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USB-QUAD08

REVIEWS (6)
 

Quadrature Encoder USB Device

USB-QUAD08
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KEY HIGHLIGHTS

The USB-QUAD08 quadrature encoder device provides configurable counter input channels along with timer outputs and digital I/O. Features include programmable debounce times, multiple counting modes, and triggering and pacing options.

Digital I/O
Channels Counter/Timers Encoder Inputs
8 8/2 8
Software Power
OS Support Drivers Power
Windows® and Linux® Universal Library™ SW Suite Bus powered

Part Number Description Qty Price
USB-QUAD08 USB quadrature encoder device with eight configurable (SE or DIFF) counter inputs, two timer outputs, and eight digital I/O. $630.00
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Product Reviews


4 / 5
Ease of Use
3.7 / 5
Value
4.3 / 5
Technical Support
4.5 / 5

83% of new reviewers recommend this product

USB-QUAD08
September 12, 2016
Works fine with LabVIEW for me

Back when I was developing code for this in 2011 and asked MCC tech support a few questions they said "we do not officially support using the USB-QUAD08 in LabVIEW. It uses our Universal Library instead of the normal LabVIEW libraries." I don't know if things have changed in the past five years but at that time I had no problem using the QUAD-08 from LabVIEW using the "Call Library" functions available within that environment. A total of six functions (Configure, Load, Read, Error Check, Reload InstaCal configuration and Get Error Message from Error Code) were built, each using a separate call into the cbw32.dll library and it all worked quite nicely. There were only two things that I wish had been different and only one of these belonged to the Quad-08. The Quad-08 cannot be loaded with a starting counter value; the best you can do is to zero it. Beyond that my only other complaint was with the InstaCal software and how it was always too quick to try to purge old configurations from its database if it did not happen to see the hardware connected when it was launched.

  • Job Title: Engineer
  • Industry: DOE Lab
  • Application: R&D
  • From: Livermore, CA
  • Company Size: 5000*
  • Software Used: NI LabView
  • Ease of use
  • Value
  • Technical Support
Yes, I recommend this product!

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USB-QUAD08
September 04, 2013
10 MHz Digital Counters with 5 MHz Output for $599

We needed to build an inexpensive and high speed image capturing solution with highly accurate position information. The USB-QUAD08 allowed us to interface directly with our high speed encoders and trigger the camera with minimal delay. It was the only high speed (feedback to camera faster than 5 us) solution we found in this price range. Programming was straight forward and this is our second system with the USB-QUAD08. We are very pleased with the product.

  • Job Title: Senior Director of Quality
  • Industry: MEMS
  • Application: High speed imaging system
  • From: Baldwin Park, CA, USA
  • Company Size: 1001-5001
  • Software Used: Other
  • Ease of use
  • Value
  • Technical Support
Yes, I recommend this product!

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USB-QUAD08
August 27, 2013
Exactly what we needed for our solution.

We need a device to read multiple linear encoders and trigger based on a count. This device did exactly what we needed. We interfaced to the device via C#. The samples were good examples of what we needed to do and were a base for the production software. We selected this device by reading the spec sheet and it did exactly what was advertised. When I had a question about a sample, their technical support team responded quickly and helped solve the problem with their first email back to me. The only thing that could be better is the documentation on the different modes and inputs. For example it wasn't clear to me at first what XPCR was for, but it turned out in the end that we needed it for our application.

  • Job Title: Senior Staff Engineer
  • Industry: Manufacturing
  • Application: Manufacturing Automation
  • From: Los Angeles, CA
  • Company Size: 1001-5001
  • Software Used: Other
  • Ease of use
  • Value
  • Technical Support
Yes, I recommend this product!

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USB-QUAD08
July 03, 2013
Great Unit, easy to use.

I am new to the DAQ world and the technical rep helped me select the unit that best fit my application. I am also writing a custom C# application from scratch that would interface with this module. First let me say. The technical support is OUTSTANDING!!! They helped me through the selection process and during the technical development. All my questions were answered in the same day and most were answered within the hour! And at no charge. There were "ready-made" code examples that helped expedited my development process. The USB-Quad08 worked as advertised and was easy to learn and get up in running. From scratch, I had the unit up and sampling data all in the same day. Very impressive for somebody that is new to DAQ. I highly recommend this product and the company

  • Job Title: Director
  • Industry: Medical
  • Application: Test Equipment
  • From: Texas
  • Company Size: 1-100
  • Software Used: C/C++
  • Ease of use
  • Value
  • Technical Support
Yes, I recommend this product!

Was this review helpful? Yes (1) / No (0)

USB-QUAD08
March 20, 2013
Our Quad08 experience

We used the quad08 for two tasks. One involved standard encoder output and the other involved measuring rotation angle as a function of time. Both worked well.

