Cooper M5-1000 User Manual

Users Guide

Series 5 Digital Force Gages

www.cooperinstruments.com

PH: 540-349-4746  FAX: [phone]

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Table of Contents

1 OVERVIEW......................................................................................................................................1

2 POWER.............................................................................................................................................2

3 MECHANICAL SETUP...................................................................................................................2

4 HOME SCREEN AND CONTROLS...............................................................................................4

5 OPERATING MODES .....................................................................................................................6

6 DIGITAL FILTERS..........................................................................................................................8

7 SET POINTS.....................................................................................................................................8

8 DATA MEMORY AND STATISTICS............................................................................................9

9 COMMUNICATIONS....................................................................................................................10

10 CALIBRATION............................................................................................................................17

11 PASSWORDS...............................................................................................................................20

12 OTHER SETTINGS......................................................................................................................22

13 SPECIFICATIONS.......................................................................................................................23

14 WARRANTY................................................................................................................................25

2

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Thank you for purchasing a Cooper Series 5 digital force gauge, designed for tension and compression force
testing applications from 0.12 lb to 500 lb (0.5 N to 2,500 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. Cooper 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.

1 OVERVIEW

1.1 List of included items
Part No.

M5-012 –

Qty.

1 12-1049 12-1049 12-1049 Carrying Case
1 08-1022 08-1022 08-1022 AC adapter body with US, EU, or UK prong
1 08-1026 08-1026 08-1026 Battery (inside the gauge)
1 G1024 G1024 G1031 Extension rod
1 G1026 G1026 G1033 Cone
1 G1025 G1025 G1032 Chisel
1 G1027 G1027 G1034 V-groove
1 G1029 G1029 G1036 Flat
1 G1028 G1038 G1035 Hook
1 N/A G1039 G1037 Coupling
1 - Certificate of calibration
1 09-1165 USB cable
1 - Resource CD (USB driver, MESURgauge DEMO, User’s

1.2 Safety / Proper Usage

M5-20

M5-50 –
M5-100

M5-200 –
M5-500

Description

Guide)

Caution!

Note the force gauge’s capacity before use and ensure that the capaci ty 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.

Before use, each person who is to use the Series 5 force gauge should be fully trained in appropriate
operation and safety procedures.

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 o peration:

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.

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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 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.

Caution!

Do not use chargers or batteries other than specified or instrument damage may occur.

If the AC adapter is plugged in, a corresponding 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 three step process:

1. When battery life is greater than 30%, no indicator is present.

2. When battery life drops to approximately 30%, an indicator appears as follows:

3. When battery life drops to approximately 10%, the indicator will appear as follows:

4. When battery life drops to approximately 2%, the indicator from step 2 will be flashing.
Several minutes after (timing depends on usage and whether the backli ght 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 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

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reassemble. Contact between the two halves is made by the spring pins and contact pads on the printed circuit
boards.

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 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 be used for load bearing purposes. Fa ilure 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 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 Cooper, 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. Antirotation
mounting adapters are available.

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4 HOME SCREEN AND CONTROLS

4.1 Home Screen

No. Name Description
1 Measurement direction

2 Peaks

3 Primary reading
4 Load bar

5 Units

6 Mode

7 Number of stored data

points

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- 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
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.
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.
The number of stored data points in memory, up to 50. Displayed only if

Memory Storage is enabled for the DATA key.

8 Battery / AC adapter

indicator

9 High / low limit indicators

Either the AC adapter icon, battery icon, or no icon will be shown,
depending on power conditions. Refer to the Power section for details.

Correspond to the programmed set points. Indicator definitions are as
follows:

– the displayed value is greater than th e upper force limit

– the displayed value is between the limits

– the displayed value is less than the lower force limit

10 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

Secondary Label Secondary Function
ENTER

Various uses, as described in
the following sections.

to power off. Active only
when the home screen is
displayed.

ZERO

MENU

Zeroes the primary
reading and peaks.

Enters the main menu.

(UP)

ESCAPE

Navigates up through the
menu and sub-menus.

Reverts one step backwards
through the menu hierarchy.

MODE

Toggles between
measurement modes.

(DOWN)

Navigates down through the
menu and sub-menus.

