Product Introduction
The NI PXI-6280 is a high-accuracy M Series multifunction data acquisition (DAQ) module designed for precision analog measurement, automated testing, laboratory data acquisition, industrial monitoring, and research applications. It combines high-resolution analog input capability with digital I/O and counter/timer resources in a single PXI module.
Featuring 18-bit analog-to-digital conversion and sampling rates up to 625 kS/s, the PXI-6280 is optimized for applications where measurement accuracy, resolution, and low-level signal performance are more important than extremely high acquisition speed.
Product Overview
The NI PXI-6280 belongs to the NI M Series high-accuracy multifunction DAQ family. It provides a flexible measurement platform for engineers building precision PXI-based automated test and data acquisition systems.
Its 18-bit measurement architecture provides significantly finer analog resolution than conventional 16-bit multifunction DAQ devices. This makes the PXI-6280 suitable for applications involving precision sensor measurements, DC characterization, laboratory instrumentation, electronic validation, and industrial monitoring.
In addition to analog input acquisition, the PXI-6280 provides digital I/O and counter/timer functionality, allowing multiple measurement and control tasks to be integrated into a single PXI test platform.
Key Features
18-Bit High-Resolution Analog Input
The PXI-6280 provides 18-bit analog-to-digital conversion for precision voltage and sensor measurements.
- 18-bit ADC resolution
- High-resolution voltage acquisition
- Precision low-level measurements
- Improved measurement sensitivity
- Accurate DC signal acquisition
Advantage: The high-resolution ADC enables engineers to detect smaller changes in measured signals compared with lower-resolution general-purpose DAQ hardware.
Up to 625 kS/s Sampling Rate
The NI PXI-6280 supports analog input sampling rates up to 625 kS/s for precision data acquisition applications.
- Up to 625 kS/s analog input sampling
- Precision waveform acquisition
- Automated measurement
- Sensor signal acquisition
- Laboratory data logging
Advantage: Provides a useful combination of acquisition speed and high measurement resolution for precision automated test systems.
High-Accuracy M Series Architecture
The PXI-6280 is part of the high-accuracy NI M Series DAQ family, designed for applications emphasizing measurement precision.
- High-accuracy analog measurement
- Low-level signal acquisition
- Precision DC measurements
- Laboratory instrumentation
- Electronic characterization
Advantage: Provides a more measurement-focused solution for applications where accuracy and resolution are key selection criteria.
Flexible Analog Input Configuration
The PXI-6280 supports configurable analog input connections for different measurement system architectures.
- Multi-channel analog acquisition
- Differential measurement configurations
- Single-ended measurement configurations
- Software-selectable input ranges
- Flexible sensor connectivity
Advantage: Allows engineers to configure the module according to channel-count, grounding, noise, and measurement requirements.
Programmable Input Ranges
The PXI-6280 supports software-selectable analog input ranges for measuring signals at different voltage levels.
- Programmable voltage ranges
- Improved measurement flexibility
- Low-level signal optimization
- Sensor measurement support
- Automated range configuration
Advantage: Selecting an appropriate input range helps maximize effective measurement resolution for different signal amplitudes.
Digital I/O Capability
The PXI-6280 includes digital I/O resources that can be used for monitoring and controlling external devices within automated test systems.
- Digital input monitoring
- Digital output control
- Test fixture interfacing
- Device status monitoring
- Automated test sequencing
Advantage: Allows basic digital control and analog measurement functions to be integrated within the same DAQ device.
Counter and Timer Functions
Integrated counter/timer resources provide additional timing and measurement functionality.
- Event counting
- Frequency measurement
- Period measurement
- Pulse-width measurement
- Pulse generation
Advantage: Expands the module beyond voltage acquisition for applications involving digital timing and event measurements.
PXI Triggering and Synchronization
The PXI-6280 can use PXI timing and triggering resources to coordinate measurements with other instruments installed in the same PXI system.
