Modular Instruments Support and Services

In today’s world of tight budgets and deadlines, superior technical support can be the difference in the overall success of an application. A competent technical support organization facilitates proper configuration and installation of key system components, minimizes downtime through troubleshooting techniques, and provides key information for optimized use of your modular instruments. 

In offices around the globe, NI has staff local to your country so you have access to field engineers who speak your language and are available to consult based on your needs. NI also has a worldwide support organization staffed with applications engineers trained to quickly provide superior technical assistance via phone, e-mail, or Web (ni.com/support). In addition, you can use online resources to access thousands of KnowledgeBase entries and more than 14,000 worldwide measurement and automation professionals within NI Developer Exchange discussion forums (ni.com/zone).

For the most complex or demanding applications, NI also has globally deployed systems engineers that can offer services including startup assistance, architectural reviews, or customized training. If your application will demand the highest level of reliability, properly utilizing these system engineering resources will save you time and money during the deployment process.

 

Calibration

The accuracy of electronic components used in all instruments naturally drifts over time. Therefore, it is necessary to calibrate instruments at regular intervals as defined by the manufacturer. Benefits of maintaining properly calibrated equipment include reduced measurement errors, consistency between measurements, increased production yields, and the assurance of accurate measurements. To help you meet your calibration needs, NI provides calibration support and services that include services to calibrate your products, manual calibration procedures, and automated calibration software specifically designed for use by metrology laboratories.
Traceable Calibration

Traceable calibration service from NI helps you maintain maximum measurement performance and saves the time and costs associated with unscheduled downtime and quality issues. The service includes verification of measurement performance and adjustment, if necessary, to ensure the performance you have come to expect from National Instruments. This service level also helps you meet the requirements of quality programs like ISO 9001.

Traceable Calibration with Data

For customers who want to know exactly how their instrument is performing, NI offers traceable calibration with data service. This service includes complete calibration results before and after adjustment that show the measurements for every test point every time. This data can help you characterize the performance of your device and lets you know precisely what you are measuring. 

Compliant Calibration

Compliant calibration service helps you meet the needs of more advanced quality standards. This service is performed in accordance with guidelines such as ISO/IEC 17025 and provides detailed measurement data that typically includes the calibration results and a statement of measurement uncertainty. These features are typically required by more stringent quality standards and regulations.

Manual Calibration

The flexibility of a software-defined modular platform allows for a variety of options for calibrating modular instruments. As seen above, NI provides different in-house calibration services as well as software to automatically calibrate your instruments. Another method available to calibrate your instruments is to do it manually. Most NI modular instrument drivers include an API to manual calibrate your instruments. Refer to the Calibrating Modular Instruments resource for more information.

Automated Calibration Software

NI provides automated calibration software to make calibrating NI products even faster and easier. NI Calibration Executive uses NI LabVIEW, NI-VISA, IVI, and NI TestStand technologies to create an integrated environment for calibrating NI measurement devices. Procedures to calibrate these devices can run automatically with Calibration Executive, using NI GPIB to communicate with external calibration standards. Calibration Executive provides calibration reports that are stored in an open database connectivity (ODBC)-compliant database for easy access from other programs.

 

System Configuration and Deployment

NI offers system assurance programs to help you get to your first measurement faster. We deliver your PXI system ready to use right out of the box, fully assembled and tested. NI also provides courtesy installation of standard driver sets and application development environments such as NI TestStand, LabVIEW, and LabWindows™/CVI. This reduces your setup and development time and saves you money. To protect your system, the programs include an extended warranty and calibration services for up to four more years in addition to the standard one-year warranty. Custom documentation is also provided with your system, including a getting started guide, a maintenance plan, and calibration certificates.

 

Training and Certification

Together, the National Instruments training and certification programs deliver the fastest, most certain route to increased proficiency and productivity using NI software and hardware. A recent survey indicates that customers report 66 percent faster learning, 50 percent quicker development, and 43 percent less maintenance after taking NI training courses.

NI Certification confirms your technical growth and skill. This professional certification is ideal for differentiating yourself from the competition and making your own informed hiring and outsourcing decisions.