Checkline MESURgauge User Manual
User’s Guide
MESURgauge Software
User’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
recall previously saved test data, test setups and gauge configurations.
MESURgauge expands the functionality of a Mark-10 testing system,
typically comprising a test stand, force gauge, grips, and accessories.
For details on communicating with an ESM301 motorized test stand,
please refer to page 28.
This User’s Guide provides detailed operating instructions. For additional information or answers to your questions, please do not hesitate
to contact us. Our technical support and engineering teams are eager
to assist you.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
STARTUP ................................................................................... 2
PORT CONFIGURATION TAB .................................................. 4
TEST SETUP TAB ..................................................................... 7
ACQUISITION TAB .................................................................. 11
ANALYSIS TAB........................................................................ 17
DIGITAL DISPLAY TAB........................................................... 20
GAUGE SETTINGS TAB ......................................................... 21
REPORT TAB........................................................................... 23
COMMUNICATING WITH THE ESM301 TEST STAND.......... 28
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User’s Guide
1 STARTUP
1.1 Computer Requirements
A personal computer running Microsoft
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.
1.2 Installation Instructions
Insert the MESURgauge installation CD into the computer’s CDROM drive. If AutoRun is enabled on the computer, the setup program will run automatically. If not, the setup program may be run
manually. Click the START button on the Windows task bar, select
“Run…”, type “D:Setup” in the dialog box and press ENTER.
Alternately, using My Computer or Windows Explorer, navigate to
the CD-ROM drive and double-click the file “Setup.exe”.
Follow the prompts on the screen to install MESURgauge.
1.3 Running MESURgauge Software
When the installation is complete, run MESURgauge by clicking the
Windows START button, locating “MESURgauge by Mark-10” under “Programs”, and then clicking “MESURgauge”.
1.4 MENU ITEMS (available in all tabs)
File
Factory Defaults – Click to restore the factory default set-
tings.
Close – Click to exit MESURgauge.
Help
Show Tip Strips – Check this box to show “tip strips” (also
known as “tool tips”). These are text boxes that appear
when the cursor hovers over an object or area of the
®
Windows 2000, XP or
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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
Mark-10 Website – Click this to link to the Mark-10 web-
site. (Note: An internet connection and a browser is required).
(About)
Click the MESURgauge logo to display general software
information.
www.adobe.com
).
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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.
2.1 Gauge Port Settings
COM Port
Select the COM port that the gauge is connected to from
the drop-down list. Clicking REFRESH updates the list with
all installed ports.
Baud Rate
Select the baud rate of the serial port. The default setting is
9600 baud.
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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 set-
ting is “None” (no parity).
Stop Bits
Select the number of stop bits for the serial port. The de-
fault setting is 1 stop bit.
APPLY
Click this button to apply changes to the above settings.
2.2 Reading Request String
String to Write
Enter the command string to request a reading from the
instrument. The default string for Mark-10 gauges is “?
C” (no quotes). Select either or both of the CR and LF
check boxes to append the string as required. CR (default)
or CR-LF may be used for Mark-10 gauges. The default
string can be recalled by right-clicking in the box and selecting "Reinitialize to Default Value".
The ability to specify the request data command adds flexi-
bility in testing. For example, peak or average readings may
be read from the gauge. Additionally, it allows for the compatibility of MESURgauge with gauges not manufactured by
Mark-10.
String Read
This is the raw character string read from the gauge.
Display Codes
Display control character '\' codes (\r = carriage return, \n =
line feed, \s = space).
2.3 Gauge Name
Optionally enter a name to be associated with the gauge settings in
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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. To start collecting data,
click the Acquisition tab and click the START button. Data will
populate the graph and table at the specified rate. This is provided
for demonstration purposes only.
2.5 Travel Port Settings
These settings apply to the second COM port. This COM port is
intended for use with a serial port digital travel display which is attached to a test stand (travel measurement is used for tests such as
spring and tensile testing). The information about the settings in
Section 2.1 (Gauge Port Settings) also applies to this section.
2.6 Travel Data Combined With Load Data
Check this box for MESURgauge to accept two strings of data on
one COM port. Configure the data string as required by selecting
the appropriate line numbers, field numbers, and field delimiter.
2.7 Configuration File Folder
Enter a full path or browse for a folder to use for Gauge Configuration (*.cfg) 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.
2.8 Shared Buttons
SAVE
Click this button to open a file dialog box prompting to save
the current settings to a configuration file (this file has a .cfg
extension). Any file name may be entered and any folder
may be selected or created.
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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. This includes test start and stop conditions, pass/fail limits, selection of
continuous or discrete readings, and data sampling rate.
3.1 Start Condition
Select an option button for time delay, load threshold, or travel to
begin the test.
Time
Set time delay, in seconds, to begin the test.
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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.
Time – Seconds
Set the duration of the test, in seconds.
Load – Threshold
Set the load threshold at which to terminate the test (the
load units are as specified in the Select Units drop-down
list box in the upper right area of this tab). See Stop
Threshold Options below for various load stop threshold
options.
Number of Readings – Readings
Set the number of readings at which to terminate the test.
Travel
Set the travel threshold to end 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).
3.3 Load Stop Condition
Four test stop options based on load threshold are available:
Rising Edge
Stop threshold is higher than the start threshold (increasing
load).
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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. This button appears below the
graph in the Acquisition tab when this option is selected.
Continuous Readings
When selected, readings are taken from the gauge at a rate
set in the Readings per Second field.
Readings per Second
This numeric box sets the number of readings per second
that MESURgauge requests data from the gauge in the
“Continuous Readings” mode. Available range is 0.001 to
50 readings per second.
Note: When using a Mitutoyo brand travel display, it is recommended to limit the readings per second at 4, to prevent
communication errors.
3.5 Invert Load
Check this box to invert the polarity (sign) of the load reading. This
is useful, for example, in tensile strength testing. Tension readings,
which have a negative sign, can be reversed so that the graph
shows increasing values instead of decreasing values.
Note: There is another instance of this check box in the Acquisition
tab. Checking one box automatically checks the other.
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