- PXI trigger integration
- Hardware-timed measurements
- Multi-module synchronization
- Coordinated test sequences
- Scalable automated test systems
Advantage: Makes the PXI-6280 suitable for larger automated test systems containing multiple measurement and stimulus modules.
NI Software Integration
The PXI-6280 integrates with NI software tools for configuration, acquisition, analysis, and automated test development.
- NI-DAQmx driver support
- LabVIEW integration
- NI MAX configuration
- TestStand integration
- C/C++ and .NET application development
Advantage: Provides a mature software environment for developing custom measurement and automated test applications.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Type | PXI M Series High-Accuracy Multifunction DAQ Module |
| Analog Input Resolution | 18-bit |
| Maximum Analog Input Sample Rate | Up to 625 kS/s |
| Analog Input Architecture | Multiplexed |
| Input Configuration | Configurable Differential and Single-Ended Measurements |
| Input Ranges | Software Selectable |
| Digital I/O | Supported |
| Counter/Timers | Supported |
| Triggering | Hardware and PXI Trigger Support |
| Bus Platform | PXI |
| Product Family | NI M Series Multifunction DAQ |
| Driver | NI-DAQmx |
| Primary Applications | Precision DAQ, Automated Testing, Sensor Measurement and Laboratory Acquisition |
Software Ecosystem
The NI PXI-6280 works with the NI software ecosystem for hardware configuration, precision data acquisition, analysis, visualization, and automated testing.
- NI-DAQmx: Provides APIs and configuration functions for analog input, digital I/O, counters, triggering, and hardware timing.
- LabVIEW: Enables development of custom data acquisition, monitoring, analysis, visualization, and automated measurement applications.
- NI MAX: Supports hardware detection, configuration, self-test, diagnostics, and measurement setup.
- TestStand: Enables integration of PXI-6280 measurements into automated validation and production test sequences.
- C/C++ and .NET: Allow developers to integrate PXI-6280 measurement functionality into customized software applications through compatible NI drivers.
Industries
- Automated Test
- Electronic Manufacturing
- Aerospace and Defense
- Automotive Testing
- Industrial Automation
- Research and Development
- Scientific Laboratories
- Electromechanical Testing
Applications
Precision Data Acquisition
The 18-bit architecture makes the PXI-6280 particularly suitable for applications requiring precise analog measurements.
- Precision voltage measurement
- Low-level signal acquisition
- Sensor characterization
- Laboratory data acquisition
Automated Electronic Testing
The PXI-6280 can be integrated into automated PXI test systems for electrical and electronic validation.
- Functional testing
- Electronic subsystem validation
- Production testing
- Automated measurement sequences
Sensor Measurement
The high-resolution analog inputs can acquire conditioned signals from a wide variety of industrial and laboratory sensors.
- Pressure sensor acquisition
- Position sensor measurement
- Force and load measurement
- General-purpose transducer acquisition
DC Characterization
The PXI-6280 is well suited for precision DC and slowly varying signal measurements where high resolution is important.
- DC voltage characterization
- Electronic component testing
- Power supply monitoring
- Device response measurement
Industrial Monitoring
The PXI-6280 can acquire multiple analog and digital signals from industrial equipment and automated machinery.
- Process monitoring
- Equipment diagnostics
- Machine measurements
- Automated inspection systems
Research and Laboratory Systems
The flexible multifunction architecture supports experimental and scientific measurement systems.