DATA

Stores a value to
memory and/or transmits
the current reading to an

DELETE

Enables and disables Delete
mode while viewing stored

data.
external device,
depending on setup.

UNITS

Toggles between
measurement units.

DIRECTION

Reverses the display during

calibration, and toggles

between tension and

compression directions while

configuring set points and

other menu items.
Turns the LCD backlight
on and off. Backlight

N/A

N/A
turns on automatically

upon powering on the
gauge.

7

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.

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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 an d 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 actu al 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 time-averaged readings.

Before the parameters of Average Mode can be configured, it must be enabled. T o do so, select Average

Mode from the menu, scroll to Enable and press ENTER. The display appears as follows:

8

Then, scroll to Settings, and press ENTER to configure the parameters. The parameters are as follows:

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.

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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 whe n the trigger
force has occurred. The current status of the average sequence is displ ayed 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:

Option Description

Momentary High Æ Low The display will freeze the captured reading until ZERO is pressed. Applies to a

high to low transition of the trigger signal.

Momentary Low Æ High The display will freeze the captured reading until ZERO is pressed. Applies to a

low to high transition of the trigger signal.

Maintained High The display will show the captured reading only for as long as a high signal is

maintained.

Maintained Low The display will show the captured reading only for as long as a low signal is

maintained.

9

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.

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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.

6 DIGITAL FILTERS

Digital filters are provided to help smooth out the readings in situations where there is mechanical inte rference in
the work area or test sample. These filters utilize the moving average technique in which consecutive readi ngs
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:

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.

10

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:

Either one, two, or none of the set points may be enabled. To toggle between the tension and compression
directions, press the DIRECTION key.

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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:

– the displayed value is greater than the upper

force limit (NO GO HIGH)
– the displayed value is between the limits (GO)

b– the displayed value is less than the lower force

limit (NO GO LOW)

Set point indicators and outputs reference the displayed reading, not necessarily the current live load.

11

Interactions with External Trigger Mode

Even if set points have been enabled, they are inactive when the gauge is in External Trigger mode.

7.3 Using Set Points to Control Mark-10 Motorized Test Stands

When using set points to stop/cycle crosshead motion on a motorized test stand, both set points must be
enabled, and each set point must be set to opposite measurement directions. For example, if a test requires
the test stand to stop at 20 lb of compression force, set the upper set point to 20 lb compression, and the lower
set point to a tension value such as 10 lb, or any other value in the tension compression that will not be
triggered during the course of the test.

8 DATA MEMORY AND STATISTICS

Series 5 gauges have storage capacity of 1,000 data points. Readings may be stored, viewed, and output to an
external device. Individual, or all, data points may be deleted. Statistics are calculated for the data presently in
memory.

To enable memory storage, select DATA Key from the menu, then scroll to Memory Storage and press
ENTER. Then exit the menu. In the home screen, the data record number 0000 will appear below the primary
reading. Press DATA at any time to save the displayed reading. The record number will increment each time
DATA is pressed.

To view, edit, and output stored readings and statistics, select Memory from the menu. The screen appears as
follows:

8.1 View Data

All the saved data points may be viewed. The record number is displayed, along with the corresponding value
and presently set unit of measurement. Any readings may be deleted individually. To do so, scroll to the desired
reading and press DELETE. The letter “D” will appear to the left of the record number, indicating that the gauge
is in Delete mode, as follows:

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Press ENTER to delete the value. To exit Delete mode, press DELETE again. Any number of readings may be
individually deleted, however, all readings may also be cleared simultaneously. Refer to the Clear

All Data section for details.

8.2 Statistics

Statistical calculations are performed for the saved values. Calculations include number of readings, minimum,
maximum, mean, and standard deviation.

8.3 Output Data

Press ENTER to output data to an external device. The display will show, “SENDING DATA…”, then “DATA
SENT”. If there was a problem with communication, the display will show, “DATA NOT SENT”. Saved data can
be downloaded by some Mark-10 data collection programs. Refer to their respective user’s guides for details.

8.4 Output Statistics

Press ENTER to output statistics to an external device. The display will show, “SENDING STATS…”, then
“STATS SENT”. If there was a problem with communication, the display will show, “STATS NOT SENT”.

