User’s Guide MESURgauge Software U se r’s Guide
MESURgauge Software Thank you… Thank you for purchasing MESURgauge software, a data collection and analysis program developed to: Measure Collect data from digital force gauges, torque gauges, test stands, travel displays, and other devices. Graph View a real time graph of load vs. time or travel. Analyze View an analysis graph, calculate statistics, and zoom to selected locations on the graph. Store Save results to a file, or export directly to Microsoft® ExcelTM.
User’s Guide 1 STARTUP 1.1 Computer Requirements A personal computer running Microsoft® Windows 2000, XP or Vista operating system, with screen resolution of 1024 x 768 minimum, is required to run MESURgauge software. An RS-232C serial port (“COM” Port) is required to communicate with a gauge. A second COM port is needed to communicate with a digital travel display. A CD-ROM drive is needed for software installation. 1.
MESURgauge Software screen. MESURgauge User’s Guide – Click to open the user’s guide PDF document. (Note: Adobe Reader is required and is downloadable at www.adobe.com). Mark-10 Website – Click this to link to the Mark-10 website. (Note: An internet connection and a browser is required). (About) Click the MESURgauge logo to display general software information.
User’s Guide 2 PORT CONFIGURATION TAB Use this screen to configure the computer’s COM port settings to which the instruments are connected. The default settings are the same as the factory default settings for Mark-10 gauges. The setting most likely to be changed is the particular COM port to which the instrument is connected. MESURgauge can be configured to accept a single string of data (load), two strings of data (load and travel) on separate COM ports, or two strings of data on the same COM port. 2.
MESURgauge Software Data Bits Select the number of data bits for the serial port, then click the APPLY button below. The default setting is 8 data bits. Parity Select the parity setting of the serial port. The default setting is “None” (no parity). Stop Bits Select the number of stop bits for the serial port. The default setting is 1 stop bit. APPLY Click this button to apply changes to the above settings. 2.
User’s Guide this text box. This is helpful in identifying the particular gauge being used. This name is automatically entered in the file dialog box which opens when the SAVE configuration button is clicked. Any name may be used. For further information on saving, see the SAVE button description in Section 2.6. 2.4 Simulated Gauge Check this box to simulate data being received from an instrument. No serial connection is needed to a gauge.
MESURgauge Software SAVE AS DEFAULT Clicking this button saves the current settings to the default configuration file “Default.cfg”. (No file dialog box opens.) RECALL Click this button to open a dialog box in which to browse for previously saved configuration files. Parameter fields will be populated based on the information in the configuration file. 3 TEST SETUP TAB Use this tab to configure various parameters for the test.
User’s Guide Load Set a load threshold to begin the test (The load units are as specified in the Select Units drop-down list box in the upper right area of this tab). Travel Set a travel threshold to begin the test. The second COM port must be enabled for this selection to be made (the travel units are as specified with the Inches / Millimeter option buttons in the right-center area of this tab). 3.2 Stop Condition Select an option button for time, load, the number of readings, or travel to stop the test.
MESURgauge Software Falling Edge 1 Stop threshold is lower than start threshold (decreasing load). Falling Edge 2 Stop threshold is higher than Start threshold, but the load is decreasing. Break Detect Stop the test when the load decreases to a specified percentage of the maximum (peak) reading during the test. 3.4 Reading Mode Single Readings When this option is selected, single readings are taken from the gauge each time READ is clicked, or the DATA button on the gauge is pressed.
User’s Guide 3.6 Test Units Note: Reading and setting units is possible with Mark-10 gauges only. Select Units The gauge’s unit of measurement can be set by clicking on the appropriate selection from the drop-down menu. SET Sets the gauge to the units of measurement selected. READ Reads the unit of measurement to which the gauge is currently set. Units Read Displays the unit of measurement to which the gauge is currently set. 3.
MESURgauge Software Test Setup (*.tst) files. To browse for a folder, click the folder icon at the right of the text box and navigate to or create the desired folder, then click the "Current Folder" button in the dialog box. 3.10 Shared Buttons SAVE Opens a file dialog box in which to save the current settings to a test setup file (.tst extension). Any file name may be entered and any folder may be selected or created.
User’s Guide 4 ACQUISITION TAB Use this tab to view tabular and graphical data from a gauge as it is being received. When the START button is clicked, data received from the connected gauge(s) will be graphed and tabulated as they are being received. The test ends automatically when the stop condition in the Test Setup tab is met. The test can also be ended at any time by clicking the STOP button. Specific load and time (or travel) data points are displayed in the fields below the table. 4.
MESURgauge Software 4.3 Table Contains the reading number, load reading from the gauge, and relative time stamp (or travel datum) for each data point. Scroll to, or manually enter, the desired reading in the Reading box to display corresponding load and time (or travel) data in the indicators to the right. 4.4 SAVE Click this button to open a file dialog box in which to save the data from the table to a tab-delimited text file. Enter a file name and optionally browse to any desired folder location.
User’s Guide The menu items are provided for quick access and convenience to some common functions. The AutoScale X and Y items are equivalent to the “padlock” icon on the scale palette at the lower right of the graph, described below. 4.
MESURgauge Software Pan This allows the user to reposition the graph. Click on the graph, move the mouse to the desired location, and release the mouse button. 4.10 X- & Y-scale Settings Auto-scale lock When in the locked position, the scale is in auto-scale mode. Auto-scale Click to auto-scale the axis. Scale & grid properties Click to adjust various scale and grid properties. A pop-up context menu provides access to these properties. 4.
