Custom DAQ Systems
Data Acquisition Systems for Test, Measurement and Control
Sciotex designs, programs and builds custom data acquisition systems for test stands, laboratories and production lines: the sensors and signal conditioning, the hardware, and the software your team relies on every day. Built and supported in the US since 1997.
Last updated: October 2026 · Sciotex Engineering Team
The Short Answer
What Is a Data Acquisition System?
A data acquisition (DAQ) system measures real-world signals such as temperature, pressure, strain, vibration, voltage and current, and turns them into digital data you can display, store, analyze and act on. It combines sensors, signal conditioning, analog-to-digital hardware and software.
A DAQ device is one component. A data acquisition system is the complete, working measurement: the right sensors and conditioning on every channel, hardware matched to your speeds and channel count, and software your engineers or operators can depend on. That complete system is what Sciotex designs and builds.
What You Get
What's in a Sciotex Data Acquisition System
A DAQ card alone is not a data acquisition system. Sciotex delivers the complete, working system.
Want the engineering detail? See how data acquisition works, from sensors to software, and our DAQ requirements checklist.
Compare Your Options
Types of Data Acquisition Systems
DAQ systems differ in how the hardware connects, how fast and how many channels it can measure, and how much of the system comes ready to use.
| Type | How it works | Best for | Sciotex system |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB and benchtop DAQ | A DAQ device beside a PC | Lab tests, small channel counts, changing setups | Multi-experiment R&D DAQ software |
| Ethernet and distributed DAQ | Nodes near the sensors, connected over a network | Machines, lines and labs with spread-out sensors | Electrotechnology laboratory monitor |
| PXI and modular chassis | Plug-in modules on a shared high-speed backplane | Large synchronized test stands with mixed signals | Spectrophotometer production test |
| Real-time and FPGA | Embedded controller with deterministic timing | Closed-loop control, microsecond timing, edge processing | FPGA systems |
| Embedded and standalone | A purpose-built instrument or recorder | Research instruments, field and OEM systems | Mouse conditioning tester |
Off-the-shelf DAQ or a custom DAQ system?
An off-the-shelf DAQ device is the right buy for some jobs. This is how to tell which side of the line your project is on.
| Off-the-shelf DAQ device | Custom DAQ system | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bench measurements by one engineer, frequently changing setups | Production test, operators, many signal types, years of use |
| What you get | Hardware and configurable logging software | Sensors, conditioning, hardware, software, enclosure and integration working as one system |
| Who makes it work | Your team | Sciotex, accountable for the result |
| Integration | Files you export and process | Databases, reports, MES, SCADA and PLC connections |
| Support | Vendor support for the product | Support for the whole system over its life |
It isn’t either/or. Sciotex builds custom DAQ systems around off-the-shelf hardware from NI and other leading vendors, and adds custom electronics only where they are needed.
Choosing the details: high-speed DAQ · signal conditioning · sampling rates · thermocouple inputs · grounding and isolation · DAQ software options
Find Your Application
Data Acquisition Systems by Application
View solution → For plant-level applications, see our guide to industrial process control.
Proof, Not Theory
Data Acquisition Systems Sciotex Has Built
Each system below was engineered around specific signals, speeds and users.
Multi-Experiment R&D DAQ
Runs simultaneous experiments on one PC, each with its own hardware, signals and time base.
View system →
Spectrophotometer Production Test
High-speed digitizers and pulse sources test cable-end reflections in production.
View system →
Ring Laser Gyro Test System
Custom test stations for navigation-grade ring laser gyroscopes.
View system →
Automotive CAN Bus Test
Logs vehicle computer data over CAN and drives test conditions through DAQ outputs.
View system →
Mouse Conditioning Tester
Runs timed stimulation recipes and measures physiological responses of multiple subjects.
View system →
IR Biological Sample Analyzer
Tracks small temperature changes in well plates while controlling gas mixture and pressure.
View system →
Process Control Systems
Monitoring and control software for chemical and industrial processes.
View system →
Gyro Fillstand Control
Controls the filling and preliminary testing of ring laser gyroscopes.
View system →
The Business Case
What a Custom DAQ System Pays Back
The return comes from shorter test cycles, fewer retests and manual entries, and better decisions made on trustworthy data. We help you estimate it during the requirements review.
Working With Sciotex
How a DAQ System Project Works
What to send for a quote
The right system depends less on hardware brand and more on your signals and how the data will be used.
- A list of signals or sensors, with their ranges
- The sample rates and accuracy you need
- Channel count now and in the future
- Where the system will be installed
- Software, reporting and integration needs
Why Sciotex
Why Work With a DAQ Systems Integrator
A hardware vendor sells you a DAQ device. An integrator is accountable for the result: correct measurements, reliable software, and a system that works on your test stand, in your lab or on your plant floor.
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Before You Buy
Data Acquisition Systems FAQ
What is a data acquisition system?
A data acquisition (DAQ) system measures physical signals such as temperature, pressure, strain, vibration, voltage and current, and converts them into digital data for display, storage, analysis and control. It combines sensors, signal conditioning, DAQ hardware and software.
What does a custom data acquisition system cost?
Cost depends on the number and types of channels, the speed and accuracy required, signal conditioning and isolation, the software and user interface, integration with other systems, and validation. We provide a budgetary estimate after a short requirements review.
What do you need from us to quote a DAQ system?
A list of signals or sensors with their ranges, the sample rates and accuracy you need, the channel count, where the system will be installed, and how the data will be used, including any software, reporting or integration needs.
Do you work with NI hardware and LabVIEW?
Yes. Sciotex has built DAQ systems with NI hardware and LabVIEW for decades, and also develops in Python, C# and FPGA. We choose the platform that fits the project.
Can you upgrade or support an existing DAQ system?
Yes. We modernize aging software, replace obsolete hardware, add channels and features, and take over support of systems built by others.
How long does a DAQ system project take?
It depends on scope. Software for existing hardware can take weeks; a complete test stand with custom wiring and enclosures takes longer. We give you a schedule after the requirements review.
Can a DAQ system connect to our PLC, MES or database?
Yes. Our systems commonly send results to databases, MES and SCADA, exchange data with PLCs, and generate reports automatically.
Should we buy an off-the-shelf DAQ device or a custom system?
Off-the-shelf hardware with vendor software suits bench measurements by an engineer. A custom system makes sense for production test, operator use, many signal types, integration or long service life. Many Sciotex systems combine both.
Free Consultation
Discuss Your DAQ Project
Share your signals, channel count, speeds and how the data will be used. We’ll recommend an approach and tell you what it takes to build it.
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