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National Instruments Motion Controller Boards & Drivers

Primary Software: Driver Software>>NI-Motion/FlexMotion
Primary Software Version: 7.6
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: Driver Software>>ValueMotion Software
Hardware: Motion Control>>Controllers, Motion Control>>Power Drives

Problem:
I have a National Instruments Motion Controller board but I am unsure if I should use ValueMotion, FlexMotion or NI-Motion. Which one should I use and why?

Solution:
The first motion driver National Instruments released was ValueMotion. The boards that are supported by this technology have been discontinued. Originally ValueMotion used to install a program called pcRunner that was used to configure the Motion Control board. In ValueMotion version 4.3 and later, that functionality was brought into Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX).

When the ValueMotion products were discontinued National Instruments released FlexMotion, which was the driver behind our new range of Motion controllers. At this point ValueMotion and FlexMotion could be installed on the same system and boards from the new range and old range could both be used on that system. When FlexMotion reached version 5.2 it was renamed as NI-Motion. Up to and including NI-Motion version 6, ValueMotion and NI-Motion could still co-exist on the same system, but in versions of NI-Motion after this it is no longer supported.

Below are two tables that outline which NI Motion Controller Boards are supported by which driver, and which OS they are available on.

Controller Win 95 Win 98 Win NT Win ME Win 2000 Win XP Vista
NI PCI-Step-xxx              
NI PCI-Servo-xxx              
NI PCI-7314              
NI PCI-7324              
ValueMotion Driver Support

Controller Win 95 Win 98 Win NT Win ME Win 2000 Win XP Vista
NI PCI/PXI-733x              
NI PCI/PXI-734x              
NI PCI/PXI-735x              
NI-Motion Driver Support


Fully supported in latest version of the driver  
Last supported in NI-Motion 6.1.x
Last supported in NI-Motion 5.2.7
Not supported

The PCI-7334 NI-Motion Controller meets the need for a low-cost motion controller, thereby replacing the entire line of ValueMotion products. A KnowledgeBase article detailing the advantages of using the 7334 over the 7314 or 7324 is linked below.

NOTE: The 734x is no longer offered in the FireWire form factor.


Related Links:
Drivers and Updates: Motion Control Driver [all versions]
KnowledgeBase 2AKDBNR4: What features are available on the PCI-7344 that are not available on the PCI-7334?

Attachments:





Report Date: 07/18/2007
Last Updated: 05/09/2008
Document ID: 4BHATRB4

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