National Instruments WSN-3214 strain node and 9232 C series module

National Instruments has announced the NI WSN-3214 strain node and the NI 9232 C Series module, which are intended to help engineers monitor machines, heavy equipment and ageing infrastructure. Engineers can integrate the devices with NI CompactRIO for predictive maintenance to predict faults, analyse fatigue, lower operating costs and decrease downtime.

With NI wireless sensor networks and the WSN strain node, critical structures can be monitored without cables. The company uses WSN nodes that are programmable with LabVIEW for onboard analysis of strain data to achieve an in-depth understanding of structural response.

The WSN-3214 strain/bridge completion node features hardware-timed waveform acquisition and is suitable for wireless structural health monitoring of bridges, buildings and equipment. It has four analog input channels that support quarter-, half- and full-bridge completion. Two digital I/O channels are used for event detection and quality control. The node can perform onboard data processing, save data locally or predict fault conditions with the NI LabVIEW WSN Module.

With expanded voltage range, faster sampling rates and higher integrated electronic piezoelectric (IEPE) excitation, the NI 9232 C Series module is a data acquisition card suitable for industrial accelerometers, tachometers and proximity probes in condition monitoring applications. The module features a ±30 V input range, 4 mA IEPE current excitation and 41 kHz bandwidth. Screw terminals and open/short sensor detection are used in permanent industrial monitoring applications.