Thank you for purchasing a Mark-10 Series TT03 digital torque gauge,
designed for handheld or test stand use.
With proper usage, we are confident that you will get many years of
great service with this product. Mark-10 instruments 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 a Series TT03 digital
torque gauge should be fully trained in appropriate operation and
safety procedures.
1 12-1049 Carrying Case
1 08-1022 AC adapter body with US, EU, or UK prong
1 08-1026 Battery (inside the gauge)
1 - Certificate of calibration
1 09-1165 USB cable
1 - Resource CD (USB driver, user’s guides, MESURTM Lite
software, MESUR
1.2 Safety / Proper Usage
TM
gauge DEMO software, User’s Guide)
Caution!
Note the torque gauge’s capacity before use and ensure that the capacity is not exceeded.
Producing a torque greater than 150% of the gauge’s capacity can damage the internal sensor. An
overload can occur whether the gauge is powered on or off.
Typical materials able to be tested include many manufactured items, such as springs, electronic
components, fasteners, caps, 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.
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.
The TT03 is powered either by an 8.4V NiMH rechargeable battery or by an AC adapter. Since these
batteries are subject to self discharge, it may be necessary to recharge the unit after a prolonged period
of storage. Plug the accompanying charger into the AC outlet and insert the charger plug into the
receptacle on the gauge (refer to the illustration below). The battery will fully charge in approximately 8
hours.
USB connector
Power input jack
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”. 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 loosening the two captive screws in
the rear half of the housing and separating the two halves of the housing.
Load must be applied axially with respect to the sensor, as shown in Figure 3.1. If attachments are used,
ensure that the sample is acted upon axially with respect to the instrument. Side loading or off-center
loading can damage the instrument, whether power is turned on or off.
3.1.2 Mounting to a plate
The indicator portion of the gauge can be mounted to a plate with four thumb screws fastened into the
appropriate holes in the rear half of the housing.
The torque sensor portion of the gauge (shown in Figure 3.1) can be mounted directly to a Mark-10
torque test stand or tabletop mounting kit without the need for any additional adapters. Flat surfaces are
provided to prevent rotation within a fixture.
Refer to the Dimensions section for detailed information.
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.
– indicates clockwise direction – indicates counter-clockwise direction
These indicators are used throughout the display and menu.
The maximum measured clockwise and counter-clockwise readings. These
readings are reset by pressing ZERO or by powering the gauge off and on.
The current displayed load 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 clockwise load, increasing to the left indicates
counter-clockwise 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:
lbFin – Pound-inch
ozFin – Ounce-inch
kgFmm – Kilogram-millimeter
Ncm – Newton-centimeter
Note: not all sensor models display all the above units. Refer to the capacity /
resolution table for details.
The current measurement mode. Abbreviations are as follows:
RT – Real Time
PCW – Peak Clockwise
PCCW – Peak Counter-clockwise
See Operating Modes section for details about each of these modes
Either the AC adapter icon or battery power icon will be shown, depending on
power conditions. Refer to the Power section for details.
Note: Measurement units are configured through the menu. Refer to Changing The Units section for
details.
4.3 Menu navigation basics
Most of the gauge’s various functions and parameters are configured through the main menu. To access
the menu press MENU. Use the UP and DOWN keys to scroll through the items. The current selection is
denoted with clear text over a dark background. Press ENTER to select a menu item, then use UP and
DOWN again to scroll through the sub-menus. Press ENTER again to select the sub-menu item.
For parameters that may be either selected or deselected, press ENTER to toggle between selecting and
deselecting. An asterisk (*) to the left of the parameter label is used to indicate when the parameter has
been selected.
For parameters requiring the input of a numerical value, use the UP and DOWN keys to increment or
decrement the value. Press and hold either key to auto-increment at a gradually increasing rate. When
the desired value has been reached, press ENTER to save the change and revert back to the sub-menu
item, or press ESCAPE to revert back to the sub-menu item without saving. Press ESCAPE to revert one
step back in the menu hierarchy until back into normal operating mode.
Refer to the following sections for details about setting up particular functions and parameters.
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.
Transmits the current reading to an
external device via the USB port.
Correspond to the programmed set points. Indicator definitions are as follows:
– the displayed value is greater than the upper load limit
– the displayed value is between the load limits
– the displayed value is less than the lower load limit
The programmed load limit values. Typically used for pass/fail type testing.
One, two, or no indicators may be present, depending on the configuration
shown in the Set Points menu item.
