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Link RS232 Serial Instruments to Windows Software

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Most instruments with an RS232 serial port can be incorporated into a computerised measurement system with the free Windmill LabIML software.

LabIML is a universal driver for instruments that send or accept ASCII messages over RS232. It automatically feeds data from the instruments to Windows application software. You could, for example, show readings from a GPS receiver and a sonar in an Excel spreadsheet, or data from an electronic balance in Windmill's own Chart program.

LabIML 4.3 is now free to our newsletter subscribers, including technical support for life!

NEW: Click here for Version 6 of our serial driver which can interface RS232, RS422, RS485 and Modbus instruments, communicating in ASCII or binary.

Supports most Instruments with RS232 Ports

The LabIML RS232 software driver supports both those instruments that continuously output data values as though to a printer, and those that require a command message each time data values are needed.

With a flexible approach to building command strings, and parsing the received data strings to extract data values, the majority of analytical instruments are supported. These include GPS, sonar, gas analysers, pH transmitters, titrators, myographs, particle analysers, digital voltmeters, conductivity meters, ion gauges, thermoregulators, solar panel array controllers, fluorometers, digital thermometers, force gauges, extensometers, I2C devices, altimeters, multimeters and laboratory scales.

Mix and Match Equipment

You have the freedom to mix and match equipment from many different manufacturers in many combinations. Multiple channels of data can be accepted from each instrument. For example wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, sulphur dioxide concentration and carbon monoxide concentration may all be measured from one pollution monitoring station.

LabIML has been used successfully with RS232 instruments from A&D, Ashtec, Avery Berkel, B&B Electronics, Bruël & Kjær, Campbell Scientific, Datel, Desoutter, Ecom, Funaro, Garmin, Horiba, Linkcom, Magellan, Maxim, Mettler Toledo, Mecmessin, Mitutoyo, Motorola, Molytek, Newmar, Nu-Metrics, Omron, Orion, Parallax, Protek, Quantum Logic, Remontec, Rockwell, Sartorius, Siemens, Telegan, Transcell, Tritech, TTi, Varian SenTorr, Weeder Technologies, World Precision Instruments and many other manufacturers.

No Programming

Selections are made from dialogue boxes: there is no programming required.

Includes Logging, Charting and Output Control Software Modules

The Windmill 4.3 logging, charting and control software, plus LabIML, is now free to our newsletter subscribers. Data collected by Windmill can be exported to Excel and other Windows programs, in real-time if necessary. An updated version of the serial driver and other software, Windmill 6, costs £145 from our on-line catalogue.

Some Comments from Windmill Users

"...resulting in a 90% improvement in efficiency in an inspection data logging operation"
RB, Manufacturing & Development Engineer, Fiber Optic Transceiver Manufacturing

"I found your site while searching the net looking for info on programming a serial data access/logging system for home use in my electrical studies. Wow! I'm impressed! I've been operating high-tech instruments for 30 years in the Oil Refining industry, and always have had a basic understanding of this kind of technology...but you folks have simplified control and monitoring to the point of enabling a layman to bring high-tech control usage into the Personal Computer realm. Your free Windmill software download is much appreciated."
RM, Oil Refining industry

"I was pleasantly surprised to find a product that did almost all of what I needed, and for free!!...I find that your products are often exactly what we need for data acquisition."
MD, Eng. Group Leader, Automation Department

"The Windmill software was a great find for me. I had feared that I would have to write my own software as I could not find a flexible program that could accept custom-made drivers."
JC, Program Manager of a pilot scale chemical process facility supporting development of new products and processes for a speciality chemical manufacturer

"I just finished settting up our Turner SCUFA Fluorometer with Windmill. Great software. It was very easy, Thanks!"
GL, University of the Pacific

"I am using the software to log a EZ compass (tilt, roll and heading). Works great and saved me alot of programming."
KV, Physics Professor

"Windmill allows us to create a poor man's bathymetry system for under $800 USD. A sincere thank you to your group for offering this tool as freeware."
JM, Geological Research Assistant

"I am using a Froude Consine Texcel V4 control unit to control a dynamometer and have been using your free software to capture speed and torque data from the controller (the Froude software for this is over £1,000). Thus, your free software is fantastic and very easy to use. "
EW, PhD student, Loughborough University

"Searching through the web for a cheap (free) interface to link a lab scale directly to Excel, I found with Windmill 4.3 not only the interface I was looking for, but also an easy-to-follow step by step procedure (+ VBA program) which made it most simple to use and implement. Thank you. Should we need to upgrade or have the need to connect other equipment, we know who we will now contact. "
RR, Quality Control

"Very simple and easy to use software. Ideal for simple applications that do not require high rate data acquisition. Also Monitor is a very helpful newsletter for people that are not specialists in computer's communications, but are interested in data acquisition."
KK, Researcher in Department of Pharmaceutical Technology

"Thanks! It worked really well... very happy with the program."
ER, Sarorius balance user, University of Waterloo (Canada)

"...it saves a huge amount of time in writing and data entry, as well as preventing the problems of interpretation and mis-placing of data which sometimes occur with the old practice of recording the information on sheets of paper."
MS, Dept. of Zoology, University of Queensland

"I have succeeded in interfacing four different Mettler Balances to Excel using your free Windmill product and am very happy."
DA

"Hi! Great Program, Congratulations and thanks for the free copy."
AL

LabIML Applications

A few examples of some of the ways in which people have used LabIML.

Seabed Surveying

Marine and Estuarine Ecology Group use Windmill for seabed mapping and surveying.

Testing Food Processing Equipment via I2C

A manufacturer is using Windmill to test its I2C-based thermostats.

Investigating Pollution from Submarine Springs

A Geological Survey team is using Windmill software for easy and accurate measurements.

Mapping Dye Dispersion

Marine scientists are monitoring the dispersion of sewage using a fluorometer, GPS and Windmill software.

Data Acquisition from Torque Meters

An escalator manufacturer is sending data from torque meters directly to an Access database.

Measuring the Flow Rate of Powder

LabIML enables scientists in a Department of Pharmaceutical Technology to monitor powder "flowability".

Teaching Technology

Windmill is being used with a Parallax BASIC Stamp to create an inexpensive laboratory tool for teachers of sciences and environmental studies.

Remote Sensing

Thanks to Windmill, automated sea-floor mapping has become available for anyone with access to a sonar, GPS and a laptop PC.

More Information on RS232 Connections

The Microlink site has more information on serial ports, RS232 connections and data acquisition hardware.