Beta LaserMike EFL, LS8000, LS9000 Operator's Manual

EFL (EXCESS FIBER LENGTH)
OPERATOR GUIDE
- daily operator and routine maintenance -
Manual Part Number: MAN/EN5103-0076 • English • Revision A • © Copyright Jan 2014
EFL Operator Guide
Contents
Contents ............................................................................................................................... 2
Proprietary Statement .......................................................................................................... 3
European Commission Requirements ................................................................................ 4
Safety Information ................................................................................................................ 5
Intended Use ...................................................................................................................... 5
Laser Classification ............................................................................................................ 6
Laser Safety Precautions .................................................................................................... 7
Labels and Safety Features ................................................................................................ 8
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 9
System Overview ................................................................................................................ 9
Installation .......................................................................................................................... 11
Contents
Positional Mounting .......................................................................................................... 11
Angular Alignment ................................ ................................................................ ............ 12
Positioning the LaserSpeed Gauges on the Buffering Line ............................................... 13
System Diagram ............................................................................................................... 14
System Interconnections ................................................................................................... 15
EFLTrak® Software ............................................................................................................ 19
EFLTrak Setup ................................................................................................................. 27
Data Storage Options ....................................................................................................... 29
Replaying EFL Data.......................................................................................................... 30
Creating a New EFL Setup Recipe ................................................................................... 32
I/O Configuration .............................................................................................................. 33
Display Language ............................................................................................................. 34
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 2 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Note:
For information about servicing and returning your equipment, see the section at the end of this manual.
Proprietary Statement
Manufacturer/Distributor
Beta LaserMike, 8001 Technology Blvd., Dayton, OH 45424, USA
About This Manual
This manual contains descriptions, drawings, and specifications for a Beta LaserMike product. Equipment or products made prior to or subsequent to the publication date of this manual may have parts, features, options, or configurations that are not covered by this manual. Specifications contained herein are subject to change by Beta LaserMike without prior notice. Beta LaserMike is not responsible for errors or omissions that may be contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing or use of this information.
The information contained in this manual is the property of Beta LaserMike. The information disclosed in this document is furnished in confidence and upon the condition that individual and corporate intellectual rights, whether patented or not, will be respected. If this document is supplied on removable media (e.g. CD), an electronic copy (stored on-site) and one printout is permitted. If this document is supplied in printed form, no part of this document may be reproduced or scanned without the prior written consent of Beta LaserMike. This document may not be distributed or circulated to third parties.
Proprietary Statement
Limited Warranty
Beta LaserMike will correct by repair, or at Beta LaserMike‘s option, by replacement, F.O.B Beta LaserMike’s plant,
any defect in workmanship or material in any equipment manufactured by Beta LaserMike which appears under
normal and proper use within twelve months from the date of shipment (eighteen months for OEM’s), provided Beta
LaserMike is given reasonable opportunity to inspect the alleged defective equipment at the place of its use and under conditions of its use.
EXCLUSIONS: This warranty does not cover products which have been modified, altered, or repaired by any other party than Beta LaserMike or its authorized agents. Furthermore, any product which has been, or is suspected of being damaged as a result of negligence, misuse, incorrect handling, servicing, or maintenance; or has been damaged as a result of excessive current/voltage or temperature; or has had its serial number(s), any other markings, or parts thereof altered, defaced, or removed will also be excluded from this warranty.
WARRANTY SERVICE AT CUSTOMER SITE: Warranty service performed at the customer’s facility will be free of
charge for parts and labor; however, the customer will be liable for transportation and living expenses of personnel dispatched to effect such repair. A purchase order or other written confirmation of the acceptance of these charges, signed by an authorized individual, will be required prior to commencement of repairs. Additional charges may be assessed the customer if: 1) The equipment is not made available on a timely basis, 2) The equipment is found to be without fault, and/or 3) It is determined the equipment is not under warranty, whether by expiration of the warranty or any act which voids the warranty.
OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH HEREIN, BETA LASERMIKE MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY AS TO THE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURED BY IT, AND THERE ARE NO EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE DESCRIPTION ON THE FACE THEREOF. Beta LaserMike’s obligation to correct defects in such equipment by repair or replacement in accordance with the foregoing provisions is in lieu of any other warranties, expressed or implied, and in no event shall Beta LaserMike be liable for incidental or consequential damages. No service of Beta LaserMike’s equipment is permitted during the warranty period without the specific written consent of Beta LaserMike.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 3 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
European Commission Requirements
European Commission Requirements
This equipment is intended for use in a heavy industrial environment. The equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to other equipment. There is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to other equipment the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
- Re-orientate or relocate the equipment.
- Increase the separation between the pieces of equipment.
- Connect the pieces of equipment on separate mains circuits.
- Ensure that the relevant items of equipment are properly and securely earthed to a common earth point using adequately sized cable or other means of connection.
Where supplied or specified, shielded interconnection cables must be employed with this equipment to ensure compliance with the pertinent RF limits. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the company could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
This product has been rigorously tested to comply with the European EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Directive. With regard to this, Beta LaserMike recommends that any non-Beta LaserMike peripheral equipment is CE marked for the Heavy Industrial environment (EN50082-2). Beta LaserMike also recommends that any cables not supplied by Beta LaserMike, but used for powering Beta LaserMike equipment, be built using good EMC practices (i.e. cables with braided shield, and connectors with 360 termination of the braid to a metal/metalised shell connector at both ends). If you have any questions regarding this, contact the Beta LaserMike Service Department.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 4 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Safety Information
Under NO circumstances should the earth safety connections
be broken – internal damage to sensitive electronic components may occur and at worst electrocution to personnel may result.
This equipment must be earthed/grounded. Relays and associated wiring are rated for SELV levels i.e. 60
VDC & 30 VAC RMS. These levels must not be exceeded.
Maintenance, repairs and electrical connections should be
performed by a suitably qualified person for the country of installation.
Input power to the equipment is of direct current type
designated by the symbol on equipment housing and shown below.
Safety Information
Reference: IEC 60417-5031
The equipment contains a slow blow type fuse to protect
against input power overloads and is not user replaceable.
Intended Use
If the equipment is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the protection provided by the equipment may be impaired.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 5 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Laser Classification
The Model LS8000/9000 Non-contact Length and Speed Gauge (Model LS8000/9000) is classified as a IIIb laser device. This category contains infrared and visible laser devices with powers up to 500 mW. The optical gauge in the system uses a 50 mW solid-state laser device operating between 760 and 800 nm (near infrared region of the spectrum).
A class IIIb product must have the following safety
features:
A 5-second delay after power-up before laser radiation
is emitted from the gauge.
An indicator light to inform personnel near the gauge
that laser radiation is being emitted.
A mechanical device to physically block the laser beam
from exiting the gauge.
Safety Information
An interlock circuit to shut off the laser when the circuit
is opened.
All hazards must be properly identified with warning labels. These basic safety features are incorporated to promote safe operation of the laser. A class IIIb laser must also have a key switch to power the laser, ensuring that only
trained personnel can operate the instrument. Because the location of the gauge can often make it difficult to access a key switch, the key switch needs to be installed by the final user. It should be placed in a location that will be readily accessible to the operators. For more information on installing the laser key switch, see the Installation section.
The user of a laser device must comply with a different set of regulations. Many countries and individual states have passed legislation regarding the use of laser products.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 6 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Maximum Laser Power
0.050 watt
Laser Wavelength
0.785 micrometer
Minimum Laser Spot Size (Elliptical)
5 x 3 millimeters
Beam Divergence
0.5 milliradians
Pulse Rate
Continuous wave
Maximum radiance (power divided by spot-size area)
0.050 Watt / 0.1 cm2 [0.5 W/cm2]
The following system specifications will help establish appropriate safety measures.
Laser Safety Precautions
The laser beam in the optical gauge is very powerful and can permanently damage eyes not protected by laser safety glasses. To avoid exposing yourself to hazardous radiation, you must take these precautions:
Safety Information
Never look into the laser beam. If you must look at the beam,
view it from an angle and in the direction in which the beam is travelling.
The beams emitted from the Model LS9000 are invisible to the
unaided eye. Return the beam shutter to the closed position when the system is not in use or during setup.
Ensure that all direct reflections are blocked. Remove all rings, watches, or jewellery from your hands when
working on or near the gaugecan cause hazardous reflections.
Never install the instrument at eye level. Operate the system only with people who have been instructed
in laser safety.
