Nicolet 1270 IDACS Digital Data Acquisition System w/ Interface Cards

Nicolet 1270 IDACS Digital Data Acquisition System w/ Interface Cards

The Nicolet 1270 IDACS (Integrated Data Acquisition and Control System) is a standalone rackmount data acquisition and signal processing instrument developed by Nicolet Analytical Instruments. It combines a front-panel operator interface — with dedicated controls for data acquisition triggering, display manipulation, memory management, and data reduction — with an internal card cage housing a complete set of functional modules. The system is designed to acquire, store, process, and output transient and continuous analog signals, interfacing with a wide range of peripheral devices.

Specifications & What's Included

• Make: Nicolet Analytical Instruments
• Model: 1270 IDACS
• Form Factor: Rackmount enclosure
• Power Requirements: 115 VAC or 230 VAC, 47–440 Hz (switchable); Processor Power, Accessory Power, and Switched Accessory Power outlets on rear Power Module
• DC Power Out: +5V, +15V, -15V, GND (rear DC output connector)
• Internal Interface Cards (10 boards included):
• 000-8158-02 – Rear Panel Interface (dated 12/30/81)
• 000-8269-01 – Multi-Input 20 MHz ADC
• 000-8124-02 – Measure Control
• 000-8226-01 – Transient Recorder
• 000-8095-03 – System I/O (Model 1280)
• 000-7859-04 – Big RAM (Model 1280)
• 000-7851-05 – Model 1280 Processor
• 000-8101-00 – 32K ROM Single Supply
• 000-7955-06 – Model 1280 Raster Scan Display
• 000-8093-02 – 1270 Front Panel Interface
• Front Panel I/O Selections: Mag Tape, RS-232, Dig Plot, Raster Copy, Floppy Disk, IEEE-488, Pen Cal, X-Y Pen, Select Menu
• Front Panel Controls: Display Control (cursor, position, roll, zoom, fast, reset), Memory (Active A / Passive B, Store, Exit, Enter, Learn Sequence), Data Reduction (Smooth, Baseline Correct, Integrate, Log, Antilog, Invert, Peak Find, Execute Sequence, Power Spectrum, Memory A+B→A, A-B→A, A×B→A, A÷B→A, Move A↔B, d/dt, Select Menu)
• Rear I/O Peripheral Module: RS-232C Channel A, RS-232C Channel B, Modem (with Term termination switch), Digital Plotter, Line Printer, Paper Tape Reader, Paper Tape Punch
• Biomation Interface: Ribbon connector for Biomation transient recorder integration
• 1270 Interface Module (rear BNC array): OP1, OP2, OP3, OP4, ADC A, ADC B, ADC C, ADC D, MCS, Trigger, Sweep Out, Pen X, Pen Y, Pen Down, To Raster, Control (D-sub)
• Auxiliary Serial Tag visible on 1270 Interface Module

Applications

The Nicolet 1270 IDACS was used in scientific research and industrial test environments requiring high-speed transient signal capture and multi-channel analog data acquisition. It was commonly paired with Nicolet 1280 series oscilloscopes and Biomation transient recorders, serving as the central processing and operator-control hub for those instruments. Typical applications included waveform averaging, signal-to-noise improvement through repeated acquisition, electrochemical analysis, vibration and shock measurement, biomedical signal processing, and materials characterization — anywhere repetitive or one-shot transient events needed to be captured, averaged, and reduced to usable data. The system dates from the early 1980s, an era when dedicated standalone data acquisition instruments like this filled the role that PC-based DAQ cards and software would later take over. The IEEE-488 (GPIB) interface allowed integration with other bench instruments of the period, and the RS-232 outputs supported hardcopy peripherals including digital plotters, printers, and paper tape punches common in lab environments of that time.