Checkline Series-5 User Manual
Series 5
DIGITAL FORCE GAUGES
User’s Guide
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
Thank you…
Thank you for purchasing a Mark-10 Series 5 digital force gauge,
designed for tension and compression force testing applications from 0.12
lb to 1,000 lb (0.5 N to 5,000 N) full scale. The Series 5 is an essential
component of a force testing system, typically also comprising a test
stand, grips, and data collection software.
With proper usage, we are confident that you will get many years of great
service with this product. Mark-10 force gauges are ruggedly built for
many years of service in laboratory and industrial environments.
This User’s Guide provides setup, safety, and operation instructions.
Dimensions and specifications are also provided. 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.
Before use, each person who is to use the Series 5 force gauge
should be fully trained in appropriate operation and safety
procedures.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW .........................................................2
POWER ...............................................................3
MECHANICAL SETUP .......................................4
HOME SCREEN AND CONTROLS ...................5
OPERATING MODES .........................................7
DIGITAL FILTERS ..............................................9
SET POINTS .....................................................10
DATA MEMORY AND STATISTICS ................11
COMMUNICATIONS ........................................12
CALIBRATION .................................................19
PASSWORDS ...................................................24
OTHER SETTINGS ...........................................25
SPECIFICATIONS ............................................27
1
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
1 OVERVIEW
1.1 List of included items
Part No.
M5-012 –
Qty.
1 12-1049 12-1049 12-1049 12-1049 Carrying Case
1 08-1022 08-1022 08-1022 08-1022 AC adapter body with US, EU, or UK
1 08-1026 08-1026 08-1026 08-1026 Battery (inside the gauge)
1 G1024 G1024 G1031 G1031 Extension rod
1 G1026 G1026 G1033 G1033 Cone
1 G1025 G1025 G1032 G1032 Chisel
1 G1027 G1027 G1034 G1034 V-groove
1 G1029 G1029 G1036 G1036 Flat
1 G1028 G1038 G1035 G1042 Hook
1 - G1039 G1037 G1037 Coupling
1 - - - G1041 Thread adapter
1 - Certificate of calibration
1 09-1165 USB cable
1 - Resource CD (USB driver, user’s
1.2 Safety / Proper Usage
M5-20
M5-50 –
M5-100
M5-200 –
M5-500
M5-1000
Description
prong
guides, MESUR Lite software,
MESURgauge DEMO software, User’s
Guide)
Caution!
Note the force gauge’s capacity before use and ensure that the capacity is not exceeded.
Producing a force greater than 150% of the gauge’s capacity can damage the internal load cell. An
overload can occur whether the gauge is powered on or off.
Typical materials able to be tested include many manufactured items, such as springs, electronic
components, fasteners, caps, films, mechanical assemblies, and many others. Items that should not be
used with the gauge include potentially flammable substances or products, items that can shatter in an
unsafe manner, and any other components that can present an exceedingly hazardous situation when
acted upon by a force.
The following safety checks and procedures should be performed before and during operation:
1. Never operate the gauge if there is any visible damage to the AC adapter or the gauge itself.
2. Ensure that the gauge is kept away from water or any other electrically conductive liquids at all
times.
3. The gauge should be serviced by a trained technician only. AC power must be disconnected and
the gauge must be powered off before the housing is opened.
4. Always consider the characteristics of the sample being tested before initiating a test. A risk
assessment should be carried out beforehand to ensure that all safety measures have been
addressed and implemented.
5. Wear eye and face protection when testing, especially when testing brittle samples that have the
potential to shatter under force. Be aware of the dangers posed by potential energy that can
2
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
accumulate in the sample during testing. Extra bodily protection should be worn if a destructive
failure of a test sample is possible.
6. In certain applications, such as the testing of brittle samples that can shatter, or other applications
that could lead to a hazardous situation, it is strongly recommended that a machine guarding
system be employed to protect the operator and others in the vicinity from shards or debris.
7. When the gauge is not in use, ensure that the power is turned off.
2 POWER
The gauge is powered either by an 8.4V NiMH rechargeable battery or by an AC adapter. Since these
batteries are subject to self discharge, it may be necessary to recharge the unit after a prolonged period
of storage. Plug the accompanying charger into the AC outlet and insert the charger plug into the
receptacle on the gauge (refer to the illustration below). The battery will fully charge in approximately 8
hours.
USB connector
Power input jack
Serial connector
Caution!
