shown in the NI Mea-
surement & Automation Explorer
in the Device control
D
Click on the white ar-
row to run the VI.
E
QNET MI Quick Start Guide v 1.0

The graph displays the output intensity of the
tri-color LED, calculated from the position of
the accelerometer, potentiometer, and the left-
hand encoder.
F
Adjusting the position of any of these sensors should
cause the associated value to change both on the graph
and in the light output of the LED. Otherwise, consult the
troubleshooting section at the end of this guide.
G
Click on the STOP button to stop
running the VI.
H
QNET MI Quick Start Guide 6

Step 6: Troubleshooting
Please review the following before contacting Quanser's technical support team.
The +5V Power LED
on the QNET module
is not lit.
A. Ensure that the PCI connector on the QNET module is properly connected to the
female connector on the NI ELVIS II(+) unit.
B. Check that the system power switch, located on the rear panel of the NI ELVIS
II(+) unit, and the prototyping board power switch, situated on the top of the ELVIS
are ON.
C. If the +5V Power LED is still not lit, then the +5V fuse on the Protection Board of
the NI ELVIS II(+) may have been triggered. See the Protection Board Fuses in
the NI ELVIS II(+) User Manual.
One or more of the
values on the graph
do not update when
the sensor is per-
turbed.
A. Ensure the cable connecting the accelerometer board to the main board is se-
curely in place.
B. Stop the Quick Start VI. Press the SYSTEM RESET button on the QNET then
repeat the test.
C. Switch the NI ELVIS II(+) main power switch to OFF and allow for several seconds
delay before switching it ON. Repeat the test.
QNET MI Quick Start Guide v 1.0