Learn More: Test & Measurement

LabVIEW and NI DAQ hardware — a powerful platform for automating, monitoring, and analyzing physical systems across every industry.

What is a Test & Measurement System?

Test and measurement services that utilize LabVIEW and National Instruments (NI) data acquisition hardware provide a powerful and flexible solution for automating, monitoring, and analyzing physical systems across various industries.

LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) is a graphical programming environment developed by National Instruments. When paired with NI data acquisition (DAQ) hardware, it creates a robust platform for collecting, processing, and visualizing data from real-world signals such as voltage, temperature, pressure, strain, and more.

National Instruments DAQ Hardware

NI CompactDAQ

Modular chassis for mixed-signal measurement in any environment — portable or rack-mounted.

NI CompactRIO

Rugged real-time + FPGA controller for embedded measurement, control, and custom logic.

NI PXI Systems

High-performance modular instrumentation platform for demanding automated test.

USB DAQ Devices

Portable plug-and-play DAQ (e.g., NI USB-6000 series) for bench-top measurement.

Multifunction I/O

High-precision ADC cards (e.g., NI PCIe-63xx) for high-speed data capture in PC chassis.

Signal Conditioning

Built-in support for thermocouples, RTDs, accelerometers, and strain gauges.

LabVIEW Software Capabilities

Graphical Programming: Block-diagram G-language where functional nodes connect with wires to create Virtual Instruments (VIs) — intuitive for engineers.

Data Acquisition & Analysis: Built-in libraries for signal processing, statistical analysis, filtering, and real-time visualization.

Customizability: Create user interfaces (front panels) with graphs, gauges, and controls tailored to specific test requirements.

Hardware Integration: Seamlessly interfaces with NI hardware and supports third-party instruments via drivers or APIs.

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FAQs

What's LabVIEW, and why should I care about it for test and measurement?

LabVIEW is a graphical programming environment from National Instruments that lets you drag-and-drop your way to automated test and measurement systems. It's built for engineers who'd rather wrestle with sensors than syntax, offering slick integration with NI hardware to measure everything from voltage to vibration.

How does LabVIEW talk to National Instruments hardware for control tasks?

LabVIEW and NI hardware are like peanut butter and jelly — meant to stick together. Using drivers like NI-DAQmx, it communicates effortlessly with devices like CompactRIO or PXI systems, letting you control motors, valves, or whatever else you're automating, all while avoiding low-level COM port debugging.

Can LabVIEW handle real-time control, or is it just a pretty face?

It's got the chops. With LabVIEW Real-Time and NI's rugged hardware (CompactRIO), you can run control loops tight enough for time-critical tasks. It's deterministic — not just decorative.

Can LabVIEW help me measure weird stuff like strain or temperature?

Pair it with NI hardware like a cDAQ, add sensors, and LabVIEW will measure strain, temperature, pressure, or vibration. Its built-in signal processing tools turn raw data into insights faster than you can calibrate a thermocouple.

What's the deal with automating tests using LabVIEW and TestStand?

TestStand is LabVIEW's test management sibling. Together they're the dynamic duo of automation — LabVIEW handles signal acquisition and analysis while TestStand orchestrates the sequence, ensuring your production line doesn't miss a beat.