550 Universal Interface

Why the excitement? Well, the 550 Universal Interface is fast, powerful and versatile!

For existing ScienceWorkshop 500 and 750 customers, the 550 offers an affordable pathway from our legacy software, DataStudio, forward to our feature-rich Capstone software, while using the ScienceWorkshop Sensors already in your labs and classrooms. And the 550 Universal Interface features two PASport inputs, allowing you to expand into our PASport line of more than 70 sensors.

But there’s so much more to the story – we took many of the great features of our 850 Universal Interface and put them into a smaller, yet still robust, little box! The 550’s two digital inputs are compatible with all ScienceWorkshop digital sensors, and with timing devices and photogates. It also includes two Analog ports, which offer 2MHz max sampling and 1.22 mV resolution with an analog voltage sensor, something our competitors just can’t match.

That’s not all, though, teachers will applaud the 550’s built-in signal generator. Need to power a motor, a speaker, or perhaps a circuit? We’ve got you covered, no need for an external power supply. Use your new 550 with PASCO Capstone software, and you can control DC and various AC waveforms, without needing to add extra devices to your experiment, or to your budget. The 550 provides 8V @ 400mA, with a selectable voltage limit, and DC offset. Using Capstone software also turns your 550 into a live oscilloscope displaying multiple simultaneous traces, such as the 550’s built-in signal generator voltage and current measurements, as well as signals from the analog ports.

Wireless Connectivity.

There’s still more to the 550 Universal Interface. Beyond having USB 2.0 connectivity, the 550 also features the ability to wirelessly send data from sensors plugged into the 550 directly to a Bluetooth Classic enabled Mac or Windows computer running PASCO Capstone or a computer, iPad or Android tablet running SPARKvue software.

Note: Our new line of wireless sensors connect directly to Bluetooth Smart (also called Bluetooth 4.0, Bluetooth Low Energy or BLE) enabled devices and do not require an interface. These sensors can still be used in conjunction with the 550 with devices that meet the connectivity requirements.

Special Features

With the 550 your physics lab is equipped with high speed data collection, signal generation and power supply, oscilloscope and FFT displays, timers and more.

• 2 MHz max sampling rate
• 2 high-speed analog inputs
• 2 digital inputs for photogates and other timing sensors
• 2 PASPORT sensor inputs
• Signal generator with built-in Voltage and Current sensors
• Connect to computers via USB
• Wireless connectivity via Bluetooth Classic