Post warning signs and lights that are active when laser is
operating.
If your country or state has no regulations governing the safe use of lasers, Beta LaserMike recommends that you follow the guidelines specified by the American National Standard for the safe use of lasers (ANSI Z136.1–1986). For a copy of this document, write to:
Laser Institute of America 13501 Ingenuity Drive, Suite 128 Orlando, Florida 32826 1-800-345-2737
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 7 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Labels and Safety Features
This section acquaints you with the advisory and identification labels on the instrument and the safety features incorporated into the design of the instrument. The following figures show the advisory and identification labels on the Model LS9000.
LS8000/9000 Labels
Safety Information
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 8 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Introduction
The Excess Fiber Length system uses laser-based non-contact length measurement technology. The system provides an on-line ratio of fiber bundle length to buffer tube length during the fiber buffering manufacturing process. This excess fiber length (EFL) ratio may be used to determine the fiber to buffer length ratio of the finished fiber optic cable.
System Overview
The On-Line Excess Fiber Length (EFL) system utilizes two Beta LaserMike Inc. LaserSpeed Length and Speed Gauges to measure the length of the fiber and the buffer tube. This manual covers only the unique features of the LaserSpeed gauge as used by the Excess Fiber Length system. In addition to these features, the LaserSpeed gauge used in the EFL system has all of the standard features of the LaserSpeed gauge.
Please refer to the appropriate LaserSpeed gauge manual for more information on those features and capabilities.
Introduction
The EFL system measures the length of the fiber and the length of the buffer tube simultaneously and provides a ratio of fiber length to buffer tube length. The EFL system can also measure the length of fiber optic Ribbon and the cable length. This ratio provides an indication of the stability of the fiber buffering process. Depending on the material used in the buffer tube, the ratio measured by the EFL system may also be an indicator of the product’s final EFL ratio.
Figure: LaserSpeed Model LS8000/9000
A LaserSpeed gauge is shown in figure to the left and a typical system configuration is shown in the figures below. The placement location of the LaserSpeed gauges on the process line plays an important role in determining what EFL will be measured. The system measures the EFL between where the fiber is measured and where the buffer is measured. If the buffer continues to cure after the measurement location, the on-line measurement will not correspond to the offline measurement of EFL. The optimum location of the LaserSpeed gauges must be determined.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 9 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Introduction
Typical LaserSpeed gauge Placement Options on Extrusion Line
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 10 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Installation
This section describes mounting and alignment concerns for the EFL system. To obtain accurate results, the LaserSpeed gauges must be orientated properly with respect to the fiber optic cable and buffer tube. The orientation consists of placing the fiber optic cable or buffer tube in the proper position so measurements can be made. Once the fiber optic or buffer tube is properly located in the measuring volume of the laser beam crossing, angular alignment must be optimized to make accurate readings. The location of the cable with respect to the LaserSpeed gauges is illustrated in the figure below.
Installation
Gauge alignment for optical fiber
Positional Mounting
Positional mounting places the fiber optic cable or buffer tube in the area where the laser beams cross. Within this region, the instrument will make measurements. The LaserSpeed gauges have optional guides for both the fiber optic cable and the buffer tube. These guides should provide the proper positional alignment for the fiber or buffer tube. The guides can help to position the fiber and cable in the measurement region of the LaserSpeed gauge. The optical fiber should be positioned in the center of the laser beam as shown in the figure above. The Laser beam should hit the center of the buffer tube or cable +/- 10% of the cable diameter.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 11 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Types of Gauge Misalignment
Measured Velocity = Actual Velocity x cos(A) x cos(B)
Error Angle
(Degrees)
0
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Cosine
1
0.99999
0.99996
0.99991
0.99985
0.99939
0.99863
0.99756
0.99619
Speed and
Length Error (%)
0
-0.001
-0.004
-0.009
-0.015
-0.061
-0.137
-0.244
-0.381
A
Material Movement
Rotation About Optical Axis
- Causes Measurement Error
B
Material Movement
Not perpendicular to Material Motion
- Causes Measurement Error
C
Not perpendicular to material edges
- No measurement error
Material Movement into/out of page
Angular Alignment
For best results, the LaserSpeed gauges must be properly aligned to the fiber optic cable or buffer tube. Using the guides provided should eliminate any errors. When the fiber optic cable or buffer tube is not properly aligned with the instrument, an error in the absolute measurement can be introduced. This error is referred to as cosine error. Three alignment angles are critical. These are shown in the figure below.
