
Software
MasTec Ltd supports a large community
of software developers.
Infrastructure
- Instrumentation - Automation - Machine Builders - ATE - T&M
- PLC - PAC - Smart Phone - Embedding - Wireless programmers
LabVIEW
Measurement Studio
DasyLab
DAQami
Test Point ( Legacy)
Dynamic C
VC++, C#, VB, .Net apps
Python, Java
PLC Programming
Distributed I/O Programming
PAC Programming
SCADA
Android Tools & iPhone Tools
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NI Measurment Studio
Automatic
Code Programming Methods - Instrumentation - Automation - ATE
- T&M etc
Not all M/Studio
code is generated automatically but the Main shell and Function
calls are: - user interface, I/O, file, network etc are, allowing
less experienced programmers to make big code safely.
Measurement Studio
sprang out LabWindows, the first automatic tool and it is now
a much broader tool, allowing other commercial compilers etc
to be used.
Is it worth the
money?
This is an easy
answer if you are involved in Test systems, using instruments,
cPCI or PXI tools.
Yes, however
we feel it is best used in a team to optimise benefit, as it
is possible to make modular programs that can be used through
out a test facility, optimising time gains and stability and
uniformity of code.
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NI LabVIEW
Graphical
program methods - Instrumentation - Automation - ATE - T&M
etc
Graphical C, as it is a full
programming language using data flow methods. It is fast to build
with, after you learn how to use it and this does take time.
It is an excellent tool for long
term mangement where there are several sites with variants of
programs and there are infrequent visits to the sites for updates.
LabVIEW allows a programmer to arrive at any site or access with
Teamviewer and in a few minutes be working constructively inside
the program making mods and improvements or fixes with great
confidence.
This is very difficult with code
programs even with good documentation.
If you are earning your living
doing DAQ, Logging, instrumentation and automation projects and
will continue to do so for many years, LabVIEW is the best software
investment
No one yet has better tools in
our opinion.
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MeasX - Dasylab - Very Popular
Graphical program methods
- Instrumentation - Automation - ATE - T&M etc
Dasylab is
also Graphical tools
but not a complete programming langauge.
They suit people who are not
professional programmers and do not want to become one, but still
want to collect data, analyse and print and graph results.
It takes time to learn these
two tools well but if you are a tech or a professor at an Education
or Research facility and will do this evey day for the next X
years, they are a very very good friend to have around and will
allow you to translate your ideas into something that is bullet
proof and easy to modify and improve as time goes on, but LabVIEW
they are not.
Are they worth the money? The
people using them say yes and they are confidently using their
computers, instruments and DAQ system in complex disciplines
like Biomedical and Engineering research etc.
Now with Python Scripts.
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Other Embeddable
Tools
Embedding
for Arm and Intel chip sets
In general there are three camps
for Embedding. Pure Code Embedding, like Dynamic C,
Linux for ARM adn Intel with RT addons.
Intel/Microsoft CE or XP/Win7/8 embedded camp.
Where you require services like
disk drives, networks, VGA display, PCI, PCIe, USB interfacing
etc Linux or CE or XP/Win7/8 tools are the only way to go.
For any projects the Linux and
Microsoft tools work extremely well. We have worked with teams
who have used all three methods, Linux, CE and Embedded XP/Win7/8
and all teams express satisfaction with the results. They have
also all used differnet manufacturers Embedded PC boards, so
there is no issue with choosing the PC, all manufacturers support
these tools and have compatable driver sets.
One of the big disappointments
in the Microsoft embedded world is that you cannot transport
normal XP, Vista or the Windows 7 code or applications across
into CE and you have to go to the very expensive embedded XP
solution, but it does work and well. For short run machines or
systems this is viable.
Win 8 apparently fixes much of
this and will definitely give Android, iOS, Linux a challenge,
especially for Smart Phone and Embedded work.
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Dynamic C
from Digi/Rabbit
Embedding
for Rabbit Micros
DC as it is called, has become
quite a software development system for Rabbit Micro Embedding.
We have used DC for 29 years
and can say that if you use the Real Time Multitasking Kernel
supplied, you can build the most elegant embedded code going
- bar none.
DC has a huge extra library set
that takes all the work out of Ethernet TCP, FAT files, WiFI,
Bluetooth, GSM, 3G, GPS, Mesh, encryption and much more.