Do not use chargers or batteries other than supplied or instrument damage may occur.
If the AC adapter is plugged in, an icon appears in the lower left corner of the display, as follows:
If the AC adapter is not plugged in, battery power drainage is denoted in a five-step process:
1. When battery life is greater than 75%, the following indicator is present:
2. When battery life is between 50% and 75%, the following indicator is present:
3. When battery life is between 25% and 50%, the following indicator is present:
4. When battery life is less than 25%, the following indicator is present:
5. When battery life drops to approximately 2%, the indicator from step 4 will be flashing.
Several minutes after (timing depends on usage and whether the backlight is turned on or
off), a message will appear, “BATTERY VOLTAGE TOO LOW. POWERING OFF”. A 4-tone
audio indicator will sound and the gauge will power off.
The gauge can be configured to automatically power off following a period of inactivity. Refer to the Other
Settings section for details.
If battery replacement is necessary, the battery may be accessed by separating the two halves of the
gauge. Refer to the Mechanical Setup section for details.
3
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
3 MECHANICAL SETUP
3.1 Loading shaft orientation
In order to accommodate a variety of testing requirements, the orientation of the loading shaft may be set
up in either of the two positions shown below. In order to change the loading shaft orientation, loosen the
two captive screws on the back side of the housing, separate the two housing halves, rotate one half 180
degrees, and reassemble. Contact between the two halves is made by the spring pins and contact pads
on the printed circuit boards.
Load cell shaft up Load cell shaft down
3.2 Mounting to a plate
Although the gauge may be used by hand, proper mounting is important if attached to a fixture or test
stand. The round steel insert with a hole in the back of the housing is provided to withstand the load
during a test. A mating dowel pin should be used (see illustration below). Mounting plates on Mark-10 test
stands include a dowel pin and clearance holes for the four threaded holes located near the corners of
the housing. These holes are designed to accommodate screws in order to hold the gauge in place
(Mark-10 test stands include a set of thumb screws for gauge mounting). The screws must not
for load bearing purposes. Failure to use a dowel pin properly can result in a hazardous situation.
3.3 Mounting attachments to the gauge
The force gauge’s threaded loading shaft is designed to accommodate common grips and attachments
with female mounting holes. To mount a grip, gently thread it onto the shaft. Other mounting adapters are
also available to prevent rotation. Ensure that the grip or fixture is positioned to ensure axial load with
respect to the loading shaft of the force gauge. When using a grip, ensure that it secures the sample in
be used
4
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
such a way that it is prevented from slipping out during a test, preventing a potential safety risk to the
operator and others in the vicinity. If using a grip or fixture from a supplier other than Mark-10, ensure that
it is constructed of suitably rugged materials and components.
Do not use jam nuts or tools to tighten grips or attachments onto the shaft. Finger-tighten only
.
4 HOME SCREEN AND CONTROLS
4.1 Home Screen
1
11
10
9
8
No. Name Description
1 Tension /
compression
indicator
2 Peaks
3 Primary reading
4 Load bar
5 Units
- indicates a compression (push) direction
- indicates a tension (pull) direction
These indicators are used throughout the display and menu.
The maximum measured compression and tension readings. These readings
are reset by pressing ZERO or by powering the gauge off and on.
The current displayed force reading. See Operating Modes section for
details.
Analog indicator to help identify when an overload condition is imminent. The
bar increases either to the right or to the left from the midpoint of the graph.
Increasing to the right indicates compression load, increasing to the left
indicates tension load. If set points are enabled, triangular markers are
displayed for visual convenience. This indicator reflects the actual load, which
may not correspond to the primary reading (depends on operating mode).
The ZERO key does not reset the load bar. See Operating Modes section for
details.
The current measurement unit. Abbreviations are as follows:
lbF – Pound-force
ozF – Ounce-force
kgF – Kilogram-force
gF – Gram-force
567
2
3
4
5
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
N – Newton
kN – Kilonewton
mN – Millinewton
Note: not all gauge capacities measure in all the above units. Refer to the
capacity / resolution table in the Specifications section for details.
6 Mode
The current measurement mode. Abbreviations are as follows:
RT – Real Time
PC – Peak Compression
PT – Peak Tension
A – Average Mode
ET – External Trigger Mode
See Operating Modes section for details about each of these modes
7 Number of stored
data points
8 Battery / AC
adapter indicator
9 Automatic data
output indicator
The number of stored data points in memory, up to 1000. Displayed only if
Memory Storage is enabled for the DATA key.
