Getting Started with PXI Oscilloscopes and InstrumentStudio

Tutorial


Getting Started with PXI Oscilloscopes and InstrumentStudio

See how to set up your PXI Oscilloscope to take your first measurement with InstrumentStudio, including software installation, activation, hardware connection, and configuration instructions.

If you are getting started with one of the PXI Oscilloscope bundles, these are based on the PXIe-1083 chassis which you connect to and control from your computer through a Thunderbolt 3 port; you can skip the labeled controller-specific steps below.


Additional Languages

This tutorial is only available in English.

5 Steps to Get Started

These tutorials are designed to introduce you to the core concepts needed for initial product setup.


BeforeYou Begin

Make sure you have the following items:


Software

  • NI-SCOPE Driver (check wording)


Note that for LabVIEW real-time controllers, a PC running Windows OS is required, as well as the PXI Express controller. For a Windows PXI Express controller, installation and programming can be done on the PXI Express system.


Hardware

  • PXI Express Chassis
  • PXI Express Oscilloscope Module
  •  PXI Express Controller
    • If you are getting started with a PXI bundle, you will need a Windows OS host computer with Thunderbolt 3 port instead.

Accessories

  • Ethernet cable
    • If you are getting started with a PXI bundle, you will need a Windows OS host computer with Thunderbolt 3 port instead.
  • Power cord
  • Other components (skip if your system is a PXI bundle):
    • Monitor with DisplayPort cable
    • USB keyboard
    • USB mouse to connect with PXI Express controller
    • (Optional) Development PC with Windows OS

Note that for LabVIEW real-time controllers, a PC running Windows OS will be required, as well as the PXI Express controller. For a Windows PXI Express controller, installation and programming can be done on the PXI Express system.

For more information on the PXI Express accessories that are right for you, see your hardware documentation for information on compatibility and requirements.

Download and Install the Software

Step 1.

During this process, you will be installing the free NI-SCOPE driver on your development computer, which includes:

  • The driver that controls your oscilloscope, with support LabVIEW and other programming languages.
  • InstrumentStudio application software to interactively connect to and measure from NI PXI instruments.
  • NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (NI MAX) configuration utility tool.
  1. Download NI-SCOPE from ni.com
      1. Browse to ni.com/downloads, and use the search bar to search for NI-SCOPE.
      2. Select the NI-SCOPE download page from the search results.
      3. Select the OS and version that you want using the pulldowns.  Typically, you should install the most recent version.
      4. Click Download.
  2. After your download is complete, launch the executable. This step installs Package Manager or updates it if needed.
  3. After Package Manager is installed, follow the prompts to complete the installation of NI-SCOPE and the associated software. For the easiest installation, click Select All when prompted to select additional items.


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Register Your Hardware

Step 2

Before you begin using your hardware, register it on ni.com to ensure that you have access to all NI services and products to which you are entitled.

  1. Find the serial number of your NI products on the hardware labels. NI hardware serial numbers typically consist of six (6) alphanumeric values.
  2. Go to www.ni.com and log in/create an account.
  3. Click My Account. Under Products and Services, click View my products.
  4. Under Register a Product, add your Serial Number and press Register.

The serial number is added under your ni.com account, but it may temporarily show as Not Registered. After 24 hours, the system should refresh and show the serial number will be registered. If your serial number is still not shown as registered after 24 hours, contact customerservice@ni.com.

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Connect the Hardware

Step 3.

With InstrumentStudio installed on your host computer, and your products registered on ni.com, the next step is to connect the hardware.

Watch this video or follow the instructions provided.