8.5 Output Data & Stats

Press ENTER to output data and statistics to an external device. The display will show, “SENDING DATA”, then
“SENDING STATS…”, then “DATA SENT”, then “STATS SENT”. If there was a problem with communication,
the display will show, “DATA NOT SENT” and/or “STATS NOT SENT”.

8.6 Clear All Data

Press ENTER to clear all data from the memory. A prompt will be shown, “CLEAR ALL DATA?”. Select Yes to
clear all the data, or No to return to the sub-menu.

For output of data and/or statistics, RS-232 or USB output must be enabled. Data formatting is <CR><LF>
following each value. Units can be either included or excluded. Output of data via the Mitutoyo output is
possible, however, output of statistics is not. Refer to the Communications section for details.

Note: Data is not retained while the gauge is powered off.

9 COMMUNICATIONS

Communication with Series 5 force gauges is achieved through the micro USB or 15-pin seri al ports located at
the bottom of the instrument, as shown in the illustration in the Power section. Communication is possible only
when the gauge is in the main operating screen (i.e. not in a menu or configuration area).

9.1 Installing the USB driver
It is recommended that the USB driver be installed before physically connecting the gauge to the PC

with a USB cable.

1. Insert the Resource CD supplied with the gauge into the CD/DVD drive in the computer. Then, navigate in
Windows Explorer or My Computer to one of the following folders on the CD:

Windows 2000 through Vista - “Win_2K_XP_S2K3_Vista”
Windows 7 - “Windows_7”

2. Execute the installer application “Mark-10USBInstaller.exe” by double-clicking it. When the program launches,
one of the following windows will appear, depending on the operating system:

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13

Click “Install”.

3. The next screen appears as follows:

Click “Continue Anyway”.

4. After installation completes the following screen may appear in non-Windows 7 operating systems.

Restart the computer before connecting a USB device.

5. After Windows as restarted, plug in the device. The following will occur:

Windows 7 Operating Systems – When the USB device has been plugged into a USB port, the driver
will automatically be found. When the driver installation is complete, a message will appear as follows:
“The Mark-10 USB device driver is now installed and ready to use”.
Non-Windows 7 Operating Systems – When the USB device has been pl ugged into a USB port, the
following screen appears:

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14

Select “No, not this time”, then click “Next”.

6. The next screen appears as follows:

Select “Install the software automatically (Recommended)”, then click “Next”.

7. The next screen appears as follows:

Click “Continue Anyway”.

15

8. The next, and final, screen appears as follows:

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Click “Finish”. The USB device is now installed and ready to use. The COM port number assigned by Windows
may be identified in Device Manager, or in the communication application being used, such as MESURgauge or
HyperTerminal.

9.2 Serial / USB

To set up RS-232 and USB communication, select Serial/USB Settings from the menu. The screen appears as
follows:

Select either RS-232 or USB input (output is always simultaneous through both the USB and RS-232 ports).
RS-232 must be selected when communicating through a Mark-10 test stand controller. When communicating
from the gauge directly to a PC or data collector, either RS-232 or USB can be selected as required. Configure
the baud rate and data format as required for the application. Default values are as follows:

Baud Rate: 9,600
Data Format: Numeric + units
Auto Output: Disabled

Other communication settings are permanently set to the following:

Data Bits: 8
Stop Bits: 1
Parity: None

Individual data points may be transmitted by pressing DATA or by requesting the appropriate ASCII command
from an external device (see Command Set sub-section for details).

16

9.3 Automatic Output

The gauge has the ability to output data continuously via RS-232 or USB. To enable automatic output, select
Auto Output from the Serial/USB Settings sub-menu. The screen appears as follows:

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Select Enabled to activate automatic output. The number of outputs per second can be set to 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50,
125, or 250. The capabilities of the receiving device should be considered when sele cting the data output rate.

After the settings have been saved, revert to the home screen. An icon will appear in the lower left corner of the
display, as follows:

. This indicates that automatic data output has been armed. Automatic output of data
may be initiated by pressing DATA or by sending the appropriate ASCII command from an external device (see
Command Set sub-section for details). The icon will become animated, signaling that automatic output is
occurring. Press DATA again to end the data transmission.

