Cooper ELF 4200 User Manual
ELF 4200
Load and Force System
Single Handle, Multi-Handle, and Hi-Speed Systems
Version 3.4x
USER’S GUIDE
www.cooperinstruments.com
PH: 540-349- 4746 • FAX: 540-347-4755
CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................1
2.0 QUICK START.......................................................................................................................1
3.0 INSTALLATION .....................................................................................................................5
3.1 Software Installation.......................................................................................................................7
3.2 Hardware Installation....................................................................................................................10
4.0 OVERVIEW ..........................................................................................................................13
4.1 Sensors..........................................................................................................................................13
4.2 Sensor Handle...............................................................................................................................13
4.3 Screen Display ..............................................................................................................................13
4.3.1 Screen Display........................................................................................................................13
4.3.2 Main Window ..........................................................................................................................14
Movie Window .................................................................................................................................15
4.4 THE MAIN MENU...........................................................................................................................16
4.4.1 The Main Menu .......................................................................................................................16
4.4.2 File Menu.................................................................................................................................16
4.4.3 Edit Menu................................................................................................................................19
4.4.4 View Menu...............................................................................................................................19
4.4.5 Record Menu...........................................................................................................................21
4.4.6 Tools Menu .............................................................................................................................25
4.4.7 Window Menu.........................................................................................................................29
4.4.8 Frames Displayed Menu........................................................................................................29
4.4.9 Help Menu...............................................................................................................................30
5.0 SENSOR LOADING CONSIDERATIONS............................................................................30
5.1 SENSOR LOADING .......................................................................................................................30
5.2 SATURATION ................................................................................................................................31
5.3 CONDITIONING SENSORS...........................................................................................................31
6.0 CALIBRATION.....................................................................................................................31
6.1 CALIBRATION GUIDELINES ........................................................................................................33
6.2 CALIBRATION PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................33
7.0 SENSOR PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS ..............................................................38
7.1 REPEATABILITY ...........................................................................................................................38
7.2 LINEARITY.....................................................................................................................................38
7.3 HYSTERESIS .................................................................................................................................38
7.4 DRIFT .............................................................................................................................................38
7.5 TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY......................................................................................................38
7.6 SENSOR LIFE / DURABILITY .......................................................................................................38
8.0 WIRELESS ELF SYSTEM ...................................................................................................39
8.1 COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION...................................................................................................39
8.2 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS....................................................................................................39
8.2.1 Power ......................................................................................................................................40
8.2.2 Environmental Conditions.....................................................................................................40
8.3 SETTING UP THE WIRELESS ELF SYSTEM...............................................................................40
8.4 TROUBLESHOOTING ...................................................................................................................41
9.0 EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE.............................................................................................41
10.0 WIRELESS ELF OPERATION...........................................................................................41
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11.0 GLOSSARY........................................................................................................................48
WARRANTY REPAIR POLICY..................................................................................................54
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
This manual describes how to use FlexiForce’s Economical Load & Force (ELF) system , Multi-Handle ELF and Hi-
Speed ELF. These systems are ideal for designers, researchers, or anyone who needs to measure forces without
disturbing the dynamics of their tests. The FlexiForce sensors can be used to measure both static and dynamic
forces (up to 1000 lbf), and are thin enough to enable non-intrusive measurement.
Each ELF system is comprised of FlexiForce’s Microsoft (MS) Windows-based software, the associated electronics,
and FlexiForce sensors. The ELF system hardware includes the sensor handle with USB adapter and the sensors.
One of the major advantages of this system is that it is simple to install, and requires very little hardware.
The ELF sensors use a resistive-based technology. The application of a force to the active sensing area of the
sensor results in a change in the resistance of the sensing element in inverse proportion to the force applied. After
a simple calibration is performed, this force can be displayed on the screen in the measurement units that you
choose, such as pounds or Newtons.