Secondary
Label Secondary Function
ENTER
(UP)
ESCAPE
(DOWN)
DIRECTION
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.
Toggles between clockwise and
counter-clockwise directions while
configuring set points and other menu
functions.
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
(if beeps are enabled) until the MENU key has been pressed or the load has been reduced to a
safe level.
Three operating modes are possible with the TT03 torque gauge. 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 Clockwise (PCW)
The primary reading corresponds to the peak clockwise reading observed. If the actual load 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 Counter-clockwise (PCCW)
Same as above, but for counter-clockwise readings.
6 CHANGING THE UNITS
The TT03 can display three different measurement units, depending on the model. To change the unit,
select Units from the menu. The display will list the available units, for example:
UNITS
* lbFin
kgFmm
Ncm
The gauge will always power on with the unit selected.
7 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:
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. 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.
8 SET POINT INDICATORS
8.1 General Information
Set points are useful for tolerance checking (pass/fail). 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.
8.2 Configuration
To configure set points, select Set Points from the menu. The screen appears as follows:
SET POINTS
Upper Disabled
* Upper Enabled
5.00
Lower Disabled
* Lower Enabled
3.50
Either one, two, or none of the set points may be enabled. To toggle between the clockwise and counterclockwise 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:
Note: Set point indicators reference the displayed reading, not necessarily the current live load.
To set up communication settings, select USB Settings from the menu. The screen appears as follows:
USB SETTINGS
+ Baud Rate
+ Data Format
Communication settings are permanently set to the following:
Data Bits: 8
Stop Bits: 1
Parity: None
Other settings are configured as follows:
9.1.1 Baud Rate
Select the baud rate as required for the application. It must be set to the same value as the receiving
device.
9.1.2 Data Format
Select the desired data format. The screen appears as follows:
DATA FORMAT
* Numeric + Units
Numeric Only
Invert Polarity
Omit Polarity
Selection Description
Numeric + Units Output format includes the value and unit of measure. Clockwise values have
positive polarity, counter-clockwise values have negative polarity.
Numeric Only Output format includes the value only. Polarity same as above.
Invert Polarity Clockwise values have negative polarity, counter-clockwise values have positive
polarity. May be selected in addition to the Numeric + Units / Numeric Only
selection.
Omit Polarity Both directions are formatted with positive polarity. May be selected in addition to
the Numeric + Units / Numeric Only selection.
9.2 Data Output
Communication with Series TT03 torque gauges is achieved through the micro USB port located along
the left side of the housing, 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).
The current reading is transmitted from the gauge when the DATA key is pressed. Series TT03 gauges
may also be controlled by an external device through the USB channel by sending ASCII command ‘?’
(no quotes). The command must be terminated by a CR (Carriage Return) character, 0x0D, or a CR-LF
(Carriage Return – Line Feed) pair, where the Line Feed, 0x0A, is ignored.
9.3 Command Responses
In response to the reading request command ‘?’ the gauge will return a string with the load data, followed
by a space, then the load unit (if enabled under the USB SettingsData format sub-menu). It will be
terminated by a CR-LF pair.
Example return strings:
-18.78 lbFin<CR><LF> 18.78 lbFin of counter-clockwise torque
4.285 Nm<CR><LF> 4.285 Nm of clockwise torque
The number of digits after the decimal point is dependent of the gauge’s capacity and resolution.
Polarity may be inverted or omitted, as shown in the table above.
Any detected errors are reported back by means of error code *10 (illegal command).
Series TT03 gauges can send individual data points or continuous data to MESUR
MESUR
TM
Lite software.
TM
gauge and
10 CALIBRATION
10.1 Initial Physical Setup
The sensor should be mounted vertically
equal to the full capacity of the instrument. Vertical orientation is preferable to avoid side loading, which
can affect the readings. Suitable certified calibration equipment is required, and caution should be taken
while handling such equipment.
The illustration below depicts a recommended vertical setup:
to a test stand or fixture rugged enough to withstand a load
1. Select Calibration from the menu. The display appears as follows:
CALIBRATION
Enter # cal points
(1 to 10)
Clockwise:
5
Counter-clockwise:
5
The sensor can be calibrated at up to 10 points in each direction. Enter the number of calibration
points for each direction. At least one point must be selected for each direction.
Note: To achieve the accuracy specification of ±0.5% of full scale, it is recommended to calibrate
the sensor at 5 or more even increments in both the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.
