README.md

Armstrap pyVirtualBench

Python wrappers to control NI VirtualBench. These wrappers call into the official c-driver, allowing you to control VirtualBench from a Python application.

What is VirtualBench?

Five Instruments. One Device. Radically Practical.

By combining the most essential instruments into one device and integrating with PCs and iPads, the VirtualBench all-in-one instrument is simple, is convenient, and opens up new possibilities for how you can interact with benchtop instruments.

What’s Included?

1. Mixed-Signal Oscilloscope With Protocol Analysis
2. Function Generator
3. Digital I/O, SPI master, I2C master
4. Programmable DC Power Supply
5. Digital Multimeter

More information can be found on ni.com.

Requirements (Windows Only)

• NI VirtualBench hardware
• VirtualBench driver >= 1.1.0 Be sure to check "ANSI C Support" during installation.
• Python >= 3.4. You will need 32-bit Python support to work with the NI-provided drivers.
• ./examples/hands_free_dmm.py Requirements
  • Infinity USB Digital Foot Control with Computer plug (IN-USB2)
  • pip install pywinusb
  • pip install Pyglet
  • copy ./support/avbin-win32-5.zip/avbin.dll into your c:\Windows\System32 directory

Quickstart Guide

• Run the following on a Windows Command Line terminal

mkdir Projects
cd Projects
git clone https://github.com/armstrap/armstrap-pyvirtualbench.git
cd armstrap-pyvirtualbench
python -m pip install .
python examples\ps_example.py

For Developers

• To install in "edit mode" - that is, to use the files directly in the project directory instead of making a read-only installation - in the above instructions replace

python -m pip install .

with

python -m pip install -e .

Helpful Resources

• NI support article on pyVirtualBench
• VirtualBench C library is found in C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\Shared\ExternalCompilerSupport\C
• Examples for the C-API of VirtualBench are found in C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\VirtualBench ANSI C Examples