Crystal Instruments
Crystal Instruments
CoCo-80/90 Spider-80 Spider-80 API ME'scope Bundle Spider-81 Resources
Crystal Instruments

  • Spider-80 API Product Brochure

    Crystal Instruments (CI) Application Programming Interface (API) for the Spider-80 provides scientists and engineers a powerful tool to develop custom applications that interface directly with CI's industry leading hardware. With over 15 years of experience, Crystal Instruments is dedicated to developing advanced DSP technologies and signal processing solutions. The Spider-80 is a highly modular, distributed, scalable dynamic measurement system. It is ideal for a wide range of industries including automotive, aviation, aerospace, electronics, and military use. The Spider-80 excels in applications requiring easy, quick, and accurate data recording and real-time signal processing.



    With the Spider-80 API, users can focus on the interface of their applications and leave the hardware design to Crystal Instruments. While the Spider system is running, user have access to the real-time signal data in both the time and frequency domain. Additionally, with the long-time data recording function the Spider-80 can record up to 4 GB of continuous time data to its own internal memory.

    API Basics

    The Spider-80 API is implemented in the Microsoft Visual Studio development environment and .NET framework. It provides a high level interface accessible in Visual C++, C#, and Basic. In addition, it can be used by any programming language that supports Dynamic-Linked Libraries (DLLs). Command can configure the Spider front end, control data acquisition, check the status of the processor, and retrieve DSP data.

    Run API in Simulation Mode

    The Spider-80 API includes a Simulation Mode. This useful tool allows the user to develop applications even if the hardware is not connected. This tool also makes training and development much more efficient, especially when hardware is not continuously available.

    What is in the API Package?

    • One or More Calibrated Spider-80 Systems
    • Spider-80 API Libraries
    • Three API Samples
    • Source Code
    • Spider-80 API Product Brochure
    • Spider-80 API User's Guide

    With these tools offered by Crystal Instruments, users are able to easily build customized solutions. The Spider-80 system provides high quality data capturing and real-time processing. The Spider-80 API libraries provide useful function calls to control the powerful hardware. The API samples help the user verify the connection and demonstrate how to set up front-end parameters and triggers. Source code helps programmers understand how the API works internally and reduces workload.

    API Samples

    Get Status

    Measurement Sample

    Trigger Sample

    Full Range of Support

    The most challenging part of any development project is the beginning. But Crystal Instruments is here to help. We can work with users and help to define the fundamental requirements, such as defining parameters, commands, and control settings. CI can even deliver an alpha version of the user's application which includes the basic interfaces and commands needed to interact with the Spider-80 hardware.

    Crystal Instruments provides a one-year hardware warranty and comprehensive tech support for each purchase. When it is time to recalibrate the Spider-80 hardware, specialized software is available allowing the user to calibrate the system, or the system can be shipped back to Crystal Instruments for calibration.

    Data Capturing and Processing

    The Spider-80 API can control the hardware to function as both a data recorder and dynamic signal analyzer at the same time. All time stream signals can be simultaneously recorded and displayed.

    Acquisition mode controls how the data is acquired block-by-block and processed with signal analyzer functions. These time blocks can be either gap free, with gaps, or overlapped depending on the acquisition mode selection. Real-time processing has a 46 kHz spectral bandwidth with all inputs enabled (102.4 kHz sampling rate). The sampling rate can be set in 54 increments.

    Analysis functions include time capture, APS, FRF, and correlation with many windowing options available. Output source waveforms include sine, triangle, square, white noise, DC, chirp, and swept sine. Averaging can be applied to the frequency data with linear, exponential, overlap, or peak hold options. Triggering includes free-run, continuous after trigger, single shot by user, auto/manual-arm trigger.

    Front end setup includes the following steps:
    • Type of test (Time Stream, Block, APS, FRF)
    • DSA parameters (Analysis Frequency, Block Size/Line, Window Type, Overlap Ratio, Average Mode, and Average Number)
    • Output Channels (Channel Selection, Type, Amplitude, Frequency)
    • Input Channels (Location ID, Measurement Quantity, Engineering Unit, Sensitivity, Input Mode, High-Pass Filter)
    • Trigger Parameters (Mode, Source, Delay Point, Delay Time, High Threshold, Low Threshold, Condition)

    API Specification
    Spider API Methods
    Connection Methods      Trigger Methods  
    GetDeviceList Get all available Spiders information   SetTriggerParameter Set parameters for trigger
    Connect Connect to device   GetTriggerParameter Get trigger parameters
    Disconnect Disconnect from device   TriggerArm Trigger Arm
    GetLastError Get last error info   TriggerNext Trigger Next
          TriggerAbort Trigger Abort
    Command Methods     TriggerAccept Trigger Accept
    SendCommand Send commands      
          Signal Methods  
    Test Methods     GetSignalStatus Get status parameters of all signals
    CreateTest Create new test   GetSignalData Get signal data
    CreateTriggerTest Create trigger test      
    CreateFRFTest Create FRF test   Record  
    GetTestStauts Get current test status   StartRecord Start recording
    GetChannelTable Get channel table parameters   StopRecord Stop recording
    SetChannelTable Set parameters for channel table   SaveSignal Save a frame of data
    SetDSAParameter Set parameters for DSA   GetFileList Get the list of files
    GetDSAParameter Get DSA Parameters   DownloadFile Download data file
    SetOuputParamter Set parameters for output   RemoveLastFile Delete the last data file
    GetOutputParameter Get output parameters   RemoveAll Delete all data files on hardware
    GetChannelStatus Get channel status      
    GetTestStatus Get test status   Simulation Mode  
    GetSpiderTime Get hardware system time   SetSimulationMode Enter simulation mode without Spider
    SetSpiderTime Set hardware system time   GetSimulationMode Get simulation mode status
    GetSpiderConfig Get hardware parameter (IP address)      
    SetSpiderConfig Set hardware parameter (IP address)      
    CheckLicenseKey Check the status of license key file      
    LoadLKFile Load license key file      

    Callback and Events
    event DeviceDSPMessageHandler DeviceDSPMessageReceived;
    // Called after DSP instruction message received
    event DeviceNotifyMessageHandler DeviceNotifyMessageReceived;
    // Called after device status received
    event TestRunStatHandle TestRunStatChanged;
    // Called after status changed
    event DeviceDataIsReadyHandler DeviceDataIsReady;
    // Called after data collected
    event DeviceConnectedHandler DeviceConnected;
    // Called after connected
    event DeviceDisconnectedHandler DeviceDisconnected;
    // Called after disconnected
    event DeviceReadyHandler DeviceReady;
    // Called after test created
    event DeviceStoppedHandler DeviceStopped;
    // Called after device stopped
    event TriggerArmedHandler TestTriggerArmedChanged;
    // Called after trigger armed
    event TriggerDisarmedHandler TestTriggerDisarmedChanged;
    // Called after trigger disarmed
    event TriggerFiredHandler TestTriggerFiredChanged;
    // Called after trigger fired
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