Continually retrieve a single datapoint from any VISA device such as an oscilloscope or benchtop multimeter.

scope_get_data.py

import visa
import sys
import pandas as pd
import numpy as np
import datetime
import time
import argparse

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Continuously retrieve data from scope as quickly as possible')
parser.add_argument('command', type=str, help='The command to execute.  EG: MEAS:PWIDTH? CHANNEL3')
parser.add_argument('--numruns', type=int, default=100, help='number of requests to make')
parser.add_argument('--string', action='store_true', default=False, help='Return data as string instead of float')
args = parser.parse_args()

rm = visa.ResourceManager()
devices = rm.list_resources()
scopename = ""
for dev in devices:
    if dev.startswith("USB0"):
        scopename = dev
if scopename == "":
    print("Couldn't find scope")
    sys.exit(1)
print("Using device "+scopename)
scope = rm.get_instrument(scopename)
datapts = []
idxs = []
start = time.time()
try:
    for i in range(0,args.numruns):
        datapts.append(scope.ask(args.command))
        idxs.append(time.time() - start)
        print("%d / %d" % (i, args.numruns))
except Exception as e:
    print(sys.exc_info()[0])
data = pd.Series(data=datapts, index=idxs)
filename = datetime.datetime.now().strftime("scope_data_%m%d%y_%H%M%S.csv")
if args.string:
    data.to_csv(filename)
else:
    data.astype(np.float64).to_csv(filename)