The ELF software is an 8-bit application that is compatible with Microsoft (MS) Windows 2000/XP/Vista. The
software allows you to view a graphical representation of the force on the sensor in real-time, record this
information as a "movie," and review and analyze it later. There are a number of options for displaying the real-time
force data; it can be displayed as a "strip chart," "column graph," or "digital readout." Recorded "movie frames" can
be saved as ASCII (text) files, which can be imported into a spreadsheet program, or opened in a text editor or
word processing program. Real-time data or movie frames can also be copied to the Windows clipboard and pasted
into other applications as a .bmp (bitmap) file.
2.0 QUICK START
This is a quick look at how to use your ELF system. This Quick Start procedure should be followed as a general
outline; it will give you the basics on how to view sensor force data in a Real-time Window, record this data, play
the recording back, and analyze the data. However, you must read the entire manual before designing your
application.
Note: This procedure assumes that the ELF software has been successfully installed on your system. In
addition, a familiarity with MS Windows is assumed.
1. Make sure the sensors are inserted correctly into the handles. Run the program by clicking the Start button at
the bottom left of the screen, selecting Programs, and then clicking the ELF Multi icon.
2. If you have the Multi-Handle ELF system and have connected multiple handles, you will be prompted to select
the COM ports/handles you wish to use for testing. Click to place a check in each box, and then select OK.
3. A new Real-time window will appear. The size of this window will vary, since MS Windows cascades new
windows. If the window is too small to view comfortably, enlarge it by dragging an edge of the window with the
cursor (shown below).
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4. Apply the test force to the sensing area of the sensors (refer to the “Sensor Loading Considerations” section
and ensure that the sensors are conditioned before use). The force data will be displayed in the window in the
default mode, which is as a "Strip Chart". This shows the data in the form of a chart, with elapsed time (in
seconds) on the X-axis, and the selected units (default is "percentage") on the Y-axis.
5. Click on View -> Properties (or click the right mouse button with the cursor over the Real-time Window) to
open the Properties dialog box. Make any desired changes to the display settings, and click OK.
6. If you would like to change the background color of the window, select Tools -> Select Colors. The Select
Graph Colors dialog box will open, and enable you to customize the background color.
7. Calibrate the sensor(s), so that an actual force range can be determined for the sensor’s digital output (0 to
255). Refer to the “Calibration” section for the calibration procedure and guidelines. It is also recommended that
you perform a "Sensitivity Adjustment", which is described in the "Calibration" section.
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8. Select the desired recording parameters under Record -> Settings. The default Recording Type is "Infinite (8
Hz, user stops)", but you are given the option to stop the recording after a specific number of frames. You may
also set recording frequency, trigger and threshold, as well as frames to record, in this dialog box.
9. Click Record -> Start (or the Start Recording icon on the Toolbar). The system will begin recording data. If
you selected "Infinite (8 Hz, user stops)" as the recording type, you must click Record -> Stop (or the Stop
Recording icon on the Toolbar) to stop recording. Otherwise, recording will stop when the required number of
frames have been acquired.
Note: Before an actual recording is made, the sensor should be Calibrated and Conditioned, and a
Sensitivity Adjustment should be done (if necessary), as described in later sections. Any information
recorded before these are successfully completed may be inaccurate.
The ELF software also allows you to trigger the start of a recording. If you enter a value in the Trigger Force field
under Record -> Settings, recording will not begin until that force is exerted on the sensor. Force threshold may be
selected for each sensor, so that a recording will not begin until the force reaches the threshold. See the
“Calibration” section for more details.
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10. Select File -> Save As to save the movie. Under File Name, enter the desired file name (e.g.: "test1.flf") and
select the destination (path) where you want to save your recording. Recordings must be saved as ELF Movie
Files (with the extension *.flf).
11. Click on one of the Playback Control icons on the toolbar at the top of the Movie window to play the movie
forward or backward, move one frame forward or backward, move to the first or last frame, or stop the movie.