  • Job Title: Scientist
  • Industry: Manufacturing
  • From: NC
  • Company Size: 1-100
  • Software Used: Visual Basic
  • Ease of use
  • Value
  • Technical Support
Yes, I recommend this product!

Was this review helpful? Yes (1) / No (1)

USB-QUAD08
March 19, 2013
not for use with LabVIEW

Let me just state for the record that my review is biased by my being a LabVIEW programmer. USB-QUAD08 held a lot of promise based on its specs but turned out to be very difficult to use in LabVIEW largely because it did not come with the same set of drivers that some of the other Measurement Computing devices have for LabVIEW use. To MC's credit one of their applications engineer did provide me with an labview example using invoke nodes utilizing .NET, a bit too advanced for my level. If you're not comfortable working with invoke node in Labview I would not recommend this product.

  • Job Title: test engineer
  • Industry: automotive sensors
  • Application: automotive
  • From: Janesville, WI, USA
  • Company Size: 101-500
  • Software Used: NI LabVIEW
  • Ease of use
  • Value
  • Technical Support

Was this review helpful? Yes (2) / No (4)




In figure 23 of page 26 of the User's Guide, you show all the DIOs connected together through 10K pull-up resistors to one diode. Is there really only one diode, or are there actually 8 - one for each channel? I will be using external resistors pulled-up to 36V and I don't want the off (pulled-up) voltage at one channel to change when other channels turn on.

  • Job Title: Test Engineer
  • Industry: Aerospace
  • Application: Test equipment
26 months ago
PeterM Valencia, CA


Answers

The diagram in the manual does indeed match the board’s circuitry. In the case you describe, the voltage at your off channel, when your other channel is turned on (taken to ground), would indeed drop a bit (the amount of drop would be proportional to your Load resistance in series with 2 of the 10K resistors).

26 months ago
Measurement Computing

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im seeing allot of talk of using NI labview which is fine, can quad 08 be set up on tracerdaq pro?

  • Job Title: testing technician
  • Industry: materials/new product development
  • Application: reading angular position
28 months ago
feyr47 michigan


Answers

Hello - Unfortunately, TracerDAQ PRO is not compatible with the USB-QUAD08.

28 months ago
Measurement Computing

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I want to use total 10-encoders, but 2-channels are deficient for this device. So I am thinking of two "USB-QUAD08" device. I wonder this method is working or not. Thank you

  • Job Title: Mechanical engineering
  • Industry:
  • Application:
36 months ago
Minho Hwang


Answers

Hello - Two USB-QUAD08s can be used on a single PC. In order to synchronize the two USB-QUAD08 DAQ devices I would recommend that you utilize the “External Trigger” when starting your data collection. This will insure that the two USB-QUAD08s are collecting data in Unison.

36 months ago
Measurement Computing

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According to your specifications, the device draws 480 mA max, 225 mA typical from the USB. Under what conditions will the max current be drawn? I am using the device with only 1 encoder that draws 100mA. Will connecting USB power output +5V to encoder power input ENC+ IN cause me to exceed the 500 mA USB current limit?

  • Job Title: Test Engineer
  • Industry: Aerospace
  • Application: test equipment
52 months ago
PeterM Valencia, CA


Answers

The primary component with variable current draw is the differential receiver front end each of the 8 encoder input channels (PhaseA, PhaseB, and Index). Since you are leaving 7 of 8 channels open, there will be plenty of available current to provide 5v@ 100 mA to power your single encoder. A bench test here confirms this.

52 months ago

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Digital outputs of this device are open collector. Only one voltage is used in sample circuit (the diagram on the 26th page of user's guide). I want to use 24Vdc for some relays (up to 100mA) and 5Vdc for some resistive loads (under 10mA). Regards,

  • Job Title:
  • Industry:
  • Application:
68 months ago
cube2501


Answers

One or more subsets of output bits can be used with its own external power supply (i.e. not all bits have to switch the same voltage level). In this case, be sure not connect the CLMP+ pin (optional suppression diodes) to more than one external power supply (i.e. not to more than one subset of output bits).

68 months ago
MeasurementComputing

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  • Job Title:
  • Industry:
  • Application:
72 months ago
Chris


Answers

There are effectively 2 ways to request a read of the counter (encoder position). A software (polled) read of one channel takes about 1 mS. A hardware paced read of all channels can be much faster … read at up to an 8 MHz rate. The reads can be paced by an on-board clock, or an external clock/edge that you provide. Note that in this high-speed mode, MCC’s driver puts the data into an array, with new blocks of data transferred from the board to the array about every 10 mS.

72 months ago
MeasurementComputing

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