NATIONAL Instruments has introduced eight new relay cards, expanding its high-density switching capabilities for PXI systems.
The new cards offer additional simultaneous connections and new differential measurement capabilities for high-channel-count switching applications.
Engineers can now choose from an expanded selection of NI SwitchBlock cards to create a custom matrix of relays that meets their specific requirements.
Designed specifically for demanding automated test systems with large numbers of channels, the NI SwitchBlock cards provide an intuitive option for switch configuration, routing, programming and maintenance in a variety of test applications in military and aerospace, transportation and for general-purpose automated testing.
The set of new relay cards includes multiple two-wire switches for differential measurements and 16-row switches that give engineers an increased number of simultaneous connections for large switching applications.
All cards take full advantage of the innovative NI SwitchBlock architecture, which simplifies connectivity through internal column expansion.
The NI SwitchBlock comprises an expandable carrier that accommodates up to six relay cards while occupying just four slots in a PXI chassis. Engineers can combine up to four NI SwitchBlock carriers to create internally routed matrices with as many as 8,832 crosspoints in a single PXI chassis.
The new cards also integrate with NI Switch Executive switch management software to give engineers the ability to graphically configure their switch systems one relay at a time for total control, or automatically route signals across multiple relay cards by specifying endpoints.
Additionally, engineers can combine the NI SwitchBlock with mass interconnect solutions from MAC Panel and Virginia Panel, which provide a single rugged connection point between multiple NI SwitchBlock connectors and a test fixture. This further simplifies wiring for large matrix configurations and helps engineers streamline hardware integration and reduce test setup time.