Either the AC adapter icon or battery power icon will be shown, depending on
power conditions. Refer to the Power section for details.
If Auto Output has been enabled under Serial / USB Settings, this indicator
is displayed. When automatic data output is occurring, the icon becomes
animated. See Communications section for details.
10 High / low limit
indicators
Correspond to the programmed set points. Indicator definitions are as follows:
– the displayed value is greater than the upper force limit
– the displayed value is between the limits
– the displayed value is less than the lower force limit
11 Set points
The programmed force limits. Typically used for pass/fail type testing. 1, 2, or
no indicators may be present, depending on the configuration shown in the
Set Points menu item.
4.2 Controls
Primary
Label Primary Function
Powers the gauge on and off. Press
briefly to power on, press and hold
to power off. Active only when the
home screen is displayed.
ZERO
Zeroes the primary reading and
peaks.
MENU
MODE
Enters the main menu.
Toggles between measurement
modes.
DATA
Stores a value to memory, transmits
the current reading to an external
device, and/or initiates automatic
data output, depending on setup.
UNITS
Toggles between measurement
units.
Turns the LCD backlight on and off.
Secondary
Label Secondary Function
ENTER
Various uses, as described in the
following sections.
(UP)
ESCAPE
Navigates up through the menu and
sub-menus .
Reverts one step backwards through
the menu hierarchy.
(DOWN)
DELETE
Navigates down through the menu
and sub-menus.
Enables and disables Delete mode
while viewing stored data.
DIRECTION
Reverses the display during
calibration, and toggles between
tension and compression directions
while configuring set points and other
menu items.
N/A
N/A
6
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
4.3 Menu navigation basics
Most of the gauge’s various functions and parameters are configured through the main menu. To access
the menu press MENU. Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through the items. The current selection is
denoted with clear text over a dark background. Press ENTER to select a menu item, then use UP and
DOWN again to scroll through the sub-menus. Press ENTER again to select the sub-menu item.
For parameters that may be either selected or deselected, press ENTER to toggle between selecting and
deselecting. An asterisk (*) to the left of the parameter label is used to indicate when the parameter has
been selected.
For parameters requiring the input of a numerical value, use the UP and DOWN keys to increment or
decrement the value. Press and hold either key to auto-increment at a gradually increasing rate. When
the desired value has been reached, press ENTER to save the change and revert back to the sub-menu
item, or press ESCAPE to revert back to the sub-menu item without saving. Press ESCAPE to revert one
step back in the menu hierarchy until back into normal operating mode.
Refer to the following sections for details about setting up particular functions and parameters.
5 OPERATING MODES
Caution!
In any operating mode, if the capacity of the instrument has been exceeded by more than 110%,
the display will show “OVER” to indicate an overload. A continuous audible tone will be sounded
until the MENU key has been pressed or the load has been reduced to a safe level.
Five operating modes are possible with Series 5 gauges. To cycle between the modes, press MODE
while in the home screen.
5.1 Real time (RT)
The primary reading corresponds to the live measured reading.
5.2 Peak Compression (PC)
The primary reading corresponds to the peak compression reading observed. If the actual force
decreases from the peak value, the peak will still be retained in the primary reading area of the display.
Pressing ZERO will reset the value.
5.3 Peak Tension (PT)
Same as Peak Compression, but for tension readings.
5.4 Average Mode (AVG)
Average mode is used to obtain an average force reading over a specified period of time. Applications
include measurement of peel force, muscle strength, frictional force, and other tests requiring timeaveraged readings.
Before the parameters of Average Mode can be configured, it must be enabled. To do so, select Average
Mode from the menu, scroll to Enable and press ENTER. The display appears as follows:
7
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
AVERAGE MODE
Disabled
* Enabled
+ Settings
Then, scroll to Settings, and press ENTER to configure the parameters. The parameters are as follows:
AVERAGE MODE SETTINGS
Initial Delay
0.0
Averaging Time
5.5
Trigger Force
1.200
Parameter Description
Initial Delay The time delay, in seconds, before the averaging sequence commences.
Averaging Time The time duration, in seconds, of the averaging sequence.
Trigger Force
The minimum force required to start the averaging sequence. Toggle between
compression and tension directions by pressing the DIRECTION key. Initial delay
follows the trigger force.