12. Select Edit -> Copy, or click the Copy icon on the Toolbar. The contents of the window will be copied to the
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Windows clipboard, and will be available to be pasted as a graphic (bitmap) into other Windows applications.
13. Select File -> Save ASCII to save the movie data as a text file. ASCII files must be saved with the extension
*.csv. This data can then be viewed by importing it into a spreadsheet program, such as MS Excel, or by
opening the text file in a word processing program, such as MS Word.
You have now completed the Quick Start section, and should be acquainted with your ELF software. The
rest of the manual gives you specific instructions on how to set up and run your system.
3.0 INSTALLATION
For the ELF software to function properly, your system must have the following minimum requirements:
• Pentium 300 MHz
• 64 MB RAM
• 5 MB of Hard Drive Space
• CD Drive
• One USB 2.0 port per USB Handle
• Windows 2000/XP/Vista
To use the Multi-Handle ELF software with multiple USB Handles, one USB 2.0 port must be available for each
ELF Handle used. If you require a USB hub, Cooper Instruments recommends the following:
Belkin: USB Plus Hub (7 Ports) ($49.99) Hi-Speed USB 2.0 7-Port Hub
http://www.belkin.com/ Model # F5U307
IOGEAR ($29.95) MiniHub 4-port USB 2.0 Hub
http://www.iogear.com/ Model # GUH264
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The following displays the ELF system with USB Handles.
Note: Our previous systems shipped with Serial handles. It is not recommended to use both the Serial
ELF and USB ELF handles simultaneously. Note: For the Hi-speed Multi-Handle ELF software using
Windows 2000/XP/Vista, you will need a PCI board and we would recommend that you use no more than
4 handles.
ELF COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION
The following lists all the components that come with the ELF system.
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3.1 Software Installation
Before installing the ELF software, close all other applications. To install the software, place the CD-ROOM in your
CD-ROM drive. If the autorun.exe does not start automatically, click on Start at the bottom left of the screen, and
click on the Run menu item. If you put the disk in the D: CD-ROM drive, type “d:setup” in the Command Line field of
the Run dialog box, then click <OK>. The following images outline the installation process:
First, the InstallShield Wizard will prepare your machine for proper setup:
The next screen you will see is the Welcome screen. Click Next to continue with the Setup.
You will be taken to the License Agreement page. When you have read the License and agree to the terms, click
the Next button to continue with your installation.
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Next, the installation program will copy the necessary files to your computer. The default location is
C:\Tekscan\Elf, however, you can change this location by clicking the Change button and designating a
destination of your choice on your computer’s hard drive.
At this point, your computer has the necessary information to proceed with the installation of your ELF program.
Click the Install button to begin installing the program on your computer.
A progress bar will indicate the program is being successfully installed.
Note: If, at any time prior to this screen you wish to stop the installation process, you can click the Cancel
button.
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The next screen that will appear offers you the options to place a shortcut icon on your desktop and view the
README file.
If you elect to view the README file, it will open in a MS Notepad window, where you can read about new and
updated information regarding the latest release of the ELF software.
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When the installation is completed, you will need to restart your system. Click the Finish button, and your system
will be automatically rebooted. You cannot start the ELF software without first restarting.
The ELF splash screen will be shown (below). This indicates the ELF software is successfully loaded on your
machine.
The installation process is now complete. When your computer is rebooted, the application can then be launched
by clicking on the Start button at the bottom left of the screen, and selecting Programs -> Tekscan -> ELF Multi.
You can also launch the program by double-clicking the ELF Multi icon on your desktop (provided you opted to
place an icon on your desktop during the installation procedure).
3.2 Hardware Installation
The ELF system hardware includes the Sensor Handle(s), ELF software, and the flexiForce sensor(s). If you are
using the Multi-Handle ELF system, refer to the instructions included. Connect one ELF handle to each USB port
you wish to use during testing.
