MyLabVIEW logo
Looking for a LabVIEW Driver for New Era Pump Systems?
Funny logo? Yes! For the record I asked National Instruments if I could use the correct LabVIEW logo and was refused permission and told off for how I displayed the text LabVIEW. You see I had Lab…. I am not allowed to write what I had.
The Lab…. Driver….
You found it! Getting from start to a working pump LabVIEW setup can be a long frustrating process.
If only you could build your apparatus and control your pump before doing battle with LabVIEW. You Can! While you connect, diagnose, test your build, test your pump commands, and generally debug your lash up – use SyringePumpPro for quick results with minimum complexity. You don’t want to have to write LabVIEW code to do every thing – your time is valuable. Grab a copy of SyringePumpPro to help you work quickly without frustration, then when everything works – connect to Labview.
There is a driver for the NE50X available on the National Instruments website. This driver is old and is not being maintained.
Neither driver is NI certified, nor is it endorsed by the pump manufacturer.
If you need to control more than one pump, then I don’t think either driver will be of any use to you.
SyringePumpPro and LabVIEW
LabVIEW is a fantastic tool and I had some experience of it several years ago now.
If you want to build an apparatus from a number of devices and use LabVIEW as your controlling application that’s fine.
If some of those devices are pumps, I recommend that you develop your pump code or protocols, and plumbing separate from LabVIEW by using SyringePumpPro to work up the fluid pumping in your new application.
If you just plan to turn on a pump, and turn off a pump, with a specific simple flow then this is possibly just as easy to work in LabVIEW only. It really does depend on your abilities with LabVIEW.
However if you wish to program some flows into your pump, (people who want to mimic a blood flow for instance, with several different flow components at different frequencies) for example, then I recommend prototyping the pump flow away from LabVIEW. And then switch in LabVIEW to do the final control and perhaps adjust the pump programs on the fly.
It’s about reducing the complexity of the problem and try to get some components up and running standalone, not the whole apparatus in one go, you might get swamped by details.
Prototyping with SyringePumpPro
SyringePumpPro helps you operate pumps while you prototype pumps and plumbing, fluid handling and then test your flows, check and tune up your plumping and fluid procedures (loading, emptying, and others).
Is your plumbing is up to the job without the complication of LabVIEW?
I have customers who build a lash-ups only to discover that they needed to use more pressure (and/or heat as an example) to achieve the results they wanted, and on the journey to the higher pressure/heat things can blow, and that really can matter depending on what you’re pumping and what temperatures, dangerous and/or costly materials, are involved.
In the application I was involved in years ago LabVIEW was great but at that level of putting together a device and its external environment and stimulus, I found in my work that it was better to work closer with the devices or hardware involved for as long as you can. It was quicker for me.
Simplify, test and then build on solid foundations
Don’t stack it all on top of each other and see what happens. It’s like stacking one set of rules on top of another set of rules on top of another set of rules. Where is the thing I’m trying to fix or design or modify? What bit is causing that to happen?
SyringePumpPro does not interface or interact with LabView.
It’s a completely standalone software tool for working with pumps providing you with simple controls to operate, create pump programs, and upload pump programs or recipes into you pumps and monitor what the pumps are currently doing… if those pumps are currently connected to SyringePumpPro. Your pumps plug into SyringePumpPro OR LabView -never AND.
You do not have to use SyringePumpPro to work with pumps if you’re using LabVIEW.
Simply download the LabView VI module on this page and away you go.
For some applications that’s all you need.
However often there is application plumbing that’s not just point to point tubing, and includes valves?, heaters?, sensors? Then there are the interactions between all those elements. Are there pressure requirements, flow requirements? Did they change from what you thought they’d be or calculated? Are you going to test you design/build/prototype along it’s evolution or only at the end of your journey? The real world can be REAL which causes real delays.
Does a LabView user using pumps NEED SyringePumpPro?
Most likely – it depends on every variable in your situation. Start working with LabView and there may come a point when you reach for the trial version of SyringePumpPro and discover that you really could use its help. Then buy yourself a copy.
Chances are you want to use LabView because your requirements are advanced. Usually this means complications headed your way. The simpler the development stack, the easier to work through the interfaces with the real world, then build the Labview bit.
I suggest that working on the pumps and associated gear first using SyringePumpPro to program the pumps, stop and start operations and tune operations on your new plumbing to build, test, and prove the pump and plumbing, ready to to move up to further sophisticated control with LabVIEW.
SyringePumpPro is ready to start today. LabView and LabView skills might need gaining first.
Am I able to help you with LabView?
No LabView is in my past. SyringePumpPro is my all day thing now.
Can I help you with the pump programming?
Yes I can. Email me for more info. First thing I will ask is have you got some documentation and/or diagrams. You need them. Not your entire secret plan to .. but a detailed description of the pumping and plumbing bit.
Now go for it!
I find building an application exciting and an all most a whole body sport. Best bit of all is the first time it works and somebody else is watching. A certain thrill which doesn’t fade quickly. Good luck!