Cooper M7 User Manual

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M7 User Guide

Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

Thank you…

Thank you for purchasing a Mark-10 Series 7 digital force gauge, designed for
tension and compression testing applications from 0.12 lb to 1,000 lb (0.5 N to
5,000 N) full scale. The Series 7 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 7 force gauge should
be fully trained in appropriate operation and safety procedures.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW .........................................................2

POWER ...............................................................3

SETUP ................................................................4

HOME SCREEN AND CONTROLS ...................5

DIGITAL FILTERS ..............................................7

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

BREAK DETECTION ..........................................9

OPERATING MODES .......................................11

DATA MEMORY AND STATISTICS ................19

FOOTSWITCH ..................................................21

COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION ..........................22

CUSTOM UNIT .................................................22

COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTPUTS .............23

CALIBRATION .................................................28

PASSWORDS ...................................................33

OTHER SETTINGS ...........................................34

SPECIFICATIONS ............................................36

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

1 OVERVIEW

1.1 List of included items

Part No.

M7-012 –

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 - G1039 G1037 Coupling
1 - - - Thread adapter
1 - Certificate of calibration
1 09-1165 USB cable
1 - Resource CD (USB driver, user’s guides,

1.2 Safety / Proper Usage

M7-20

M7-50 –

M7-100

M7-200 –

M7-500

MESUR
software, User’s Guide)

TM

Lite software, MESURTMgauge DEMO

Description

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 suitable for testing 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
accumulate in the sample during testing. Extra bodily protection should be worn if a destructive
failure of a test sample is possible.

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

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 the
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 appears, “BATTERY VOLTAGE TOO LOW. POWERING OFF”. An audio
tone 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, it can be accessed by separating the two halves of the gauge. Refer
to the Setup section for details.

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

3 SETUP

3.1 Mechanical Setup

3.1.1 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 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 spring pins and contact pads on
the printed circuit boards.

Load cell shaft up Load cell shaft down

3.1.2 Mounting to a plate

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
dowel pin properly can result in a hazardous situation.

3.1.3 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 for load bearing purposes. Failure to use a

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Series 7 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

3.2 Installing the USB driver

If communicating via USB, install the USB driver provided on the Resource CD. Installation instructions
may also be found on the CD or may be downloaded from www.mark-10.com

.

.

Caution!

Install the USB driver before physically connecting the gauge to a PC with the USB cable.

Further instructions for configuring and using the gauge’s outputs are provided in the Communications
and Outputs section.

4 HOME SCREEN AND CONTROLS

4.1 Home Screen

1

13

12

11
10

9

No. Name Description

Tension /

1

compression
indicator

Compression

2

Peak

Tension Peak /

3

Static COF

- indicates a compression (push) direction

- indicates a tension (pull) direction
These indicators are used throughout the display and menu.
The measured compression peak reading. This reading may be reset by
pressing ZERO or by powering the gauge off and on.
The measured tension peak. If the COF unit is selected, this represents the
static coefficient of friction. May be reset by pressing ZERO or by powering
the gauge off and on.

678

2
3

4

5

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

Primary reading /

4

Kinetic COF

5 Load bar

6 Units

Break Detection

7

On/Off

8 Mode

Number of stored

9

data points
Battery / AC

10

adapter indicator

Automatic data

11

output indicator

High / low limit

12

indicators

13 Set points

The current displayed force reading. When the COF unit is selected, this
reading represents the kinetic coefficient of friction upon completion of an
Averaging sequence. 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 unit of measurement. Abbreviations are as follows:
lbF – Pound-force
ozF – Ounce-force
kgF – Kilogram-force
gF – Gram-force
N – Newton
kN – Kilonewton
mN – Millinewton
COF – Coefficient of friction
XXXXX – User-defined unit (up to 5 characters)
Note: not all gauge capacities measure in all the above units. Refer to the
capacity / resolution table in the Specifications section for details. COF and
user-defined units must be enabled before they can be selected.
The letter “B” appears if the Break Detection function is enabled. Refer to the
Break Detection section for details.
The current measurement mode. Abbreviations are as follows:
RT – Real Time
PC – Peak Compression
PT – Peak Tension (corresponds to static COF)
A – Average (corresponds to kinetic COF)
ET – External Trigger
CAPT – Data Capture
2PK – 1

st/2nd

Peak
See Operating Modes section for details.
The number of stored data points in memory, up to 5,000. Displayed only if
Memory Storage or Data Capture functions are used.
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 and Outputs section for details.
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
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.

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

4.2 Controls

Primary

Label Primary Function

ZERO

MENU

MODE

DATA

UNITS

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
denoted with clear text over a dark background. Press ENTER to select a menu item, then use

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
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.

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.
Zeroes the primary reading and
peaks.
Enters the main menu.

Toggles between measurement
modes.
Stores a value to memory, transmits
the current reading to an external
device, and/or initiates automatic
data output, depending on setup.
Toggles between measurement
units.

Turns the LCD backlight on and off.

and keys to scroll through the items. The current selection is

Secondary

Label Secondary Function

ENTER

(UP)
ESCAPE

(DOWN)
DELETE

DIRECTION

N/A

Various uses, as described in the
following sections.

Navigates up through the menu and
sub-menus .
Reverts one step backwards through
the menu hierarchy.
Navigates down through the menu
and sub-menus.
Enables and disables Delete mode
while viewing stored data / shifts
cursor to the right for certain
functions.
Reverses the display during
calibration, and toggles between
tension and compression directions
while configuring set points and other
menu items.
N/A

and

and keys to increment or

5 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 appears as follows:

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

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.