The image below displays the USB connection for the ELF system:
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Multi-Handle system with handles connected to the USB hub
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4.0 OVERVIEW
This section outlines the Various Hardware and Software components that ship with your system.
4.1 Sensors
The sensor is an ultra-thin and flexible printed circuit. Sensors are available in three full-scale force ranges: Low
(25 lbf ), Medium (150 lbf ), and High (1000 lbf ). The "active sensing area" is a 0.375. diameter circle at the end of
the sensor. The sensors are constructed of two layers of substrate, such as a polyester film. On each layer, a
conductive material (silver) is applied, followed by a layer of pressure-sensitive ink. Adhesive is then used to
laminate the two layers of substrate together to form the sensor. The "active sensing area" is defined by the silver
circle on top of the pressure sensitive ink. Silver extends from the sensing area to the connectors at the other end
of the sensor, forming the conductive leads.
The sensor acts as a variable resistor in an electrical circuit. When the sensor is unloaded, its resistance is very
high (greater than 5 Meg-ohm); when a force is applied to the sensor, the resistance decreases. This resistance is
read, and an 8-bit analog-to-digital converter changes the output to a digital value in the range of 0 to 255.
There are three types of sensors available, as shown below:
4.2 Sensor Handle
The sensor’s tab is placed into the sensor handle. The handle gathers data from the sensor, processes it, and
sends it to your computer through USB connection
Note: our previous systems shipped with Serial handles. It is not recommended to use both the serial ELF and the
USB ELF handles simultaneously.
4.3 Screen Display
4.3.1 Screen Display
This section is a comprehensive look at the ELF screen display. Each component of the display, as well as each
Main Menu option, will be described in detail.
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Note: Familiarity with MS Windows is assumed, so menu items that have the same function in standard
Windows applications are not described in this manual.
4.3.2 Main Window
When you initiate the ELF software program, the Main Window is displayed on your computer screen. The Main
Window consists of the Menu Bar, Tool Bar, and Main Status Bar, and may contain one or more Real-time or
Movie Windows. The window that is selected is considered the active window. Only one window can be active at
one time, and the title bars of the other windows will be grayed out. The Main Window, and its components, are
shown in the figure below.
NOTE that the figure below shows a Multi-Handle ELF system with two handles recording data.
Real-Time Window: displays the load applied to the sensor as it is happening (in real-time). The Properties of this
display can be changed in the File pull-down menu, or by clicking the right mouse button.
Menu Bar: provides drop-down menus used to control the program. It is located at the top of the Main Window.
The Main Menu as it appears when focus is on a Movie Window:
The Main Menu as it appears when focus is on a Real-time Window:
Note: for more information, see the Main Menu section.
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Toolbar: provides some of the same options as the Menu Bar, but with icons replacing drop-down menus. It is
located directly below the Menu Bar, at the top of the Main Window. Note that not all items in the Menu Bar have a
corresponding icon on the Toolbar.
Two icons on the Toolbar do not have corresponding pull-down menus. They are the Increase Decimal and
Decrease Decimal buttons. When sensors have been calibrated, units of force will be shown. Clicking these
buttons will either increase or decrease the number of decimal places displayed by the software.
Main Status Bar: will either say "For Help, Press F1," or will give a description of whichever Toolbar icon is under
the cursor. The Main Status Bar is located at the bottom of the Main Window.
Movie Window
The Movie Window displays a previously recorded movie. It consists of the display area, a scroll bar, the Movie
Toolbar with playback controls, and the Movie Window Status Bar.
Movie Tool Bar: This bar is located at the top of the Movie Window, and consists of the movie playback icons and
the Save As icon.
• Τhe Save As icon allows you to save the current movie file under a different filename.
The Playback icons control the movie playback functions. They are (from left to right in the Movie Toolbar):
• First Frame: Positions the recording at the beginning (first frame).
• Play Backward: Plays the recording in reverse.
• Previous Frame: Plays the recording in reverse one frame each time it is clicked.
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