Flexibility That Keeps NI CompactDAQ Relevant
In Part 1 of this series, I explored how NI CompactDAQ (cDAQ) delivers cost savings across the test lifecycle. But cost alone isn’t enough to justify a long-term investment in a test platform. What keeps me returning to cDAQ again and again is its flexibility. In Part 3 we’ll highlight the portability that makes it practical outside the lab.
At Ball Systems, our projects span industries—automotive, aerospace, defense, and consumer products. Each project has unique requirements, and those requirements often shift mid-design. A flexible test system isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for staying on schedule and avoiding costly redesigns.
Broad Measurement Options
The foundation of cDAQ’s flexibility is its wide range of compatible modules. With over 60 C Series modules, cDAQ can measure virtually any signal type, including:
- Electrical: voltage, current, resistance, power quality
- Mechanical: strain, load, vibration, acceleration
- Environmental: thermocouples, RTDs, temperature probes
- Digital I/O: counters, triggers, PWM, logic level monitoring
- Automotive: CAN and LIN
Having a modular platform means one chassis can adapt to almost any requirement, from monitoring environmental chambers to capturing high-frequency ECU sensor data. Unlike traditional instruments that lock you into a single measurement type, cDAQ makes swapping modules fast and simple.
In practice, this flexibility means test engineers can move from logging temperatures one day to capturing vibration data the next—without redesigning the entire tester. At Ball Systems, this capability helps us support customers across multiple industries without having to reinvent the wheel for every new project. You can see examples of these diverse applications in our Project Gallery.
Software That Adapts to You
Flexibility isn’t just about hardware—it’s also about software. CompactDAQ integrates seamlessly with a variety of environments, including:
Even if you’re not a software specialist, NI tools simplify setup. I often use Measurement & Automation Explorer (NI MAX) to access built-in test panels for each module. With these, I can validate signals and start seeing live data in minutes—no custom code required, no waiting for software engineers to free up.
Depending on the chassis, cDAQ communicates via USB or Ethernet, which means most PCs can connect without extra adapters. This eliminates the need for specialized interfaces and makes setup as simple as plugging in and selecting a port. That ease of use is invaluable when project timelines are tight.
Reusable Across Projects
At Ball Systems, reconfiguration is part of our daily work. One customer may need an environmental chamber monitor, another a relay controller, and another a durability tracker for a production line. Traditional hardware would require building three separate testers—each with its own cost, integration time, and maintenance schedule.
With cDAQ, I can often reuse large parts of existing systems. Power, communication, and mechanical fitment remain the same, while modules are swapped to meet new requirements. This agility not only keeps projects moving but also keeps costs predictable and manageable. It’s one of the reasons customers trust us to deliver solutions that adapt as their needs evolve.
Built for the Future
Technology changes quickly, and obsolescence is a constant concern in test engineering. A system locked into one measurement method can become outdated in just a few years.
cDAQ avoids this risk with its modular, upgradeable architecture. NI continues to release new modules and drivers, ensuring that the chassis I purchased years ago is still relevant today. This future-proofing protects customer investments and gives engineers confidence that their infrastructure will scale with evolving standards. Instead of starting from scratch on every new project, teams can build on what they already have.
Flexibility in Action
The first production system I designed at Ball Systems was a major shift from my usual lab environment. I needed to control digital outputs, record analog inputs, communicate via CAN and LIN, and measure high-fidelity knock sensor data from an ECU.
Initially, I drafted a bill of materials full of expensive, single-purpose instruments. But when I considered CompactDAQ, I realized one chassis could handle all of it. By the end of the same day, I was already collecting the prototype data I needed to move forward. That kind of turnaround would have taken weeks with traditional hardware—and it’s exactly why cDAQ’s flexibility is so valuable.
Why Flexibility Matters
In Part 1, we saw how CompactDAQ reduces costs by consolidating instruments, scaling with demand, and lowering maintenance. In this post, you’ve seen how it extends its value by being flexible enough to handle almost any project requirement. At Ball Systems, this flexibility allows us to reuse hardware across projects, shorten configuration time, and deliver reliable solutions faster.
Next up: Expanding Testing Horizons with NI CompactDAQ Portability.
Explore how we’ve applied cDAQ across industries in our Automotive and Aerospace Projects.
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