After the parameters have been configured and the menu has been exited, press MODE until AVG is
displayed. Then press ZERO. Average mode is now armed, and the averaging sequence will commence
when the trigger force has occurred. The current status of the average sequence is displayed below the
primary reading, as follows:
Step Status Abbreviation Description
1 TRIG WAIT The trigger force has not yet occurred.
2 INIT DLY The initial delay is currently taking place.
3 AVERAGING The gauge is collecting readings. The status will be flashing until
averaging has been completed.
4 AVRG DONE Averaging has been completed. The average force is displayed in the
primary reading.
At the completion of the averaging sequence, the peak values are retained until ZERO is pressed.
Another averaging sequence may be started after ZERO has been pressed. To exit Average mode, press
MODE and select the desired measuring mode.
5.5 External Trigger (ET)
This mode of operation is useful for measuring electrical contact activation force as well as
synchronization of multiple instruments for a “snapshot” view of applied forces. It is possible to capture
the reading with a normally open contact (high to low transition of the trigger signal) or a normally closed
contact (low to high transition).
Before the parameters of External Trigger Mode can be configured, it must be enabled. To do so, enter
the main menu, select External Trigger, scroll to one of the four available options and press ENTER.
The options are as follows:
8
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
EXTERNAL TRIGGER
* Disabled
Momentary Hi->Lo
Momentary Lo->Hi
Maintained High
Maintained Low
Option Description
Momentary High Low The display will freeze the captured reading until ZERO is pressed. Applies
Momentary Low High The display will freeze the captured reading until ZERO is pressed. Applies
Maintained High The display will show the captured reading only for as long as a high signal
Maintained Low The display will show the captured reading only for as long as a low signal
After the selection has been made and the menu has been exited, press MODE until ET is displayed.
External Trigger mode is now armed. Refer to the pin diagram in the Communications section for
connection information.
To exit External Trigger mode, press MODE and select the desired measuring mode.
Note: As long as external trigger has been enabled, it is still active even if the gauge is in Real Time
mode. After the display freezes, any programmed set points will be active. However, if the gauge is in
External Trigger mode, any programmed set points will be inactive.
to a high to low transition of the trigger signal.
to a low to high transition of the trigger signal.
is maintained.
is maintained.
6 DIGITAL FILTERS
Digital filters are provided to help smooth out the readings in situations where there is mechanical
interference in the work area or test sample. These filters utilize the moving average technique in which
consecutive readings are pushed through a buffer and the displayed reading is the average of the buffer
contents. By varying the length of the buffer, a variable smoothing effect can be achieved. The selection
of 1 will disable the filter since the average of a single value is the value itself.
To access digital filter settings, select Filters from the menu. The display will appear as follows:
DIGITAL FILTERS
(1 = Fastest)
Current Reading
1
Displayed Reading
1
Two filters are available:
Current Reading – Applies to the peak capture rate of the instrument.
Displayed Reading – Applies to the primary reading on the display.
9
Series 5 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
Available settings: 1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256,512,1024. It is recommended to keep the current reading
filter at its lowest value for best performance, and the displayed reading filter at its highest value for best
stability.
7 SET POINTS
7.1 General Information
Set points are useful for tolerance checking (pass/fail),
triggering an external device such as a motorized test
stand, or alarm indication in process control applications.
Two limits, high and low, are specified and stored in the
non-volatile memory of the instrument and the primary
reading is compared to these limits. The results of the
comparisons are indicated through the three outputs
provided on the 15-pin connector, thus providing “under”,
“in range”, and “over” signaling. These outputs can be
connected to indicators, buzzers, or relays as required
for the application.
7.2 Configuration
To configure set points, select Set Points from the menu. The screen will appear as follows:
SET POINTS
Upper Disabled
* Upper Enabled
5.000
Lower Disabled
* Lower Enabled
3.500
Either one, two, or none of the set points may be enabled. To toggle between the tension and
compression directions, press the DIRECTION key.
If two set points have been enabled, they are displayed in the upper left corner of the display. If only one
set point has been enabled, the word “OFF” will appear in place of the value. If no set points have been
enabled, the upper left corner of the display will be blank.
When set points are enabled, the following indicators are shown to the left of the primary reading:
Set point indicators and outputs reference the displayed reading, not necessarily the current live load.
– the displayed value is greater than the upper
force limit (NO GO HIGH)
– the displayed value is between the limits (GO)
– the displayed value is less than the lower force
limit (NO GO LOW)
10
Loading...