I would like to use labview to communicate with a Variable Frequency Drive using a Modbus communications protocol. I would like to do this as cheaply as possible using Labview 8.6.
There is a MODBUS http://sine.ni.com/devzone/cda/epd/p/id/4756 library available for LV that is built around the VISA functions that ship with LV. You should also check here http://www.ni.com/devzone/idnet/ to see if someone has already created a driver for your particular drive or one that is similar. The next thing is the hardware interface. Most of the drives I've worked with use a RS-485 interface. Depending on your setup you can use a simple RS-232/RS-485 adapter, an USB to 485 adapter or even an ethernet to 485 adapter.
