Product Introduction
The NI cDAQ-9171 is a compact, one-slot CompactDAQ chassis designed for portable sensor measurement, laboratory data acquisition, field testing, and small automated measurement systems. Its USB 2.0 interface provides plug-and-play connectivity to a host computer, while its bus-powered design eliminates the need for a separate external power supply.
By supporting interchangeable NI C Series I/O modules, the cDAQ-9171 can be configured for voltage, current, temperature, strain, vibration, sound, digital I/O, counter, and communication measurements. Its small footprint makes it particularly suitable for portable applications that require professional signal conditioning and reliable data acquisition.
Product Overview
The cDAQ-9171 serves as the timing, synchronization, and data-transfer interface between one installed C Series module and an external computer. The selected C Series module determines the available measurement channels, signal ranges, isolation, connectors, and built-in signal conditioning.
The chassis uses a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connection and draws power directly from the host USB port. It supports analog input, analog output, digital input, digital output, counter/timer, and compatible NI-XNET data streams, depending on the installed module.
Four integrated 32-bit general-purpose counters/timers support encoder measurement, event counting, pulse-width measurement, frequency measurement, PWM generation, and pulse-train generation when used with an appropriate hardware-timed digital C Series module.
Key Features
Single-Slot CompactDAQ Architecture
The cDAQ-9171 accommodates one interchangeable NI C Series I/O module for compact, application-specific measurement systems.
- One C Series module slot
- Compact and lightweight chassis
- Automatic module detection
- Hot-swappable C Series module support
- Application-specific I/O configuration
Advantage: Engineers can select only the measurement module required for the application, creating a compact system without unused expansion capacity.
USB Bus-Powered Operation
The cDAQ-9171 receives communication and operating power through its USB connection.
- Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface
- USB bus-powered architecture
- No separate chassis power adapter required
- Plug-and-play host connection
- Locking USB cable support
Advantage: Bus-powered operation reduces cabling and simplifies portable, benchtop, and field measurement deployments.
Flexible C Series Module Compatibility
The chassis supports compatible NI C Series modules for a wide variety of sensor and electrical measurements.
- Voltage and current measurement
- Thermocouple and RTD measurement
- Strain and bridge acquisition
- Sound and vibration measurement
- Digital input and output
- Counter and encoder measurement
- CAN and LIN communication with compatible modules
Advantage: The measurement capability can be changed by replacing the C Series module rather than purchasing an entirely new acquisition system.
Four Integrated 32-Bit Counter/Timers
The cDAQ-9171 includes four hardware counters for timing, pulse, frequency, and position measurement tasks.
- Four 32-bit counters
- Edge and event counting
- Period and frequency measurement
- Pulse-width measurement
- Quadrature encoder measurement
- Pulse and pulse-train generation
Advantage: Integrated counter resources support motion, encoder, PWM, and timing applications without requiring a dedicated counter chassis.
Hardware Timing and Triggering
The chassis provides hardware timing resources for synchronized acquisition and generation tasks.
- Digital start triggering
- Reference triggering
- Pause triggering
- Sample clock routing
- Module PFI timing support
- Hardware-timed digital waveforms
Advantage: Hardware timing provides more repeatable and accurate measurements than software-timed acquisition alone.
Portable and Rugged Mechanical Design
The cDAQ-9171 is designed for portable laboratory, field, and industrial measurement systems.
- Compact one-slot enclosure
- 353 g unloaded weight
- Panel-mounting keyholes
- USB cable strain relief
- −20 °C to 55 °C operating range
Advantage: The compact mechanical design allows the chassis to be installed close to sensors or transported between measurement locations.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Bus-Powered USB CompactDAQ Chassis |
| Number of Slots | 1 C Series Module Slot |
| Host Interface | Hi-Speed USB 2.0 |
| Power Method | USB Bus Powered |
| USB Power Consumption | 5 V, 500 mA Maximum |
| Compatible Modules | Compatible NI C Series I/O Modules |
| High-Performance Data Streams | 6 |
| Supported Stream Types | Analog Input, Analog Output, Digital Input, Digital Output, Counter Input, Counter Output, and Compatible NI-XNET |
| General-Purpose Counters | 4 |
| Counter Resolution | 32 Bits |
| Counter Base Clocks | 80 MHz, 20 MHz, and 100 kHz |
| Maximum External Counter Base Clock | 20 MHz |
| Maximum Counter Output Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Finite Digital Sample Clock | Up to 10 MHz |
| Timing Accuracy | 50 ppm |
| Driver Support | NI-DAQmx 9.4 or Later |
| Weight | 353 g Unloaded |
| Dimensions | 131.4 mm × 88.6 mm × 33.3 mm |
| Operating Temperature | −20 °C to 55 °C |
| Storage Temperature | −40 °C to 85 °C |
| Maximum Altitude | 5,000 m |
Software Ecosystem
The cDAQ-9171 is supported by the NI software ecosystem for device configuration, measurement, data logging, analysis, and automation.
