Platform delivers rugged industrial acquisition

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 15, 2003

The MX100 DAQMaster is a modular, distributed PC-based data acquisition system designed for process monitoring and distributed I/O.

The MX100 DAQMaster from Yokogawa UK is a modular, distributed PC-based data acquisition system designed for process monitoring and distributed I/O.

Exploiting Yokogawa's decades of application and design experience in industrial automation and test and measurement, the MX100 DAQMaster provides the most durable, reliable, and robust performance, even in electrically and environmentally harsh conditions.

Based on a modular networked architecture, the MX100 provides a powerful combination of flexibility, performance, and affordability, and will support configurations from a simple four-channel system up to 1200 distributed universal channels from a single PC.

Unlike many PC-based data acquisition systems, the MX100 offers isolated, true differential inputs through its universal input modules.

Using proprietary Yokogawa designed A/D convertors, solid-state relays and isolation transformers, the MX100 is rated for 3700V AC of withstand isolation, 600V AC of channel-to-ground isolation, and 600V AC of module-to-module isolation.

It can therefore provide measurement solutions to applications such as fuel-cell stack testing and thermocouple measurements on bare AC power lines.

The heart of the flexible, modular architecture of the MX100 is the main module, which serves as the data-acquisition engine and also provides LAN connectivity.

The main module can manage up to six measurement modules on the MX100 backplane, with completely arbitrary arrangements.

With this capability, each MX100 can serve as a measurement node, eliminating the need for long high-density sensor leads throughout a machine or process.

The main module can also co-ordinate three independent scanning intervals, allowing higher-speed process parameters such as pressure or flow to be monitored and correlated with slower measurements such as temperatures.

The main module contains a CompactFlash memory slot that provides automatic and continuous data backup in the case of a network or PC failure.

No external, separate power supply is required, because the main module incorporates a built-in power supply that accepts 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz input.

The MX100 system is designed for either desktop or DIN rail rack-mount use.

Initially, four modules are available: one simultaneous and one scanning universal input module; one high-speed digital input module; and one digital output or alarm module.

All modules have removable terminal blocks to eliminate the need to rewire between measurements.

The four- and 10-channel universal input modules sample at 10 and 100ms, respectively.

Any of the universal input channels may be configured as voltage, thermocouple, RTD or digital inputs.

With 16bit resolution, 20mV to 100V input range, and 0.05% accuracy, the MX100 offers unprecedented performance in an industrial package.

From the MXStandard software control interface, MX100 users can easily and quickly configure, monitor, analyse and record data from any MX100 hardware setup, in a complete virtual benchtop environment.

To meet the requirements of different applications, the MX100 supports a wide choice of configurable software solutions.

For software automation and integration needs, fully supported Visual Basic, C/C++, LabView and OPC libraries are available.