Installation
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 12 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
The rotational angle shown above runs in the same direction as the bottom edge of the LaserSpeed gauge. The gauge must be aligned so the fiber optic cable or buffer tube runs parallel to the gauge.
The tilt angle shown as angle B and C should be as close to 90° as possible. The rotational angle and the tilt angle cause a cosine error as shown in the table above. These two errors are additive and always result in the gauge measuring too short lengths.
Positioning the LaserSpeed Gauges on the Buffering Line
The EFL system provides the length ratio between the fiber optic cable and the buffer tube. Therefore, the EFL system must measure both the fiber optic cable and the buffer tube simultaneously. One LaserSpeed gauge is installed on the fiber optic cable and one gauge is installed on the buffer tube. A typical installation is shown in the figure below.
Installation
Note: The EFL system measures the differential length of the material passing between the two gauges. The measured EFL will vary depending upon where the gauges are positioned on the extrusion line. This variation is dependent upon the location of the fiber-buffer coupling location, the cure profile of the buffer, the buffer material being used, and the buffer tension profile. The online EFL ratio can even go negative under situations where the EFL ratio is low and there is a lot of stretch In the buffer tube. It is up to user of this equipment to find the optimal location to mount the gauges. The on-line EFL measurement must be correlated to the off-line measurement. The correlation parameter is influenced by the positioning of the gauges and the properties of the buffer material.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 13 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
Item
Qty
Part Number
Description
1 1 85357
LS9000-303 (Rev H or higher firmware req’d)
2 1 86790
LS8000-303 (Rev H or higher firmware req’d)
3 1 62834-xxM
xxm DB9M-F cable, Connect RS422 from gauge to terminal strip
4 2 240211-xxM
xxm DB25M-F cable, Connect gauge to power supply terminal strip
5 1 ASY5103-0044
Power Supply Terminal Strip (Fiber gauge)
6 1 85329
Power Supply Terminal Strip (Buffer gauge)
7 2 62834-3M
3m DB9M-F cable, Connection to dual RS422 converter
8/9 2 62834-xxM
xxm DB9M-F cable, Connects fiber and buffer gauges to synchronization terminal strip
10 1 ASY5103-0043
RS422 and synchronization terminal strip
11 1 62809
Dual RS422 to USB-serial converter
12 1
Computer to run EFLTrak software package
13 1 62835
USB Relay IO Module (Optional)
System Diagram
EFL Operator Guide
Installation
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 14 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
System Interconnections
The EFL system components are connected together using a total of 9 cables. These include 2x USB cables connected to the PC, 2x DB25M-F LaserSpeed gauge cables, and 5x DB9M-F cables of various lengths. The system interconnections are diagramed in the following 4 figures.
System Interconnections
Connect the USB-2COM Pro converter and the optional relay IO module after
the EFLTrak software and FTDI drivers have been installed.
Connect the USB-2COM Pro dual serial converter to the synchronization
breakout as shown above using the 3m DB9M-F serial cables provided.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 15 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
System Interconnections
Connect the buffer tube LaserSpeed gauge to the buffer gauge breakout using
one of the DB25M-F cables. Connect the buffer tube LaserSpeed to the synchronization breakout using the DB9M-F serial cable. The DB9M-F cable does not have a predetermined length. The length must be specified at time of purchase according to the expected distance between the buffer tube LaserSpeed and the synchronization breakout which is located near the EFLTrak PC. This cable carries the RS422 signals to the synchronization breakout and synchronization signals from the synchronization breakout to the buffer tube LaserSpeed gauge.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 16 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
System Interconnections
Connect the fiber LaserSpeed gauge to the fiber gauge breakout using one of
the DB25M-F cables. Connect the fiber LaserSpeed to the fiber gauge breakout using the DB9M-F serial cable. The length of the DB9M-F serial cable connected to the fiber gauge breakout should match the length of the DB25M-F gauge cable. Connect the fiber gauge breakout to the synchronization breakout using the DB9M-F serial cable. The length of this cable must be specified at the time of purchase to according to the expected distance between the fiber breakout and the synchronization breakout which is located near the EFLTrak PC. This cable carries RS422 and synchronization signals back to the synchronization breakout.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 17 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
System Interconnections
The complete system is shown below.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 18 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
EFLTrak® Software
EFLTrak is a Windows .NET-based software program, which allows you to acquire and display the differential fiber length to buffer length in real-time. The EFLTrak software configures the EFL operating parameters, displays data, and collects data, which can be stored to a computer hard drive. The LaserSpeed gauge is a very versatile tool that is applicable for a wide variety of process measurement schemes. EFLTrak allows you to take full advantage of this versatility in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner.
