[Technical Expert Test Notes Series] Part 2: Keithley and Initial State's New Solution

[Technical Expert Test Notes Series] Part 2: Keithley and Initial State's new solution for analyzing DAQ/DMM data at home

I remember being a senior project manager in a new product development environment where teams were under pressure to quickly deliver quality products for critical applications, so lifecycle testing was a must. It was a huge pain in the ass if a test was silently interrupted in the middle of the night, as it wasted not only our valuable time, but also our test equipment. I spent countless hours trying to understand the data through charts. I thought at the time, how much time and money we would save if we could manage the data remotely, but that was just wishful thinking. There was no way, we had to keep dumping data into Excel to see trends, and we had to keep persuading technicians to stay on call on weekends and holidays.

Keithley and Initial State (both Tektronix companies) have teamed up to create the only graphical DAQ and DMM on the market: Keithley DAQ6510 and DMM6500, to solve these problems. By integrating Initial State's cloud services, you can now transmit data around the world, create real-time, easily configurable dashboards, create triggers/alarms, and embed real-time data into any website. All of this can be achieved without a computer, as long as your DAQ/DMM and the sink device (such as a mobile phone or tablet) are connected to the Internet. You and your team can spend less time in the lab, skip Excel spreadsheet projects, and reduce the overtime required to complete projects.

How does this solution impact your daily work?

The data transfer feature enables users to monitor processes remotely, rather than being confined to the lab. This is a game changer when monitoring long-running tests such as environmental testing or HALT (Highly Accelerated Testing).

Transforming raw data into actionable information through instant dashboards speeds up decision making and improves efficiency because data no longer needs to be processed through software. Imagine that you can now remotely check the status of production equipment overnight to ensure it remains within preset thresholds.

The Create Trigger feature allows users to define limits or thresholds. Once exceeded, alerts can be generated via text and email. This feature can notify lab personnel even while they are at dinner that a key characteristic (such as temperature) has exceeded a critical limit, saving time and equipment.

Embed data into any website using one line of code. You can securely store or share data with colleagues or partners. You can create an instant dashboard on the homepage of your local website, creating "one source of truth" and consistent reporting. It's also an easy way to share information with remote sales or customers around the world.

The DMM6500 and DAQ6510 firmware versions 1.7.3C or above are eligible for a 14-day free trial. If you have an older version, you will need to download the latest version. Once you have verified and/or updated the version, you can add the Upload Script to the Internal Scripts area to upgrade the application. You can then sign up for the Initial State service and start transferring data.

For a step-by-step installation tutorial, click here. If you want to learn more, check out our product page, or sign up for a 14-day free trial here.

About Tektronix

Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, USA, Tektronix is ​​committed to providing innovative, accurate and easy-to-use test, measurement and monitoring solutions to solve various problems, release insights and promote innovation. For more than 70 years, Tektronix has been at the forefront of the digital age.

Tektronix is ​​a registered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade names are service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.