For the devices MP-4000 (magnetic field measurement), FerroPro compact (permeability measurement) and MEGA-CHECK DX (coating thickness measurement)

SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is a standardized protocol for controlling and querying instruments such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, or spectrum analyzers via various interfaces such as GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus), USB, RS-232, or Ethernet. It enables standardized and easy communication between computers and instruments, regardless of the manufacturer.

An SCPI interface is implemented on the List-Magnetik MP-4000 (magnetic field measurement), FerroPro compact (permeability measurement) and MEGA-CHECK DX (coating thickness measurement) instruments, allowing the instrument to perform remote measurements in line operation and to provide measured values. Connection is via USB, which also provides power and continuous operation.

Basic SCPI Commands

SCPI commands consist of keywords that are organized hierarchically. They can be optionally parameterized. The commands are usually written in uppercase letters, but shorter forms of the keywords can be used if they are unique.

Examples of basic SCPI commands

• *IDN?: Get device identification.
• MEAS:VOLT:DC?: Measure DC voltage.
• CONF:CURR:AC: Configure the instrument to measure AC current.
• READ? Read the current measurement.

Special implementation for List-Magnetik meters

• Setting the Date and Time
• Set measurement unit
• Setting of measurement types (Magnetic Field measurement: DC/AC, auto range, range 1 or 2, peak on/off. Coating thickness measurement: automatic, FE only, NF only, duplex)
• Zero calibration, also two-point calibration for coating thickness measurement
• Retrieve measured value (Coating thickness measurement: spot or continuous)

Documentation and Application Examples

Here to the left you will find further documentation, an example application based on LabView and a LabView runtime environment to test the possibilities.

Contents of the "SCPI Demo" installation package

The SCPI Demo installation package contains: a runtime environment for LabView, a sample application (EXE) for each of the three devices MP-4000, FerroPro compact and MEGA-CHECK DX as well as the sources (SRC) for these three applications. To be able to read and edit the sources, however, a license for LabView is required, which is not included. The installation package can be unpacked to any Windows directory. The LabView runtime environment "ni-labview-2024-runtime-engine_24.1.0_offline.iso" must be installed so that the sample applications (e.g. "LabView MEGA-CHECK DX.exe") can be started.