Universal Signal Conditioning Module

The new SCXI-1520 universal strain gauge module is designed to allow scientists and engineers to take more accurate and advanced strain gauge measurements. The module features automatic hardware nullification capabilities for measurement sensitivity and accuracy. All strain gauges generate voltage offset. Some systems require users to manually remove this offset through potentiometers or software. The module removes offset programmatically in the hardware to help increase ease of use and help maximize dynamic resolution for more accurate measurements.

The module also features 10-wire strain measurements with two wires for excitation, two wires for signal measurement, two wires for remote sensing, and four wires for two independent shunt calibration circuits. With remote sensing of the excitation source, users monitor the excitation source value at the strain gauge bridge for excitation voltage and measurement accuracy. With shunt calibration, users electrically simulate a known strain on the module to calibrate the system gain and help ensure accurate measurements.

Users can program all features of each channel on the strain gauge module with NI-DAQ driver software, including gain, excitation level, and lowpass filter cutoff frequency. The module also includes an onboard calibration reference and ships with a NIST-traceable calibration certificate. The 8-channel universal strain gauge module measures strain gauge signals with up to 10 kHz bandwidth. The module has an input range of ±10 V to ±1 mV and an excitation voltage of 0 to 10 V. It also offers half-bridge completion in the module and quarter-bridge completion in the terminal block. The module incorporates track-and-hold circuiting for simultaneous sample-and-hold capabilities. Users making strain gauge measurements in the aerospace, automotive, and oil and gas industries can use the module for research and development, production test, and design verification applications.

National Instruments Corporation, 11500 N. Mopac Expwy, Building B, Austin, TX 78759-3504. Tel: 512-794-0100; Fax: 512-683-8411.