Available settings: 1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128,256,512,1024,2048,4096,8192. 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 visual stability.

6 SET POINTS

6.1 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.

6.2 Configuration

To configure set points, select Set Points from the menu. The screen appears as follows:

SET POINTS
Upper Disabled
* Upper Enabled

5.000 lbF
Lower Disabled
* Lower Enabled

3.500 lbF

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” appears 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:

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

– 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)

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

6.3 Set Point Outputs Schematic Diagram

6.4 Using Set Points to Control a Mark-10 ESM301 Motorized Test Stand

When using set points to stop/cycle crosshead motion on an ESM301 stand, the upper set point must
always be a value in the tension direction, and the lower set point must always be a value in the
compression direction. Both set points must be set, even if the intended application is to stop/cycle at
only one of the set points. The opposite set point should be a value sufficiently large that it does not get
triggered during the course of the test.

For certain other Mark-10 test stands, the tension and compression directions are reversed.

7 BREAK DETECTION

The break detection function identifies when a sample has broken, clicked, slipped, or otherwise reached
a peak force and then fell by a specified percentage drop. Upon detection of the break, the gauge can
perform several automatic functions, depending on the mode in which break detection is enabled, as
follows:

1. Transmit the peak reading (Auto Output).

2. Save the peak value to memory (Auto Storage).

3. Zero the primary and peak readings (Auto Zero).

4. Toggle a pin (for example, to stop crosshead movement on a Mark-10 motorized test stand).

Break detection functions and settings are configured from a central location, and apply to any mode in
which it is enabled. Refer to the Operating Modes section for details on configuring each mode.

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

7.1 Configuration

To enable Break Detection and configure the automatic functions, select Break Detection from the main
menu. The display appears as follows:

BREAK DETECTION
* Disabled

Enabled-End Test

Enabled-Abort
+ Break Settings
+ Auto Output
+ More

Select “+ More” for additional options:

BREAK DETECTION 2

* Auto Storage
* Auto Zero
Auto Zero Delay
3 sec.

Any combination of the above functions may be selected.

Function Description

Arms the break detection function. When enabled, the letter “B” will appear on the

Enabled-End Test

home screen, between the Mode and Unit indicators. Refer to the Home Screen
and Controls section for details. Applies to modes in which a Break Detect Stop
Condition is specified.

Enabled-Abort

Break Settings
Auto Output
Auto Storage
Auto Zero

Same as above, except applies to situations in which a premature break occurs
before the specified Stop Condition is reached.

Refer to the following sub-sections for details.

Automatically stores the peak reading to memory.
Automatically zeroes the display following data transmission and/or storage.

If tones are enabled, a tone will sound when the output, storage, and zero functions have occurred.

7.2 Break Settings

Select Break Settings from the main menu to configure the settings. The display appears as follows:

BREAK DETECTION

SETTINGS

Threshold: 5 %
% Drop: 50 %

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

Threshold

% Drop

Auto Zero Delay

Sets the percentage of full scale at which the break detection function becomes
active. This threshold is provided to ignore peaks that can occur during sample
loading and unloading.
Available settings: 5–90%, in 5% increments.
Sets the percentage drop from the peak reading at which the break is detected.
Available settings: 5%–90% in 5% increments.
Sets the time delay before the primary and peak readings are zeroed. Auto zero
can be disabled if required. Refer to the Auto Output Settings sub-section for
details. Available settings: 1–10 sec. in 1 sec. increments, and 10–60 sec. in 5 sec.
increments.

7.3 Auto Output Settings

Scroll to Auto Settings in the Break Detection menu and press ENTER to configure the auto output
settings. Any combination may be selected. The display appears as follows:

AUTO OUTPUT

SETTINGS

RS232/USB Output
Mitutoyo Output
Output Pin: NONE

Parameter Description
RS232/USB Output
Mitutoyo Output

Output Pin

Automatically output the peak when the break (% Drop) is detected.
Automatically output the peak when the break (% Drop) is detected.
Automatically toggle the SP1, SP2, or SP3 pins (active low). If not required, select
“NONE”. To stop a Mark-10 ESM301 test stand when a break occurs, specify
SP2 if the break is in the tension (upwards) direction, or SP1 for the compression
(downwards) direction.
Note: Because the same pins are also used for set points, the stand will stop at
whichever condition occurs first.

8 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.

Several operating modes are possible with Series 7 gauges, as follows:

- Real Time (RT)

- Peak Compression (PC)

- Peak Tension / Static Coefficient of Friction (PT)

- Average Mode / Kinetic Coefficient of Friction (AVG)

- External Trigger (ET)

- Data Capture (CAPT)

st/2nd

- 1

To cycle between the modes, press MODE while in the home screen. Refer to the following sections for
details for each mode:

Peak (2PK)

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Series 7 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide

p

8.1 Real Time (RT)
The primary reading corresponds to the live measured reading.

8.2 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.

8.3 Peak Tension / Static Coefficient of Friction (PT)
This is the same as Peak Compression, but for tension readings. If the COF unit is selected, the reading
in this mode represents the static coefficient of friction.

Note: The static COF is always displayed as the peak tension value in the upper right corner of the
display.

8.4 Average Mode / Kinetic Coefficient of Friction (AVG)

Average mode is used to obtain an average
force reading over a specified period of time.
This reading also represents the kinetic
coefficient of friction, if the COF unit is selected.
Applications include measurement of peel force,
COF, muscle strength, frictional force, and other
tests requiring time-averaged 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
Enabled and press ENTER. The display

appears as follows:

AVERAGE MODE

Disabled
* Enabled
+ Settings
+ Auto Settings
Out

ut Pin: NONE

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 lbF

12