9.4 Mitutoyo BCD settings

This output is useful for connection to data collectors, printers, multiplexers, or any other device capable of
accepting Mitutoyo BCD data. Individual data points may be transmitted by pressing DATA or by requesting it
from the Mitutoyo communication device (if available). To enable Mitutoyo output, select the desired format –
either with polarity or without polarity. The screen appears as follows:

9.5 Analog Output

This output can be used for chart recorders, oscilloscopes, data acquisition systems, or any other compatible
devices with analog inputs. The output produces ±1 volt at full scale of the instrument. The polarity of the signal
is positive for compression and negative for tension.

9.6 DATA Key Functions

The DATA key can be configured to perform several functions. To configure the DATA key, select DATA Key
from the menu. The display will appear as follows:

17

Three options are available:

Selection Function when pressing DATA
RS232/USB Output
Mitutoyo Output
Memory Storage

Outputs data via the serial and USB ports

Outputs data via Mitutoyo (Digimatic) through the serial port

Stores a reading to memory (refer to the Memory section for details)
Any combination of the above functions may be selected.

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9.7 I/O Connector Pin Diagram (female)

Pin No. Description Input / Output

1 Signal Ground --­2 Tension Overload Output
3 RS-232 Receive Input
4 RS-232 Transmit Output
5 +12V DC Output
6 Analog Output Output
7 Compression Overload Output
8 Mitutoyo Clock

Output

Output Bit 2

9 Mitutoyo Data

Output Bit 0

10 Mitutoyo Request

Input Bit 3

Output
Input

11 “Under” Set Point Output
12 “Over” Set Point Output
13 “Within” Set Point Output
14 External Trigger Input
15 Mitutoyo Ready

Output

Output Bit 1

9.8 Command Set / Gauge Control Language 2 (GCL2)

Series 5 force gauges may be controlled by an external device through the RS-232 or USB channel. The
following is a list of supported commands and their explanations. All commands must be terminated with a
Carriage Return character or with a Carriage Return/Line Feed combination. The gauge responses are always
terminated with a Carriage Return/Line Feed.

Request Readings

? Request the displayed reading (depend ant on operating mode)
?C Request the current (real time) reading
?PT Request the peak tension reading
?PC Request the peak compression reading
?ET Request the reading obtained during the External trigger mode
?A Request the average reading obtained during the Average mode

18

Units

LB Switch units to pound-force
OZ Switch units to ounce-force
KG Switch units to kilogram-force
G Switch units to gram-force
N Switch units to Newtons
MN Switch units to Milli-Newtons
KN Switch units to Kilo-Newtons

Basic Functions

CUR Current mode (real time mode) for primary reading
PT Peak Tension mode for primary reading

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PC Peak Compression mode for primary reading
CLR Clear peaks
Z Zero display and perform the CLR function

Filters

FLTCn Digital filter for displayed readings
FLTPn Digital filter for current readings
n= 0-10, filter = 2

n, ex: n=0= no filter, n=10=1024 samples averaged

Memory & Statistics

MEM Transmit all stored readings
STA Transmit statistics

Set Points

SPHD Disable high set point
SPLD Disable low set point
SPHn High set point. n=value (+ for compression, - for tension)
SPLn Low set point. n=value (+ for compression, - for tension)
Note: High set point value must be greater than low set point value if both values are set to the same
polarity.

USB/RS-232 Communication

FULL USB/RS-232 transmission with units
NUM USB/RS-232 transmission without units (only numeric values)
AOUTn Auto-transmit n times per second n=1,2,5,10,25,50,125,250. 0=disabled
Note: n = 1 = yields 50 times per second. This is provided for backward compa t ibility with legacy
gauges.

