Free LabView software improves thermocouple measurement accuracy 400%

Anyone using National Instruments (NI) LabView software should consider downloading free thermocouple calibration software that NI spokespersons say improves the accuracy of thermocouple measurements by as much as 400%.

The thermocouple calibration software is comprised of two LabVIEW virtual instruments (VIs). The first works with NI signal conditioning hardware to acquire, compile and write calibration points to file. The second VI uses these calibration points to create a best-fit polynomial correction curve that effectively compensates for system and sensor inaccuracy through the entire measurement range, creating greater accuracy for subsequent thermocouple measurements.

In the past, engineers relied on the calibration certificates of individual hardware components to ensure the accuracy of the thermocouple measurement system. The sum of the uncertainties of each piece of hardware, in addition to errors from cables and wiring, limited accuracy. Now, this new LabVIEW-based system calibration software complements hardware component calibration by compensating for these sources of error. This reduces the uncertainty of the measurements in the entire instrumentation system.

Click here to download the free software .

—Dave Harrold, Senior Editor, Control Engineering, dharrold@reedbusiness.com

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