instrulink 1.0.4

Python package to interface diverse laboratory instruments

instrulink

This python package provides built-in classes to interface diverse laboratory instruments, including:

• waveform generators: Rigol DG 1022Z (RigolDG1022Z)
• oscilloscopes: B&K Precision 2555 (BK2555), Rigol DS 1054Z (RigolDS1054Z)
• micro-manipulators: Sutter Instruments MP-285A (SutterMP285A)
• infrared cameras: FLIR cameras (Camera)
• acquisition systems: NI DAQmx for pulse triggers

Software dependencies

To interface VISA instruments (i.e., waveforms generators and oscilloscopes), you will need to:

• Download and install IVI Compliance Package 21.0 When installing, opt to include .NET Adapters and COM adapters as well (these are not selected by default)
• Download and install the NI Package Manager. Through the NI package manager, also install the NI-VISA Driver.

To interface Rigol instruments specifically, you will also need to download and install the associated Rigol driver

To interface FLIR cameras, you will need to download and install the FlyCapture SDK

You will also need to install Python 3.6 (for compliance with FlyCapture SDK), preferably as part of an environment manager such as Anaconda.

Installation

This package can be directly installed from PyPI:

pip install instrulink

However, if you wish to amend the package code, you can also clone this repo and install it locally as an editable package:

git clone https://github.com/tjjlemaire/instrulink.git
cd instrulink
pip install -e .

Usage

Connecting to instruments

Instruments can be easily connected to via generic grab_camera, grab_generator, grab_oscilloscope and grab_manipulator functions. By default, these functions will automatically detect the first available instrument connected to the PC. Optionally, you can also provide an instrument key to connect to a specific model type (e.g. grab_osciloscope(key='bk') to specifically connect to a B&K Precision oscilloscope).

Using instruments

Example scripts are located in the /scripts subfolder.