The data acquisition system is currently based on a Digital Equipment Corporation MicroVAX 4000-100 computer running under a VMS operating system. The system currently has 728 A/D channels available (and is readily expandable to over 1000 channels) with signal conditioning for thermocouples, RTD's, pressure transmitters, strain gauges, etc., suitable for both steady-state and transient measurements, with scanning speeds typically 10 Hz/channel. There are various analog and relay output, and digital I/O channels for process control. We also have 24 high speed DAC channels (PC based Microstar cards) which are interfaced to the DEC and can record at up to 770 kHz per channel for at least 1 second duration.
A Zonic Workstation 7000 Signal Analyzer system with a VAXStation 3100 work station is capable of recording and processing up to 48 analog input channels at frequencies up to 5 kHz per channel. The workstation includes a 650 Mb throughput disk drive and a 650 Mb system disk drive as well as 1.0 Gb R/W optical disk drives.
Specialized software tools have been developed for on-line data acquisition and process control, post-test data analyses, graphical output and communications. Our expertise is strong in writing and implementing custom software for the gathering and processing of a wide variety of signals and converting them into useful engineering information to suit our customer's needs. IBM compatible PC's are connected via Ethernet for rapid transfer of large amounts of data to Windows/Linux compatible formats on optical disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM or DVD.
Typical Facilities
DEC MicroVAX 4000-100 computer. (VAX Operating System, 27 MIPS).
Zonic Workstation 7000 Signal Analyzer System, including VS3100 computer. (48 ch., 12.8 kHz each channel).