User’s Guide Plot settings and graph properties can be configured as desired. 4.12 Graph Colors Background Color Picker Box Select the background color of the graph. Set Sets the graph to the selected background color. Defaults Restores the background, plot, and grid colors to factory defaults.
MESURgauge Software 4.13 Pass/Fail Indicators When the Use Limits check box in the Pass/Fail Limits frame in the Test Setup tab is checked, the Pass/Fail indicators, shown below, become visible. While acquiring data, the load values received are compared to the upper and lower limits set in the Test Setup tab, and the appropriate indicator illuminates. A fail condition is represented by a bright red indicator. A pass condition is represented by a bright green indicator. 4.
User’s Guide form the CLEAR function, as described above. The ZERO and CLEAR buttons in MESURgauge perform the same functions as the ZERO and CLEAR buttons on Mark-10 gauges. 5 ANALYSIS TAB This tab is used to analyze the data obtained during a test. Statistics are calculated and displayed automatically upon completion of the test. The graph cursor tools can be used to zoom to a specific area of the graph. Statistics may then be calculated for that region of the graph.
MESURgauge Software Cursor Movement Tool Clicking this button allows the X-Y cursor to be dragged to the desired position. Pass/Fail Limit Lines Horizontal lines corresponding to the pass/fail limits set are displayed on the graph in red. 5.2 REFRESH GRAPH Redraws the graph based on the data collected during the test. 5.3 Cursor Palette Center Cursor Centers the cursor in the graph area. Cursor Control Click on the quadrants of this icon to move the cursor in the corresponding direction.
User’s Guide Reading Number at Cursor Reading number corresponding to the current position of the cursor. 5.4 Graph Colors The graph color selection functionality is the same as described in the Acquisition tab. 5.5 Statistics This frame displays statistical data for the test. Maximum The maximum load reading measured during the test. Minimum The minimum load reading measured during the test. Average The average (mean) of the readings.
MESURgauge Software data file. The table and graph will be populated with the previously saved data, and the statistics will automatically be calculated. Note: When recalling a test which used the travel port for travel measurement, or single readings, those options must be selected in the Test Setup tab in order for the x-axis label of the graph and the statistics to be displayed correctly. 5.8 SAVE Opens a file dialog box prompting to save the data from the table to a tab-delimited text file.
User’s Guide 6 DIGITAL DISPLAY TAB This tab is provided to display real time load readings (and, if the travel port is enabled, travel readings) in large numerals. If the “Graph and Tabulate Data” check box is checked, the graph and table in the Acquisition tab is populated. See image on the next page. 7 GAUGE SETTINGS TAB This tab provides a convenient utility with which to read and set gauge configuration parameters from a PC. Settings are applicable only for Mark-10 gauges.
MESURgauge Software 7.1 READ Populates the fields above with current settings from a Mark-10 gauge. 7.2 SAVE Saves the current gauge settings to the gauge’s non-volatile memory. These will be the default settings when the gauge powers on. Note: The desired settings must be individually written to the gauge (by clicking the Set button adjacent to the parameter menu) before clicking SAVE. It is recommended to click the READ button to confirm the current settings before clicking SAVE. 7.
User’s Guide 7.5 String Read from Gauge This text box shows the response string, if any, that is received in response to the above command. 7.6 Display Codes Display control character '\' codes (\r = carriage return, \n = line feed, \s = space). Note: This tab and all gauge-related functions cannot be used while MESURgauge is collecting data from an ESM301 test stand. See Section 9 for details on communicating with the ESM301. 8 REPORT TAB Use this tab to set up a report for the test.
MESURgauge Software Select the printer to which the report will print. The Windows default printer is selected initially. 8.2 PRINT Prints the report on the selected printer. 8.3 HTML Report Folder Enter or browse for a folder in which to save the report files. 8.4 SAVE Opens a file dialog box prompting to save the report. Enter a file name and optionally browse to any desired folder location. The default file folder location for report files is set in HTML Report Folder, as described above. 8.
User’s Guide will appear as bold in the report. 8.11 Right Footer Text Enter text to appear in the lower left corner of the report. The text will appear as bold in the report. Use the above text boxes to enter information and comments pertaining to the test. This information can be saved to a file as a template and can be recalled. 8.12 Include Graph Check this check box to include an image of the graph in the report. 8.13 Include Table Check this check box to include the table data in the report. 8.
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User’s Guide 9 COMMUNICATING WITH THE ESM301 TEST STAND MESURgauge can collect data from an ESM301 test stand. The test stand can output either force data only or force data combined with travel data (if the ESM301-001 integrated travel indication option is installed). To communicate with MESURgauge, certain settings in the test stand, force gauge, and software must be changed as follows: 9.1 Force data only 1. Check physical connections (refer to the ESM301 user’s guide). 2.
MESURgauge Software 1. Identify a working com port, and select the appropriate port in Gauge Port Settings. 2. Under Gauge Port Settings, change baud rate to 115,200. 2. Under Reading Request String change String to Write to “n” (lowercase, no quotes). Uncheck the CR box. 3. Check the box labeled Travel Data Combined with Load Data. No changes are needed to the default lines, fields, and delimiter. 4. Click APPLY after making any changes in the Gauge Port Settings area. 3.
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