Mitutoyo Communication

MIT Enable Mitutoyo output
MITD Disable Mitutoyo output
POL Mitutoyo output with polarity (+ for compression, - for tension)
NPOL Mitutoyo output without polarity (absolute value)
PM Print/send data to a Mitutoyo-compatible device

Averaging

A Enable Average mode
AD Disable Average mode
AM Select Average mode (if enabled) for primary reading
ATn Average time. n=0.1-300.0 seconds
DELn Initial delay. n=0.1-300.0 seconds
TRFn Trigger force. n=value (+ for compression, - for tension)

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External Trigger

ETH Enable high level-triggered External trigger mode
ETL Enable low level-triggered External trigger mode
ETHL Enable reading captured on a high to low transition
ETLH Enable reading captured on a low to high transition
ETD Disable External trigger mode

Input / Output Bits

Sn Set output bit (open drain, pull to ground). n=0,1,2
Cn Clear output bit. n=0,1,2
Rn Read current status of output bit or level of input pin. n=0,1,2,3

Personality

RN Read product name
RM Read model number
RV Read firmware version number

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RS Read serial number

Other Commands

AOFFn Auto-shutoff. n=0-30 minutes. 0=auto shutoff disabled
SAVE Save current settings in nonvolatile memory
LIST List current settings and status

Following is an example LIST output: V1.00;LBF;CUR;FLTC8;FLTP1;AOUT00;AOFF5;FULL;MIT;POL;B0
All fields are separated by “;”. The first field shows the firmware version, the last field shows the remaining

battery power (B0=full charge, B3=minimum power). All other fields show the status of settings and features
using the same abbreviations as the commands to set them.

Any detected errors are reported back by means of the following error codes:

*10 Illegal command
*11 Not applicable
*12 Invalid specifier
*22 Value too large

10 CALIBRATION

10.1 Initial Physical Setup

The gauge should be mounted vertically to a test stand or fixture rugged enough to withstand a load equal to the
full capacity of the instrument. Certified deadweights or master load cells should be used, along with approp riate
mounting brackets and fixtures. Caution should be taken while handling such equipment.

10.2 Calibration Procedure

1. Select Calibration from the menu. The display will appear as follows:

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2. Press DIRECTION to invert the display, if desired. ENTER to continue. The display will appear as
follows:

The gauge can be calibrated at up to 10 points in each direction. Enter the number of calibration points for each
direction (compression and tension). At least one point must be selected for each direction.

Note: To achieve the accuracy specification of ±0.1%, it is recommended to calibrate the gauge at 5 or more
even increments in both the tension and compression directions. For example, a gauge with capacity of 10 lbF
should be calibrated at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 lb loads in each direction.

3. To escape the Calibration menu at any time, press ESCAPE. The display will appear as follows:

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Selecting “CANCEL” will revert back to the Calibration setup. Selecting “EXIT W/O SAVING” will return to the
menu without saving changes.

4. After the number of calibration points has been entered, press ENTER. The display will appear as follows:

5. Place the force gauge horizontally on a level surface free from vibration, then press ZERO. The gauge will
calculate offsets, and the display will appear as follows:

5

6. The following screen appears after the offsets have been calculated:

Attach weight fixtures (brackets, hooks, etc), as required. Do not yet attach any weights or apply any calibration
loads. Then press ENTER.

7. The display will appear as follows:

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Optionally exercise the load cell shaft several times (at full scale, if possible), then press ENTER.

8. The display will appear as follows:

Apply a weight equal to the full scale of the instrument, then press ENTER.

9. After displaying “PLEASE WAIT…” the display will appear as follows:

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Remove the load applied in Step 8, leave the fixtures in place, then press ZERO.

10. The display will appear as follows:

Use the UP and DOWN keys to adjust the load value as required. The load values default to even increments,
as indicated by the previously entered number of data points (even increments are recommended for best
results). For example, if a 50 lbF capacity gauge is calibrated, and 5 data points were selected, the load values
will default to 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 lb. Apply the calibration load. Then press ENTER.

Repeat the above step for the number of data points selected.

11. After all the compression calibration points have been completed, the display will appear as follows:

Press ENTER.

12. The display will appear as follows:

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Reverse the orientation of the load cell shaft by rotating the gauge 180 degrees. Press DIRECTION to invert the
display. Then attach weight fixtures. The following screens will step through the same procedure as with the
compression direction. Proceed in the same manner.

13. At the completion of the tension calibration, the display will appear as follows:

To save the calibration information, select “SAVE & EXIT”. To exit without saving the data select “EXIT W/O
SAVING”.

14. Any errors are reported by the following screens:

Displayed at the start of calibration if a disallowed unit is selected.