  1. Make sure it is powered off, then connect your PXI Express chassis to power through the rear AC inlet using the AC power cable supplied.
  2. Install the controller in the PXI chassis. (Skip this step if your system is a PXI Oscilloscope Bundle.)
    1. Remove the filler panels on the front panel of the PXI that block access to the slots you will use. The controller will be installed in slot 1 and the I/O modules must be installed in a compatible slot. This will be discussed shortly.
    2. Touch any metal part of the case to discharge static electricity from your clothing or body.
    3. Check and remove any protective plastic covers from the bracket retaining screws of your PXI controller and PXI I/O modules.
    4. Make sure the injector handle is in the down position. This will be used to snap the controller into place.
    5. While holding the injector handle, slide the controller into the chassis in slot 1, until you feel the handle engage the injector rail.
    6. Lift up on the injector handle until the controller sits firmly in place. The front panel of the controller must be flush with the front panel of the chassis.
    7. Tighten the screws to secure the controller to the chassis.
  3.   Install the Oscilloscope module.
    1. Confirm what type of slot your modules require according to their documentation and use the corresponding slots in your PXI chassis. Symbols on PXI chassis slots, also called glyphs, indicate the type of slot. See the PXI and PXIe Slot Symbol Meanings article for a list of all PXI and PXI Express glyphs.
    2. With the chassis powered off and the injector handle down, slide the oscilloscope module into an appropriate slot in the chassis.
    3. Once you feel the handle engage the injector rail, lift the injector handle until the module is firmly in place.
    4. Tighten the retaining screws to secure the module.
  4. Power on the system.

    If your system is a PXI Oscilloscope Bundle:

  • If your computer is already on, power on your PXIe-1083 chassis, then connect the MXI-Express Thunderbolt cable to the host PC Thunderbolt port and PXIe-1083.
  • If your computer is off, connect the thunderbolt cable between the computer and the PXIe-1083 chassis, then power your computer on. The chassis will in turn power on through the thunderbolt connection.

(The cables have no polarity, so you can connect either end to either Thunderbolt port. The cable plugs are reversible, and there is no defined upstream or downstream port on the PXIe-1083.)


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Configure the Hardware

Step 4.

You have connected the PXI hardware and installed InstrumentStudio and any required drivers. Now it is time to configure the PXI system.

  1. Start NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) from your installed applications. MAX is installed during Step 1.
  2. Expand the Devices and Interfaces option under My System to find the PXIe-1083 device.
  3. Select and expand the PXIe-1083 device to see the PXI Oscilloscope module attached to the device.
  4. With the PXIe-1083 selected, run a self-test by clicking the Self-Test button.
  5. The self-test performs a brief test to determine the proper installation of the chassis. When the self-test completes, a message indicates a successful check or that an error has occurred.
  6. Select the PXI Oscilloscope module under the PXIe-1083 device and click Self-Test. The MAX self-test performs a basic verification of hardware resources.
  7. If you would like to, rename the Oscilloscope module on this page under Settings»Name.


You have now configured your PXI system and installed the necessary software. In the next section, we will take a measurement in InstrumentStudio and confirm that everything is working with the PXI system.


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Take a Measurement

Step 5.

Your PXI system should now be configured. Next, we will learn how to take a simple measurement in InstrumentStudio.

  1. Connect CH 0 on the oscilloscope module to an input signal you want to measure.
  2. Launch InstrumentStudio from the Start menu.
  3. Create a layout in one of the following ways:
    1. Select Auto create layout to automatically create a layout based on your connected devices.
    2. Alternatively, select Manual layout, then select the Oscilloscope module to create a large panel and press OK.
  4. We recommend selecting Auto create layout unless you are creating a layout for several instrument interfaces.

    An oscilloscope soft front panel will open and start running. A soft front panel is a software-based front panel application that allows you to perform interactive measurements, just as you would with a benchtop sscilloscope’s knobs, controls, and screens.


  5. On the panel on the right, click AUTO to automatically configure device settings for the detected signal. Click RUN/STOP to run and stop the acquisition.
  6. Use this panel to select your timescale, turn oscilloscope channels on and off, and configure the channel settings.
  7. Add oscilloscope measurements to the channel by selecting ADD/REMOVE in the measurement table of the oscilloscope, below the soft panel.
  8. Use the Cursors menu above the signal to turn on cursors and interactively measure data points and the delta between them.
  9. Click the Capture data icon above the signal to save a time-stamped screenshot and a data snapshot in either NI-TDMS or CSV format.


You should now have your PXI system set up, configured, and taking interactive measurements with InstrumentStudio. Refer to the following links for more resources to support further programmatic development with NI Software.


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Where to Go Next

Resources

To continue learning about using your PXI Oscilloscope with NI Software, NI provides you with a number of options.

Get more products up and running with easy, guided tutorials.

Return to Getting Started