There are several features available with the EFLTrak software. EFLTrak can mimic a chart recorder output on the screen and presents a length history depiction of the EFL data. EFLTrak can acquire and store EFL data. EFLTrak can display stored EFL data from a previously acquired data file.
EFLTrak Display Screen and Menus
The EFLTrak main display screen is divided into 3 areas: 1) the Focus View, 2) the Run View and 3) the statistics window pane.
EFLTrak® Software
There are two graphs displayed at one time when running the EFLTrak software, the Focus View graph and the Run View graph. Both graphs act like chart recorders and display Excess Fiber Length Ratio information relative to the length of buffer tube. The latest EFL measurements are also displayed in the statistics pane. The Focus View is used to display realtime excess fiber length measurements usually over a short length of cable. The Focus View also displays the Speed and Quality Factor of the fiber and
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 19 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
the buffer tube. The Run View graph displays the EFL ratio data over the full length of the production run. Both graphs are updated at a fixed rate of 1 measurement per every 2.5m or 2.5ft of buffer tube length produced. As the production line runs faster, the update rate of the graphs will increase.
At the bottom of the main display screen, there is a status bar that includes the status message area on the left, the EFL data file path/name in the center, and the recipe selector at the right.
Located towards the top left corner of the main display screen is the EFLTrak Tool Bar (shown below). The tool bar displays icons that provide short cuts to certain actions such as acquiring data. When hovering over each of the buttons with the mouse, a tooltip is displayed in the current language selected describing the function of the button.
EFLTrak® Software
Reset Length
The Reset Length button resets the length measured in both the fiber and buffer LaserSpeed gauges. If the reset length button is pressed while EFLTrak is in record mode, the Focus and Run View strip charts are both automatically cleared and start new.
Record EFL
The Record EFL button starts EFLTrak calculating and recording EFL measurements.
When in the record mode, the record button is replaced by the “Stop Recording”
button.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 20 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Configuration
The Configuration button exposes a drop down menu of the available setup categories. For more detail, follow the references below to subsequent sections in this manual.
EFLTrak® Software
EFL Setup brings up a dialog screen for the EFL system setup.
Data Storage Options brings up a dialog screen for managing the EFL data
logging.
Re-Play EFL Data loads a previously recorded EFL data log into the main
screen strip charts for review.
Save Recipe allows the user to define a new Recipe of the all current system
setups including the EFL Setup, Data Storage Options, and IO Configuration.
IO Configuration brings up a dialog for managing and testing the optional USB
I/O module for EFLTrak.
Language is a drop down menu that allows for the selection of the current
EFLTrak display language.
Save EFL Data
The Save EFL Data button immediately saves the recorded EFL data to the file defined in the Data Storage Options dialog. If EFLTrak is in the record mode when this button is pressed, a snapshot of the recorded data is cached in memory and then written to disk without interrupting the EFL recording in progress. The EFL data file run number is automatically incremented after the data is saved (see Data Storage Options for more details on EFL data file management).
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 21 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Print
The Print button brings up the standard Windows print dialog where the operator can select the printer to send the printed report output to.
EFLTrak® Software
EFLTrak supports printed output in both Landscape and Portrait orientations. For best quality print results, maximize the EFLTrak main display window before printing. The printed report layouts for both landscape and portrait outputs are shown below.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 22 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
EFLTrak® Software
Landscape Report Layout
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 23 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
EFLTrak® Software
Portrait Report Layout
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 24 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Page Setup
The Page Setup button brings up the standard Windows page setup dialog where the operator can select the options for formatting the printed report output. The page setup allows for choice of paper size, print orientation, and margin size. The page setup parameters are stored as part of the application settings each time the EFLTrak application is closed. The page setup is automatically recalled when EFLTrak starts up.