Ensure that the load is not swinging, oscillating, or vibrating in any manner. Then try again.

The calibration weight does not match the set value.

The entered calibration point is too close to the previous point.

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11 PASSWORDS

Two separate passwords may be set to control access to the Calibration section and to the menu and other
keys. To access the passwords setup screen, select Passwords from the menu. The display will appear as
follows:

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11.1 Calibration Password

Select Calibration from the sub-menu. The display will appear as follows:

To set the password, select Enabled, then Set Password. Use the UP and DOWN keys to increment and
decrement the value, from 0 to 9999. When the desired value has been selected, press ENTER, then ESC to
exit the sub-menu.

11.2 Menu Key Password

If enabled, every time the MENU key is selected, a password must be provided. Select Menu Key from the sub­menu. Follow the same procedure as described in section 10.1.

11.3 Locking Out Other Keys

Other keys may be locked out individually. Select any combination of keys (UNITS, MODE, ZERO, DATA) by
pressing ENTER in the Passwords sub-menu. Pressing a locked key will prompt the message “KEY
PROTECTED” and then revert to the previous screen.

11.4 Password Prompts
If passwords have been enabled, the following will be displayed when pressing the MENU key or accessing the
Calibration section:

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Use the UP and DOWN keys to select the correct password, then press ENTER to continue.
If the incorrect password has been entered, the display will appear as follows:

To re-enter the password, press ESC to exit to the home screen. Then, access the desired function and enter
the password again when prompted.

If the password has been misplaced, it can be reset. Press ENTER to generate a request code. The request
code must be supplied to Cooper Instruments, who will then provide a corresponding authorization code . Enter
the activation code to disable the password.

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12 OTHER SETTINGS

12.1 Automatic Shutoff

The gauge may be configured to automatically power off following a period of inactivity. Inactivity is defined as
the absence of any key presses or load changes of 100 counts or less. To access these settings, select
Automatic Shutoff from the menu. The display will appear as follows:

Select Disabled to disable automatic shutoff. Select Enabled to enable it. The length of time of inactivity is
programmed in minutes via the Set Minutes parameter. Available settings: 5-30, in 5 minute increments.

12.2 Backlight

Although the backlight may be turned on and off at any time by pressing the BACKLIGHT key, there are several
available initial settings (applicable upon powering on the gauge). To access these settings, select Backlight
from the menu. The display will appear as follows:

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Select Off for the backlight to be off upon powering on the gauge.
Select On for the backlight to be on upon powering on the gauge.
Select Auto for the backlight to be on upon powering gauge, but will shut off after a peri od of inactivity (as

defined in the Automatic Shutoff sub-section). The length of time of inactivity is programmed in minutes via the

Set Minutes parameter. Available settings: 1-10, in 1 minute increments.

12.3 LCD Contrast

The contrast of the display may be adjusted. Select LCD Contrast from the menu. The screen will appear
as follows:

Press ENTER to modify the contrast. Select a value from 0 to 25, 25 producing the most contrast. Higher
contrast ratios will deplete battery power more quickly.

12.4 Beeps

Audible tones can be enabled for all key presses and alerts, such as overload, set point value reached, etc. The
Set Point alert can be configured to be either a momentary tone or a continuous tone (until the load is restored
to a value between the set points). To configure the functions for which audible tones will apply, select Beeps
from the menu. The screen will appear as follows:

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12.5 Initial settings

This section is used to configure the initial settings upon powering on the gauge. The initial units of
measurement and the primary reading measurement mode may be configured. To access these settings, select
Initial Settings from the menu. The screen will appear as follows:

The default values are LBF and Real Time.

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12.6 Information / Welcome Screen

The following screen is displayed at power up and can be accessed at any time by selecting Information from
the menu:

13 SPECIFICATIONS

13.1 General

Accuracy:
Sampling rate:
Power: AC or rechargeable

battery

Battery life:
Measurement units:

Outputs:

Configurable
settings:

Safe overload:
Weight (gauge only):

Included accessories:

13.2 Factory Settings

±0.1% of full scale ±1 digit
7,000 Hz
Low battery indicator appears when battery level is low, and gauge powers off
automatically when power reaches critical stage.

