Microlink 770 USB Unit for High Speed Data Acquisition and Waveform Capture

The Microlink 770 unit plugs into the computer's USB port and provides 16 differential inputs. You can use it to monitor temperature, strain, voltage or current signals. It is supplied with Windmill and Streamer software, which run under Windows. With Streamer the 770 captures data at up to 100 kHz and has many triggering options.

Features

Quick to install and easy to use.
16-bit analogue-to-digital converter gives high resolution readings.
Independent input ranges let you mix different types of measurements - thermocouples and 4-20 mA process signals for example - without losing resolution.
Use the 770 to switch on other equipment when it (the 770) starts to capture data.
Save data both before and after an event (pre- and post-trigger data). Useful for seeing, for example, what happened immediately before a fault occurred.
A digital input into the Microlink lets other equipment trigger data capture: synchronising scans with external events.
Alternatively wait until 1 or 2 readings cross a threshold before automatically starting to collect data. For example, when the temperature goes above or below your set points.
Exclude channels from a scan if necessary. This lets you use the 770 with different set-ups without having to rewire.
Set both the interval between reading each channel (thermocouple, strain gauge, etc), and how often all channels are read. For example, you may choose to wait a millisecond between reading each channel, but after the last channel has been read pause for 10 seconds before starting again.
For more accurate timing than your computer clock allows, you can connect an external crystal- controlled clock.
All results presented in engineering units (^oC, ^oF, etc)
Free technical support for life

Powerful, Easy-to-Use, Fast

There are three steps to data acquisition and control.

Plug the 770 into your computer's USB port.
Connect your sensors and signals to the Microlink.
Load the Windmill software and you're ready to start capturing data.

The combination of the elegant design of the Microlink 770, the ease of use of the universal serial bus and the exceptional Windmill software for Windows ensures a simple yet powerful system.

Ideal for Portable Applications

The compact Microlink 770 system is ideal for portable applications, such as collecting data from moving vehicles. Other applications include crash testing, product testing and dynamic strain measurement.

Temperature, Strain, Pressure and Current

Depending on your transducers, you might need extra hardware units to make your connections. For example, for thermocouples you will need a Microlink 593 box which provides cold junction measurement. (When monitoring thermocouples it is essential that the system knows the temperature of one of the thermocouple junctions. Housing this junction in the Microlink 593 isothermal box keeps the temperature constant, and a cold junction sensor in the box tells the system the temperature. You connect the thermocouple wires to screw terminals in the 593 isothermal box, and connect the terminals to the Microlink 770 unit with a ribbon cable. The 593 also detects broken thermocouple leads for you.)

For strain you would use a Microlink 594, which enables the 770 USB unit to monitor strain gauge bridges and balanced bridges such as pressure transducers. With the 594 unit you can configure individual channels to accept any of these inputs:

voltage
quarter bridge: single strain gauge
half bridge: tensile + compressive strain gauge
half bridge: normal + transverse strain gauge
full bridge: 2 tensile + 2 compressive gauges
full bridge: 2 normal + 2 transverse gauges
full bridge: tensile normal + compressive normal + tensile transverse + compressive transverse gauge

For current measurement choose the 590-8A Current Connection Box.

Software

The latest version of Streamer is supplied with the Microlink 770. This modular suite offers data logging, charting, and direct links to other applications like Excel. Alternatively, for lower speed applications, you can choose the Windmill data acquisition software suite which is also included.

Data Analysis

You can save data in several file formats, including ASCII, FAMOS and binary. ASCII files can be loaded into a wide range of software. FAMOS format is optimised for the FAMOS waveform analysis package. Binary is the most compact format.

Ordering

The Microlink 770 package starts at 955 pounds. To purchase over the internet visit Windmill Software's data acquisition catalogue.

If you would prefer to buy off-line from us, please fill in our quote form. Please give as many details as possible about your application: including the number and type of transducers to be monitored. You can also use the quote form simply to ask our advice about your project.

Hardware Specifications

Dimensions (mm)          180 x 120 x 40
Maximum length of cable  5 m
  Maximum distance from PC can be increased by 
  use of USB hubs
Differential inputs       16
Maximum safe input voltage:
  Power supply on         ±35 V
  Power supply off        ±20 V
Voltage Ranges            ±10 V, ±1 V, ±0.1 V
Common mode range         ±10 V
Resolution A-D converter  16 bits
Throughput                100 000 samples per second
Maximum linearity error   ±0.02%
External Clock and Trigger Connections:
  Compatibility           TTL, 5 V CMOS
  Safe input voltage      0-5 V
  Trigger output          5 V during sampling
  Clock pulse width       1 usec
  Trigger pulse width     1 usec

Products: Microlink 770

High Speed USB Unit for Waveform Capture