EFLTrak® Software
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 25 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Print Preview
The Print Preview button brings up the standard Windows print preview dialog.
EFLTrak® Software
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 26 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
EFLTrak Setup
The EFLTrak Setup dialog functions as the primary setup screen for the EFL measurement system.
EFLTrak® Software
The QF scaling (0-15) setup can be used to change the default scaling of the LaserSpeed Quality Factor (QF) value. By default, the scaling is set for values of 0­100% where 0 represents a poor quality factor where the gauge is able to make measurements and 100% where 100% represents a good quality factor. Checking this box changes the quality factor scaling from 0-100% to a range of 0-15. This range represents the native scaling generated by the LaserSpeed gauge. To change the scaling value, the EFL setup dialog must be unlocked.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 27 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
The Gauge Setup group box is used to select the gauge measuring the fiber length and the gauge measuring the buffer length. The gauges are selected by either the serial COM port they are connected to or by their IP address is they are connected to the EFLTrak PC via Ethernet. EFLTrak automatically initiates a search for the available gauges on startup and the status of the search is in the status bar at the bottom of the group box. The gauge model and serial number are displayed to the right of the gauge selectors. It is important that the correct gauge is selected for each. The EFL calculations will not be accurate if the fiber and buffer gauges assignments are reversed. The gauge selectors are disabled by default from being modified. The magnifier button at the upper right corner of the gauge setup group box will manually initiate a search of the available gauges. EFLTrak will automatically restore the gauge selections to their previously saved selections if both gauges are found. If the selections need to be changed, the EFL Setup dialog must first be unlocked.
The EFL Averaging Lengths group box is used to select the two lengths that the EFL ratio will be calculated and displayed. The short EFL average is used to see changes in the EFL that have short term affects. An example of this would be gel shifts. If the gel has air pockets, the EFL ratio will vary widely over a short period while the long term EFL ratio will not be affected. The long EFL average is used to show trends over the entire manufacturing process.
EFLTrak® Software
The XY Axes Plot Spans group box is used to define the scaling for the X and Y axes of both the Focus View and Run View plots. The EFL Y-Span setting is a common setting for both plots. The Focus View velocity plot Y axis span can be setup to auto­scale to the data received or it can be fixed to provide a consistent view of the velocity data. To change the Y- axis velocity plot scaling, the EFL setup dialog must be unlocked.
The Tolerances group box is used to set the nominal EFL value, the warning tolerance offset and reject tolerance offset. The Y-axis centerline of the EFL plots will be set to the nominal EFL value. EFL tolerance checking can be performed on the short EFL average or the long EFL average. Place a check in the box next to the tolerance offset values to be activated. When long EFL tolerances are selected, EFLTrak will also calculate the process Cp and Cpk control statistics. Yellow and red colored tolerance bands are added to the EFL plots corresponding to the configured EFL nominal and selected tolerance offsets. The tolerance values are used to control the output of the optional USB relay I/O module. The tolerance status is also updated and logged to the EFL data file for each measurement. To modify the settings in the tolerance group box, the EFL setup dialog must first be unlocked.
The buffer shrinkage setup can be used to compensate for online stretching and/or offline shrinkage of the buffer tube. This compensation value can be used to make the online EFL measurement match the offline EFL measurement. Only positive shrinkage factors can be applied. To change the shrinkage value, the EFL setup dialog must be unlocked.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 28 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
All EFL Setup parameters are saved as a part of the current setup recipe. See the section on Creating a New EFL Setup Recipe for more information.
Shortcut: To quickly access the EFL Setup screen, double-click on the X-axis of either the Focus View or Run View plots.
Data Storage Options
The Data Storage Options dialog is used to manage the data storage functions of the EFLTrak software. With the Auto-Save Data on Stop option checked, the software will automatically save the EFL data when the EFLTrak software is stopped. This is useful if it is necessary to go back and look at data from previous production runs and eliminates the need for the operator to remember to save production EFL data.
When checked, the Start new Run on Buffer Length Reset option will configure the EFLTrak software to automatically start a new data file any time the buffer gauge length is reset either by an external gauge length reset or from the EFLTrak reset length button. See the LaserSpeed Instruction Handbook for more information on wiring and configuring the LaserSpeed gauge for an external length reset.
