Cooper Instruments ELF 4200 Installation Manual
ELF 4200
Load and Force System
Single Handle, Multi-Handle, and Hi-Speed Systems
Version 3.10
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 .....................................................................................................................4
3.1 Software Installation.......................................................................................................................6
3.2 Hardware Installation....................................................................................................................10
4.0 OVERVIEW ..........................................................................................................................10
4.1 Sensors..........................................................................................................................................11
4.2 Sensor Handle...............................................................................................................................11
4.3 Screen Display ..............................................................................................................................11
4.3.1 Screen Display........................................................................................................................11
4.3.2 Main Window ..........................................................................................................................11
Movie Window .................................................................................................................................13
4.4 THE MAIN MENU...........................................................................................................................14
4.4.1 The Main Menu .......................................................................................................................14
4.4.2 File Menu.................................................................................................................................14
4.4.3 Edit Menu................................................................................................................................16
4.4.4 View Menu...............................................................................................................................17
4.4.5 Record Menu...........................................................................................................................19
4.4.6 Tools Menu .............................................................................................................................22
4.4.7 Window Menu.........................................................................................................................26
4.4.8 Frames Displayed Menu........................................................................................................26
4.4.9 Help Menu...............................................................................................................................27
5.0 SENSOR LOADING CONSIDERATIONS............................................................................28
5.1 SENSOR LOADING .......................................................................................................................28
5.2 SATURATION ................................................................................................................................28
5.3 CONDITIONING SENSORS...........................................................................................................29
6.0 CALIBRATION.....................................................................................................................29
6.1 CALIBRATION GUIDELINES ........................................................................................................30
6.2 CALIBRATION PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................31
7.0 SENSOR PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS ..............................................................35
7.1 REPEATABILITY ...........................................................................................................................35
7.2 LINEARITY.....................................................................................................................................35
7.3 HYSTERESIS .................................................................................................................................36
7.4 DRIFT .............................................................................................................................................36
7.5 TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY......................................................................................................36
7.6 SENSOR LIFE / DURABILITY .......................................................................................................36
8.0 USING THE ELF LABVIEW VI’S.........................................................................................36
8.1 LABVIEW VI INSTALLATION........................................................................................................36
8.2 VI’S .................................................................................................................................................36
8.2.1 VISA Sessions........................................................................................................................37
8.2.2 Getting Started VI...................................................................................................................37
8.2.3 Tekscan-ELF App Example...................................................................................................37
8.2.4 Tekscan-ELF Loop Example .................................................................................................37
8.2.5 Initialize...................................................................................................................................38
8.2.6 Close .......................................................................................................................................38
8.2.7 Sensitivity ...............................................................................................................................38
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8.2.8 Read ........................................................................................................................................39
GLOSSARY ...............................................................................................................................39
7.0 WARRANTY REPAIR POLICY............................................................................................45
Limited Warranty On Products..........................................................................................................45
Obtaining Service Under Warranty....................................................................................................45
Repair Warranty ..................................................................................................................................45
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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
electronics, and SSB-F (Single Sensing Button - FlexiForce) sensors. The ELF system hardware includes the
sensor handle with serial 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 a 32-bit application that is compatible with Microsoft (MS) Windows 95/98/ME/2000 and XP.
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 realtime
force data; it can be displayed as a strip chart, meter, 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. Realtime data or movie frames can also be copied to the Windows clipboard and pasted
into other applications as a .bmp (bitmap) file.
TM
-based software, the associated
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.
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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).
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.
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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.
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
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 9-pin RS-232 port per ELF handle
• Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP
To use the Multi-Handle ELF software with multiple RS-232 serial ports, one port must be available for each ELF
handle used. To meet the power requirements for the ELF handle and FlexiForce sensor, compatible serial ports
must generate at least 7 Volts each from the DTR and RTS pins. They also must be labeled with a distinct COM
port number. The following products have been tested with the ELF multi-handle system and were found to be
compatible at the time of testing. Not all products from each manufacturer have been tested. It is possible that other
products from these manufacturers with similar specifications will also be compatible with the ELF system.
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NOTE: For the Hi-speed Multi-Handle ELF software: If using Windows 2000/XP you will need a PCI board
and we would recommend that you use no more than 4 handles. If using Windows 95/98/ME you will need
either a PCI board or USB adapter.
Quatech, Inc.
662 Wolf Ledges Parkway
Akron, OH 44311 USA
T: (800)-553-1170 T: (330)-434-3154
F: (330)-434-1409
E-Mail: sales@quatech.com
Web: www.quatech.com
Quatech PCI boards
QSC-100 Four Port RS-232 PCI Serial Board:
http://www.quatech.com/shopquatech/products/prod338.asp
Alternate cable with four D-9 serial connectors is required for ELF
Quatech USB adapters
SSU-100One Port RS-232 Serial USB Adapter with 9-pin connector
http://www.quatech.com/shopquatech/products/prod4324.asp
QSU-100 Four Port RS-232 Serial USB Adapter
http://www.quatech.com/shopquatech/products/prod268.asp
ESU-100 Eight Port RS-232 Serial USB Adapter
http://www.quatech.comshopquatech products/prod4325.asp
Measurement Computing, Corp.
16 Commerce Boulevard
Middleboro, MA 02346
T: (508) 946-5100 F: (508) 946-9500
E-Mail: info@measurementcomputing.com
Web: www.measurementcomputing.com
Measurement Computing PCI Boards
PCI-COM232/4-9 Four Port RS-232 Interface with 9 pin adapters
www.measurementcomputing.com
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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.
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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.
The next screen that will appear offers you the options to place a shortcut icon on your desktop and view the
README file.
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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.
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.
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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 SSB-F (Single Sensing Button -
FlexiForce) sensors. If you are using the Multi-Handle ELF system, refer to the instructions included with the
individual "PCI board" or "USB-Serial interface box" for installation. Connect one ELF handle to each COM port you
wish to use during testing.
To install the sensor handle, connect its plug to one of the receptacles on the adaptor plug. To insert a sensor into
the handle, ensure that the "UP" printed on the sensor is correctly oriented (on the same side as the blue button on
the handle), and then press down the blue button. Slide the sensor tab into the slot until it reaches its mechanical
stop, and release the blue button.
Do not force the sensor if it will not slide into the handle easily. If the sensor will not slide in easily, check that there
is nothing inside the handle blocking the sensor, and check that the end of the sensor is not bent or folded.
If the software has been installed, and is running, when the sensor is correctly inserted, an audible beep will be
heard, and the "Sensor OK" icon on the Toolbar will be a green square; otherwise it will be "grayed out".
Note: Follow Static control procedures when handling the sensor while it is in use.
4.0 OVERVIEW
This section outlines the Various Hardware and Software components that ship with your system.
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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.
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 a serial port.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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