Datalogging Using Open Source? 21
trd79 asks: "I am responsible for setting up a system to monitor various parameters on a factory production line (mainly chemical flow rates and temperatures).
I am currently using a datalogger from dataTaker and using their software (on a WinXP box) to graph the data in real time and download the data from the logger at the end of a shift. I would like to make the system more robust and reduce the need for user intervention. Does anyone know of open source data acquisition systems which are able to interface to popular datalogger brands? The ability to produce real time plots of the data during logging would be an advantage. Buying a new logger would not be a problem."
"I don't really want to have to rely on the current XP system, as I don't believe it will survive being left on its own on the factory floor for long. Automation is key, as the line operators often forget to start/stop/download the logger. I would be interested to know if anyone have set up similar systems and if so, how well it worked."
This sounds like a job for PERL (Score:1)
Disclaimer: I haven't actually used a datalogger before, but I have looked at documentation for one or two.
This is slashdot, what do you expect?
Looking for a problem? (Score:2)
"I don't know how to setup windows XP so it runs reliably"
"The existing/included datalogging sw requires user interaction"
First of all - data logging companies make expensive hardware, and supply software to suit the user's needs. If your current company cannot provide sw that requires no user intervention (ie, has triggers based on time, events, etc) then I suggest you talk to other equipment makers. You will undoubtedly get a response. This solves the second problem.
If you have no
Re:Looking for a problem? (Score:2, Insightful)
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<i>"I don't know how to setup windows XP so it runs reliably"
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If you have no experience in setting up windows XP so it runs reliably
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Sorry, but you lose. The poster said:
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<i>I don't really want to have to rely on the current XP system, as I don't believe it will survive being left on its own on the factory floor for long.</i>
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In no way does this imply that he/she doesn't
Re:Looking for a problem? (Score:1)
Re:Looking for a problem? (Score:1)
Re:Looking for a problem? (Score:2)
Linux / BSD can happily boot a minimim config from a small capacity CF card (I have FreeBSD booting from a 64Mb one for instance).
Hmmmm.... (Score:5, Informative)
Unfortunately I can't share my projects due to NDAs. I don't have any open source projects of note to point you toward either, the Industrial world is closed to the extreme. It's a bitch sometimes just getting communications protocol info for a device. Anyway, like the old saying goes- "If you want something done right, do it yourself". I noticed the manufacturer of your device has an ActiveX control [datataker.com] available to help you create your own software, so you're one step ahead already! You should download it and code away... It's not hard to find sample code on the web that shows how to write to a db/file format of your choice. The same goes for plotting data points.
Finally, if that XP Computer is not in an enclosure try to get it off the production floor. If you don't have Ethernet capability in your device, run a couple hundred meters of shielded twisted-pair wire and communicate over RS-485 from the saftety of an office. If you have a lot of these boxes floating around, try to create several runs of a few devices each back to a RS-485 multiport card/box to keep the 485 network snappy (try ConnectTech [connecttech.com] if you don't know where to start). I did a power monitoring system for a particle accelerator just like that in the late 90's and it is still in use today.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help
Re:Hmmmm.... (Score:1, Informative)
"Allows dataTaker RS232 and TCP/IP connection details to be created and saved by connection name"
pipe ASCII into gnuplot (Score:5, Informative)
The dataTaker transmits and receives simple ASCII commands. You can use any simple terminal program to program and recive data from a Datataker data logger.
Wonder if this would work for the DT80. If you connect using a serial cable you can use the Linux cu command (something like "cu --parity=none -s 115200 -l
From there you can probably pipe into gnuplot [gnuplot.info]
Always happy to help anyone move to Linux.
MRTG? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:MRTG? (Score:1)
MRTG only graphs as fast as your scheduler goes.
I published the stuff I did with Palm/AVR (Score:2)
http://www.nyx.net/~smanley/palmadc [nyx.net]
The code isn't the greatest, but it will get you started. The article is also linked to, and isn't TOO out of date.
The AVR has a open-source compiler based off GCC, the schematics are there, the palm stuff is open source.. it doesn't get much easier than that. You need a very basic opamp buffer and aw
Use Gnuplot! (Score:1)
Sorry we're not open source, but we are cheap! (Score:1)
Take a look at www.abacus4.com [abacus4.com]. Sorry we're not open source, but we are cheap, and would probably do this job for you in a nice, simple way.
ABACUS4 is a process control and SCADA system which runs under the Linux Operating system on industrial PC hardware using a large range of industrial process I/O subsystems.
We can supply anything between the system software alone, up to a complete turnkey packaged system.
Contact me if this is interesting to you. Good luck!
checkout RRDtool (Score:1)
The ability to produce real time plots of the data during logging would be an advantage. Buying a new logger would not be a problem.
In the open source world, I would look for small tools which satisfy your need when setup together in concert.
For producing real time plots, my choice would be RRDtool: / [ee.ethz.ch]
http://people.ee.ethz.ch/~oetiker/webtools/rrdtool
cheers.
Requirements? (Score:2)
http://www.labjack.com/labjack_u12_downloads.html [labjack.com]
open protocols (Score:2)
Modbus is an open protocol, you can get the specs at this website. [modbus.org] I don't know if there is an o