The productivity gains are similar
to the above software tools but amplified, as DC spans itself
across generations of Microprocessor develpment and micro models,
from the simple Z180 micros to Rabbit 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6000 series
micros, arriving at powerful 16 bit micros with large memory
maps, SD cards etc.
So use the same DC tool to build
from simple to large embedded software suites.
And it is free.
Most embedded programmers use
the same tools across micro families as described above. However
DC spans not only Rabbit micros but a large range of single board
computers and an even larger range of embeddable core modules.
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GPIB Software
T&M
- ATE
If you are doing GPIB test systems
regularly or have a large suite to develop, then use Agilents
VEE, NI's LV or Measurement Studio, don't mess with rolling your
own code or other packages. You can literally save months on
large projects.
Only use GPIB intereface hardware
with Agilent and NI compatability. We recommend the industry
leader ICS out of California.
However if you are developing
a one off system that is going to be inhouse and part of a product,
go with C# now.
Imaging &
Motion
ATE -
machines - production lines
If you are doing Imaging or Motion
systems regularly or have a large suite to develop, then again,
use NI's LV or Measurement Studio, don't mess with rolling your
own code, unless you are a expert programmer. You can literally
save months on large projects.
In these situations, only use
Imaging or Motion intereface hardware that connect to NI compatability.
Most manufacturers do, Adlink, DT, NI etc.
However if you are developing
a one off system that is going to be inhouse and part of a product,
also go for C# now.
Do look at Adlink's new Motion
hardware and software, very very good.
DAQ
Data
Acquisition, Machines, Test, Research etc
LabVIEW, Dasylab
and DAQ Factory all have
a loyal following as they allow rapid builds for DAQ.
New Tools like DAQami
allow DAQ, Graphing, charting, file in Excel foramt with a NO
programming setup. Very nice.
The new MCC ULX library for LabVIEW bring multitasking and polymorphic
functions into LabVIEW. Excellent with loads of working examples.
There is now an Android ULX style driver
set that allows USB and Bluetooth
DAQ with no fuss rioght into a tablet or smartphone.
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Automation
Plants
- machines - production lines
Automation Software is a huge
area.
In most cases Automation software
is going to be a one off to control a plant, process or ??
So the software pick is based
almost entirely on the hardware used. If you use SoftLogic and
a PC then all the tools above apply. Doing Distributed I/O with
an Industrial or Hardened PC and some of the tools above is an
excellent choice.
If you use a PAC or a PLC for
local and distributed I/O then you will be stuck with the manufacturers
software tools. In many cases there are license fees with this,
so choose carefully
We recommend Opto 22 PACs as
it is main stream technology and is very simple to set up and
understand and has superb software, Flow charts and scripts.
There are very few tools around that are equal to OPTO 22s.
If you are using PLCs then you
are at the mercy of the manufacturer. Our pick on PLCs is Siemens
and we sell VIPA from Germany that runs on Siemens software.
The next software level, is ISAGraf
IEC software tools and the champions with this development method
is ICPDAS. Their range of PACs and CPU Softlogic modules linked
to ISAGraf is extensice and will suffice for almost any small
to mid size project and stay inside a good budget plan easily.
For low cost PLCs, and there
are many types, look at Array's logic function block software,
it can not be easier and more universal.
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Instruments
Instrumentation
- Automation - ATE - T&M etc
Read the piece on GPIB, this
info also applies to instruments with RS-232, USB or ethernet
connectivity.
Most companies in NZ doing Instruments
now use either LabVIEw or .net tools ( inside Measurment Studio),
with C# being the most popular
Wireless
DAQ,
Automation, Test, Infrastructure systems
Connecting to wireless system
can be a little daunting at first. However, all the tools above
can be used to build system for 3G, GPRS, Bluetooth, Long distance
RF Data Hauling systems.
The decisions are taken away
in most cases if you are using Routers or Gateways as the manufacturer
usually puts in a processor and BIOS that undestands only one
language like Java or Python etc.
This is not a big deal and can
be learnt very quickly if you know VB or C++ or C#. see Google
Courses.
The only manufacturer that has
advanced Mesh Wireless tools is Digi with their very interesting
end point to Server no programming tool set called DIA, Have
a read on this. Cloud Wireless.
For 3G Back haul systems use
a router that is easy to work with. We recommend Python as it
is free and supported by a huge community.
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