Atec Dash 18X, Dash 18 Quick Start Manual

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Dash 18X / Dash 18

Data Acquisition Recorder

QUICK START GUIDE

(1) Introduction
(2) Getting Started
(3) Hardware Overview
(4) Menus & Icon Buttons
(5) Using the Dash 18X / Dash 18
(6) Setting Up the Display Appearance
(7) Amplifier Settings
(8) Sample Exercise
(9) Archiving Data Records
(10) Entering Engineering Units
(11) Powering Down

Astro-Med, Incorporated: Test & Measurement Product Group

600 East Greenwich Ave., West Warwick, RI 02893

Toll-Free Phone: [phone] Phone: Fax: [phone]

email: [e-mail]

Part # 22834480 Version 4.1

Advanced Test Equipment Rentals

www.atecorp.com 800-404-ATEC (2832)

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1. INTRODUCTION

Thank you for choosing an Astro-Med data acquisition recorder. This Quick Start Guide was prepared to let you get
acquainted with your recorder as quickly as possible. We even include a sample exerci se so you can become familiar with
the basic operation.

This Quick Start Guide supports two models: The Dash 18X and the Dash 18.
Throughout this guide, both models will be referred to as Dash 18X / Dash 18.

The Dash 18X / Dash 18 is a powerful and versatile data acquisition recording system that provides the capability to
display, record, and review waveform data. Universal inputs let you connect almost any signal without using external
signal conditioning. The Dash 18X / Dash 18 can record a wide range of voltages, temperature, DC Bridge and frequency
inputs. Each channel can be independently set up.

Data samples from up to eighteen signals can be acquired at rates up to 100,000 samples per second per channel and
streamed directly to a high-capacity hard drive. Each channel can be independently set up to trigger a capture.

The Dash 18X / Dash 18 utilizes a touch-screen as the main user interface. Many of the Dash 18X / Dash 18 control
buttons are customizable, providing the capability to modify the display based on the needs of the user or application.

2. GETTING STARTED

Voltage Verification: The Dash 18X / Dash 18 has an auto-sensing power supply that operates from 102 - 264 VAC.
The Dash 18X / Dash 18 draws 300 Watts maximum.

Connect AC Power Cord: Connect AC power cord to the side panel, then to an outlet.
Turn On Dash 18X / Dash 18: When you turn on the Dash 18X / Dash 18, the display will show various initialization

screens and then load in the last setup it had before it was powered down.
Signal Inputs: The Dash 18X / Dash 18 can record up to eighteen channels of analog signals. Each channel can be

configured to record a variety of voltages, temperature, DC Bridge and frequency inputs.
Display: The Dash 18X / Dash 18 has a large touchscreen display. The display is divided into two main areas, the

Waveform Display Area (shows the waveform signals typically drawn onto a grid pattern) and the Control Panel (rows of
control buttons for operation).

3. HARDWARE OVERVIEW

The following is a summary of the location of the physical components of the Dash 18X / Dash 18.
Front View: Touch Screen, Carry Handle
Bottom View: Module Docking Connector (SCR-18 printer or PIM-18 power module)

Right Side View: Signal Inputs (banana jack inputs, differential inputs), Computer connections (parallel port,

USB port, Ethernet port, Mouse port, Keyboard port, Modem slot)

Left Side View: Power indicator light, Power switch, Power inlet, Utility port, Event port,

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Drive (Dash 18 only)

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4. MENUS & ICON BUTTONS

Dash 18X / Dash 18 screen highlighting the Menu Bar and Control Panel

MENU BAR

File The File menu is used to save and load your setup files.
Configuration The Configuration menu is used to select the operation of the Dash 18X / Dash 18.
View The View menu is used to supplement the graph display of your signals.
Setup The Setup menu is used to configure the Dash 18X / Dash 18.
Cursors The Cursors menu is used for time and amplitude measurements.
Capture The Capture menu is used to setup, arm, manual trigger, and abort data captures.
Service The Service menu is for less frequently used parameters such as calibration and security settings.
Chart The Chart menu provides for operation of the optional SCR-18 thermal recorder.
Help The Help menu provides for on-line assistance.

CONTROL PANEL

The menu bar is a group of drop-down menus located across the top of the display.
All Dash 18X / Dash 18 modes and features can be accessed from this menu. Options
available from the menu bar will vary based on the mode of operation (Realtime, Scope, or
Review) used.

If the date and time are visible instead of the menu bar, choose the M button in the upper right
hand corner, which toggles the display of date/time and menu bar.

The control panel is an array of icon-based buttons located on the right hand side of the
display. The icon buttons allow for a single touch to execute a function. The Dash 18X / Dash
18 ships with the control panel displaying icon buttons for speed control, analog set up, meter
mode, and run/halt.

The control panel can be customized to add or remove icon buttons to suit your recording
needs. Further, the control panel settings can be saved to a file for later recall making test
preparation very easy.

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Commonly Used Icon Buttons

The following buttons are commonly used in Dash 18X / Dash 18 windows:

OK saves the information you entered in a window and then closes the window.

Exit cancels the action you were performing in a window and

closes the window without saving any changes.

Apply saves the information you modified in a window without closing the window.

Select All selects/highlights all items in a list box.

Clear Selection removes the selections/highlights from all items in a list box.

Copy copies the selected items (or characteristics of selected items) to the clipboard.

Paste pastes the clipboard contents to the selected location.

Save saves current configurations to a file on your disk.

Load loads configurations from a file on your disk.

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5. USING THE DASH 18X / DASH 18

The Dash 18X / Dash 18 has three modes of operation, Realtime, Scope, and Review modes.
Realtime Mode: Realtime mode provides real-time waveform scrolling, monitoring, and data capture capabilities.

Additionally, almost all system setup options are accessible from Realtime mode.

Scope Mode: Scope mode acts like a digital storage oscilloscope, providing high time-base resolution for viewing
high-frequency signals.

Review Mode: Review mode provides the capability to review and analyze saved data captures and scope captures.

Help: Within the Dash 18X / Dash 18, three forms of help are available:

Context Help

Button Help

The context help feature provides context sensitive, on-screen
help.

The button help feature provides on-screen help for the buttons.
A brief description is of the selected button is provided.

Online Manual

The Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the
manual is available for on-screen viewing. You can access this
by clicking on Help and then On-Line Help from the Realtime,
Scope, or Review configuration screens.

6. SETTING UP THE DISPLAY APPEARANCE

The Dash 18X / Dash 18 gives you total control over chart layout. You can set individual channel widths, channel location,
grids ON/OFF, and major/minor division sizing. You are also able to suppress or enable waveform display as well as vary
the waveform trace thickness. Further, you can overlap some or all of the channels.

Basic Channel Views: The Dash 18X / Dash 18 provides basic channel views that you can access from the menu bar.
These views allow you to choose a fixed number of channels to display. In Realtime mode, choices are Basic 6, 12, or 18
channels. In Scope or Review mode, choose from 1, 2, 6, 12, or 18 channels.

Custom Channel Views: If you don’t find a view from the Basic Channel Views described above, you can use the Chart /
Display wizard. The wizard allows you to pick the number of channels to display. You can further customize your chart
by overlapping or resizing the channels. You can also add, remove, or replace channels.

7. AMPLIFIER SETTINGS

Each channel has unique amplifier settings. You can choose what type of signal the channel will measure (voltage,
temperature, etc.) It addition to setting the span for the channel, you can also adjust the zero volt position. For
convenience, amplifier settings can be copied to other channels. Further, user scaling is supported so that your channels
can report their values to you in Engineering Units.

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