Backlight on: up to 7 hours of continuous use
Backlight off: up to 24 hours of continuous use

lbF, ozF, gF, kgF, N, kN, mN (depending on model)
USB / RS-232: Fully configurable up to 115,200 baud. Includes Gauge Control

Language 2 for full computer control.

Mitutoyo (Digimatic): Serial BCD suitable for all Mitutoyo SPC-compatible devices.
Analog: ±1 VCD, ±0.25% of full scale at capacity
General purpose: Three open drain outputs, one input.
Set points: Three open drain lines.

Digital filters, outputs, automatic output (via USB/RS-232), automatic shutoff, default
settings, averaging mode, external trigger, passwords, key tones, audio alarms,
backlight, calibration

150% of full scale (display shows “OVER” at 110% and above)

M5-012 - M5-100: 1.0 lb [0.45 kg]
M5-200 - M5-500: 1.2 lb [0.54 kg]

Carrying case, chisel, cone, V-groove, hook, flat, extension rod, AC adapter, battery,
USB cable, resource CD (USB driver, MESUR Lite software, MESURgauge DEMO
software, and user’s guide), NIST-traceable certificate of calibration with data

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Parameter Setting

Set points

Upper
Lower

Disabled (defaults to 80% of full scale when enabled)
Disabled (defaults to 40% of full scale when enabled)

Filters

Current
Displayed

1

1024
Average mode Disabled
Initial Delay
Trigger Force
Averaging Time

0

0

0
External Trigger Disabled
DATA Key

RS-232/USB
Mitutoyo
Memory Storage

Enabled

Disabled

Enabled
Backlight On
Minutes (applies to Auto) 1
Serial/USB

RS-232 Selected
USB Selected
Baud Rate
Data Format
Auto Output
Outputs per sec

Enabled

Disabled

9,600

Numeric + units

Disabled

125
Mitutoyo BCD Disabled
Automatic Shutoff
Minutes (if enabled)

Disabled

5
Beeps

Keys
Alerts
Set Points

Enabled

Enabled

Momentary
LCD Contrast 12
Initial Settings

Units
Mode

lbF

Real Time
Passwords All passwords disabled

13.3 Capacity, Resolution & Load Cell Deflection

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13.4 Dimensions

14 WARRANTY

Limited Warranty on Products

Any Cooper Instruments product which, under normal operating conditions, proves defective in material or in workmanship
within one year of the date of shipment by Cooper will be repaired or replaced free of cha r ge provided that a return material
authorization is obtained from Cooper and the defective product is sent, transportation charges prepaid, with notice of the
defect, and it is established that the product has been properly installed, maintained, and operated within the limits of rated
and normal usage. Replacement or repaired product will be shipped F.O.B. from our plant. The terms of this warranty do
not extend to any product or part thereof which, under normal usage, has an inherently shorter useful life than one year. The
replacement warranty detailed here is the buyer’s exclusive remedy, and will satisfy all obligations of Cooper whether based
on contract, negligence, or otherwise. Cooper is not responsible for any incidental or consequential los s or damage which
might result from a failure of any and all other warranties, express or implied, including implied warranty of merchantability or
fitness for particular purpose. Any unauthorized disassembly or attempt to repair voids this warranty.

Obtaining Service under Warranty

Advance authorization is required prior to the return to Cooper Instruments. Before returning the item, contact the Repair
Department c/o Cooper Instruments at [phone] for a Return Material Authorization number. Shipment to Cooper
shall be at buyer’s expense and repaired or replacement items will be shipped F.O.B. from our plant in Warrenton, Virginia.
Non-verified problems or defects may be subject to a $100 evaluation charge. Please return the original calibration data with
the unit.

Repair Warranty

All repairs of Cooper products are warranted for a period of 90 days from date of shipment. This warranty applies only to
those items that were found defective and repaired; it does not apply to products in which no defect was found and returned
as is or merely recalibrated. It may be possible for out-of-warranty products to be returned to the exact original specifications
or dimensions.

*Technical description of the defect: In order to properly repair a product, it is absolutely necessary for Cooper to receive
information specifying the reason the product is being returned. Specific test data, written observations on the failure and
the specific corrective action you require are needed.

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