EFLTrak® Software
The Minimum Length for Valid Run setup configures the minimum cable length that must be produced to indicate a valid product run. A setting of zero disables this feature. If EFLTrak is stopped or if the buffer gauge length is reset (with the Start new Run on Buffer Length Reset option enabled) prior to the cable length produced reaching the minimum length specified by this setting, the EFL data will not be stored by EFLTrak and the run will be restarted.
All valid EFL data will be stored to a file made up from the specified File Path(s), Family Name, and Run Number. Up to 3 separate file paths can be specified including paths to network hard drives, USB flash drives, and internal/external hard drives attached to the EFLTrak PC. File paths can be added by clicking on the folder button and browsing to the desired save folder. Destination file paths for saving EFL data can be individually enabled and/or disabled by checking or unchecking the box next to the file path. The active data files are listed in the Data File(s) list under the run number setup. The run number is automatically incremented each time an EFL data file is saved. This will prevent EFLTrak from overwriting previously stored data and requires no operator intervention to administer.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 29 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
EFLTrak® Software
The Data File Header is a multi-line editable text area that allows the operator to enter any notes required. The text area is pre-pended as a header on the EFL data file(s).
All Data Storage Options are saved as a part of the current setup recipe. See the section on Creating a New EFL Setup Recipe for more information.
Shortcut: To quickly access the Data Storage Options screen, click on the Data File text box at bottom-center of the main EFLTrak display screen.
Replaying EFL Data
By default, files with the .EFL extension are associated to EFLTrak during the installation of EFLTrak. Double-clicking on an EFL data file will automatically start EFLTrak and the data will be “replayed” in the strip chart graphs.
Stored EFL data can also be recalled from the configuration menu using the Re-Play EFL Data button. The user is prompted to browse to the EFL data file of choice and the data is reloaded into the strip chart plots when the file selection is made. The light blue, focus view cursor displayed in the run view plot can be selected and dragged to any location in the run data. The data highlighted by the cursor is displayed in the focus view plot with a vertical cursor showing the points of measurement under inspection. To restore the focus view cursor to the end of the run data, double-click on the cursor.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 30 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
EFLTrak® Software
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 31 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Creating a New EFL Setup Recipe
To create a new setup recipe for the EFL system, click on the Save Recipe button under the toolbar Configuration menu. The operator is prompted to provide a recipe name when the button is clicked. The current system settings are immediately saved to the newly created recipe and the new recipe becomes the current recipe as shown in the bottom right-hand corner of the main EFLTrak display.
There are two special recipe names: “Default” and “NoName”. The default recipe is
not changeable and represents the default system values for EFLTrak. Selecting the default recipe will immediately revert all the EFL system settings to their factory default. If a setting change is made while the default recipe is selected, the changes are stored to the NoName recipe. If it is desired to create a new recipe based on changes from the factory default settings (or existing recipe), 1- select the factory default recipe (or existing recipe to be cloned), 2- create the new recipe 3- make necessary modifications to the new, current recipe.
EFLTrak® Software
Use the recipe selector (shown above), found at the bottom right corner of the main display, to quickly switch between previously stored setup recipes. The recipe selector is disabled while EFLTrak is actively recording EFL measurement data. Stop recording to re-enable the recipe selector.
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 32 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
I/O Configuration
The I/O Configuration dialog is used to setup and test the optional USB relay I/O module. The relay module has four Form-C relays that offer a normally open and a normally closed connection. The relay outputs can be tested using the toggle button. The toggle button will toggle the state of the N.O. and N.C. outputs. There are four LEDs on the I/O module itself to show the current state of the relays. When the output LED is lit for a given relay, the N.O. relay will be closed and the N.C. will be open. Each relay output can be assigned to one or more tolerance conditions using the check box selectors.
EFLTrak® Software
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 33 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
EFL Operator Guide
Display Language
The display Language can be selected from a list including English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. Currently only English, German and Chinese have been implemented. The language changes are immediate (no need to restart the application) however status messages are only updated when the status message is changed or refreshed. The currently selected language is indicated by the flag shown in the Configuration drop-down menu (in the picture below English is selected).
EFLTrak® Software
Part No. MAN/EN5103-0076 Page 34 of 34 Revision A (Jan 2014)
Loading...