- NI-DAQmx: Provides device configuration, timing, triggering, acquisition, generation, and programming APIs.
- LabVIEW: Supports graphical development of measurement, monitoring, and automation applications.
- NI MAX: Enables hardware detection, module configuration, channel testing, diagnostics, and device management.
- FlexLogger: Provides configuration-based sensor acquisition and data logging with minimal programming.
- DIAdem: Supports measurement data management, visualization, analysis, and report generation.
- Programming APIs: NI-DAQmx supports compatible Python, C/C++, C#, .NET, and LabWindows/CVI environments.
Industries
- Industrial Automation
- Automotive Testing
- Aerospace and Defense
- Energy and Power Systems
- Electronics Manufacturing
- Research and Development
- Academic Laboratories
- Machine Condition Monitoring
Applications
Portable Sensor Measurement
The compact and bus-powered chassis can be connected directly to a laptop for portable sensor acquisition.
- Field measurements
- Portable diagnostic systems
- Sensor verification
- On-site data logging
Laboratory Data Acquisition
The cDAQ-9171 provides a convenient platform for small laboratory experiments requiring one specialized C Series module.
- Voltage and current measurement
- Temperature experiments
- Strain measurements
- Engineering education
Sound and Vibration Testing
When paired with a compatible dynamic signal module, the chassis can acquire microphone and accelerometer signals.
- Machine vibration analysis
- Acoustic measurement
- Bearing diagnostics
- Portable condition monitoring
Automated Functional Testing
The chassis can add specialized C Series measurement capability to compact automated test fixtures.
- Electronic validation
- Production verification
- Fixture monitoring
- Product quality testing
Encoder and Counter Measurement
The integrated counters support motion and timing measurements through a compatible digital C Series module.
- Quadrature encoder acquisition
- Event counting
- Frequency measurement
- Pulse generation
Comparison with Similar Products
| Model | Main Difference | Best Application |
|---|---|---|
|
NI cDAQ-9171 | One-slot, USB bus-powered chassis with no separate chassis power supply required. | Portable single-module sensor measurement |
|
NI cDAQ-9174 | Four-slot USB CompactDAQ chassis for mixed-signal systems requiring several C Series modules. | Compact multichannel laboratory acquisition |
|
NI cDAQ-9178 | Eight-slot USB chassis with greater expansion capacity and external trigger connections. | Larger USB-based measurement systems |
|
NI cDAQ-9185 | Four-slot Ethernet CompactDAQ chassis for remote and distributed measurements. | Networked industrial data acquisition |
Recommended Related Products
The following C Series modules can be combined with the cDAQ-9171 according to the required measurement type.
|
NI-9205 | High-channel-count analog input module for general voltage measurement. |
|
NI-9219 | Universal analog input module for voltage, current, thermocouple, RTD, resistance, and bridge sensors. |
|
NI-9234 | Dynamic signal input module with IEPE excitation for sound and vibration measurement. |
|
NI-9401 | Bidirectional digital I/O module for counters, encoders, pulse measurement, and digital control. |
|
NI-9472 | Sourcing digital output module for controlling industrial devices and actuators. |
Why Choose cDAQ-9171?
- Compact one-slot CompactDAQ architecture
- USB 2.0 plug-and-play connectivity
- Bus-powered operation without a separate chassis power adapter
- Supports compatible interchangeable C Series modules
- Four integrated 32-bit counters
- Hardware timing and triggering capabilities
- Wide −20 °C to 55 °C operating range
- Locking USB cable and panel-mounting support
- Supported by NI-DAQmx, LabVIEW, NI MAX, and FlexLogger
- Ideal for portable, field, and single-module measurement systems
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the cDAQ-9171 require an external power supply?
No. The cDAQ-9171 is powered through its USB connection and draws a maximum of 500 mA at 5 V from the host. When it is connected through a USB hub, NI specifies that the hub must be externally powered.
How many C Series modules can the cDAQ-9171 hold?
The cDAQ-9171 has one C Series module slot. It is best suited for portable or application-specific systems that require a single analog, digital, temperature, strain, vibration, or communication module.
Does the cDAQ-9171 support counter and encoder measurements?
Yes. The chassis includes four 32-bit general-purpose counters. These counters can support event counting, pulse measurement, frequency measurement, quadrature encoders, and pulse generation when used with an appropriate hardware-timed digital C Series module.
Conclusion
The NI cDAQ-9171 one-slot USB CompactDAQ chassis provides a compact and convenient platform for portable sensor measurement and small data acquisition systems. Its USB bus-powered architecture, interchangeable C Series module support, hardware timing, four integrated counters, and broad NI software compatibility make it well suited for field testing, laboratory acquisition, sound and vibration measurement, industrial diagnostics, and compact automated test applications.