- Experimental data acquisition
- Prototype characterization
- Scientific measurements
- Engineering research
Comparison with Similar PXI DAQ Modules
| Model | Main Difference | Best Application |
|---|---|---|
| NI PXI-6280 | High-accuracy M Series multifunction DAQ module with 18-bit analog input and up to 625 kS/s acquisition. | Precision multifunction data acquisition |
| NI PXI-6251 | General-purpose M Series multifunction DAQ module designed for a broad range of automated measurement and control applications. | General-purpose multifunction DAQ |
| NI PXI-6259 | High-channel-count M Series multifunction DAQ module for applications requiring greater I/O density. | High-density multifunction DAQ |
| NI PXI-6133 | S Series DAQ module providing 8 simultaneously sampled analog inputs at up to 3 MS/s per channel. | High-speed simultaneous multi-channel acquisition |
Recommended Related Products
| NI PXI-6251 | General-purpose M Series PXI multifunction DAQ module for automated measurement and control systems. |
| NI PXI-6259 | High-channel-count multifunction DAQ module for applications requiring greater analog and digital I/O density. |
| NI PXI-6133 | High-speed S Series DAQ module for applications requiring simultaneous sampling and accurate channel-to-channel timing. |
| NI PXI-6722 | PXI analog output module for systems requiring programmable multi-channel voltage and waveform generation. |
Why Choose PXI-6280?
- 18-bit high-resolution analog input
- Up to 625 kS/s analog acquisition
- Designed for high-accuracy measurements
- Flexible analog input configurations
- Software-selectable measurement ranges
- Digital I/O functionality
- Integrated counter/timer resources
- PXI triggering and synchronization
- NI-DAQmx and LabVIEW support
- Ideal for precision automated measurement systems
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NI PXI-6280?
The NI PXI-6280 is a high-accuracy M Series multifunction PXI data acquisition module designed for precision analog measurements, automated testing, sensor acquisition, industrial monitoring, and laboratory applications.
What is the analog input resolution of the PXI-6280?
The PXI-6280 provides 18-bit analog input resolution. This makes it suitable for applications where detecting relatively small changes in analog signals is important.
What is the maximum sampling rate of the PXI-6280?
The PXI-6280 provides analog input sampling rates up to 625 kS/s. Because it uses a multiplexed analog input architecture, this specification should not be interpreted as a simultaneous per-channel sampling rate when multiple channels are being acquired.
Does the PXI-6280 use simultaneous sampling?
No. The PXI-6280 uses a multiplexed analog input architecture. If an application requires multiple analog channels to be sampled at the same instant, an S Series simultaneous-sampling DAQ device such as the PXI-6133 may be more appropriate.
What is the difference between PXI-6280 and PXI-6133?
The PXI-6280 emphasizes high measurement resolution and accuracy with an 18-bit multiplexed analog input architecture and sampling rates up to 625 kS/s. The PXI-6133 emphasizes acquisition speed and channel synchronization, providing eight 14-bit analog inputs with simultaneous sampling at up to 3 MS/s per channel. Selection should therefore be based on whether the application prioritizes precision or simultaneous high-speed acquisition.
Does the PXI-6280 support digital I/O?
Yes. In addition to its analog measurement functionality, the PXI-6280 provides digital I/O resources for test fixture control, status monitoring, and other digital interfacing tasks.
Does the PXI-6280 have counter/timers?
Yes. The multifunction architecture includes counter/timer resources that can be used for applications such as event counting, frequency measurement, period measurement, pulse-width measurement, and pulse generation.
Does the PXI-6280 support NI-DAQmx?
Yes. The PXI-6280 works with NI-DAQmx, allowing engineers to configure analog acquisition, digital I/O, counters, timing, and triggering through supported NI development environments.
Is the PXI-6280 suitable for precision measurements?
Yes. Precision measurement is one of the primary use cases for the PXI-6280. Its 18-bit analog input architecture makes it particularly useful for high-accuracy voltage acquisition, sensor measurement, DC characterization, and laboratory test applications.
Conclusion
The NI PXI-6280 high-accuracy M Series multifunction DAQ module provides a flexible solution for precision data acquisition, sensor measurement, automated testing, and laboratory applications. With 18-bit analog input resolution, sampling rates up to 625 kS/s, digital I/O, counter/timer functionality, PXI triggering, and NI-DAQmx integration, the PXI-6280 is well suited for PXI systems where measurement accuracy and multifunction capability are key requirements.