For example, a sensor with capacity of 50 lbFin should be calibrated at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50
lbFin loads in each direction.
2. To escape the Calibration menu at any time, press ESCAPE. The display appears as follows:
CALIBRATION
NOT COMPLETE
Cancel
Exit w/o saving
Selecting “CANCEL” will revert back to the Calibration setup. Selecting “EXIT W/O SAVING” will
return to the menu without saving changes.
3. After the number of calibration points has been entered, press ENTER. The display appears as
follows:
CALIBRATION
OFFSET
Place torque sensor
vertically, then
press ZERO.
4. Place the torque sensor vertically in a fixture free from vibration, then press ZERO. The gauge
will calculate offsets, and the display appears as follows:
5. The following screen appears after the offsets have been calculated:
CALIBRATION
CLOCKWISE
Attach necessary
weight fixtures,
then press ENTER.
Keep the sensor in a vertical position, as explained in the previous sub-section. Attach weight
fixtures (brackets, hooks, etc), as required. Do not yet attach any weights or apply any calibration
loads. Then press ENTER.
6. The display appears as follows:
CALIBRATION
CLOCKWISE
Optionally exercise
sensor, then press
ENTER.
Optionally exercise the sensor several times (at full scale, if possible), then press ENTER.
7. The display appears as follows:
CALIBRATION
CLOCKWISE
Gain adjust
Apply full scale load
50.00 lbFin +/-20%,
then press ENTER.
Apply torque equal to the full scale of the instrument, then press ENTER.
8. After displaying “PLEASE WAIT…” the display appears as follows:
Remove the torque applied in Step 7, leave the fixtures in place, then press ZERO.
9. The display appears as follows:
CALIBRATION
CLOCKWISE
Apply load
1 OF 5
Enter load:
10.00 lbFin
Press ENTER.
Use the UP and DOWN keys to adjust the torque value as required. The torque values default to
even increments, as indicated by the previously entered number of data points described in Step
1. Then press ENTER.
Repeat the above step for the number of data points selected.
10. After all the clockwise calibration points have been completed, the display appears as follows:
CALIBRATION
CLOCKWISE COMPLETE
Reverse direction
for counter-clockwise.
Attach necessary
weight fixtures,
then press ENTER.
Press ENTER.
11. At the completion of the counter-clockwise calibration, the display appears as follows:
CALIBRATION
COMPLETE
Save & exit
Exit w/o saving
To save the calibration information, select “SAVE & EXIT”. To exit without saving the data select
“EXIT W/O SAVING”.
12. Any errors are reported by the following screens:
CALIBRATION
Units must be Ncm.
Please try again
Press ENTER.
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.
CALIBRATION
CLOCKWISE
Load too low.
Please try again.
The calibration load does not match the set value.
CALIBRATION
COUNTER-CLOCKWISE
Load too close
to previous.
Please try again.
The entered calibration point is too close to the previous point.
11 OTHER SETTINGS
11.1 Automatic Shutoff
The gauge may be configured to automatically power off following a period of inactivity while on battery
power. 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 appears as follows:
AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF
* Disabled
Enabled
Set Minutes
5
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.
Note: If the AC adapter is plugged in, the gauge will ignore the Automatic Shutoff setting and remain
powered on until the POWER key is pressed.
11.2 Backlight
Several initial settings are available, upon powering on the gauge. To access these settings, select
Backlight from the menu. The display appears as follows:
Note: If the AC adapter is plugged in, the gauge will ignore these settings and keep the backlight on.
Selecting the On or Off setting in the Backlight menu will manually turn the backlight on or off as if the
Backlight key were pressed.
11.3 LCD Contrast
The contrast of the display may be adjusted. Select LCD Contrast from the menu. The screen appears
as follows:
LCD CONTRAST
Set Contrast
Press ENTER to modify the contrast. Select a value from 0 to 25, 25 producing the most contrast.
11.4 Tones
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 Tones from the menu. The screen appears as follows:
Keys
* Alerts
Set Points
* Momentary
Continuous
11.5 Initial Mode
This section is used to configure the initial mode upon powering on the gauge. To access this parameter,
select Initial Mode from the menu. The screen will display the available modes. An example is as follows:
Backlight to be off upon powering on the gauge.
Backlight to be on upon powering on the gauge.
Backlight to be on upon powering gauge, but will shut off after a period of inactivity (as
defined in the Automatic Shutoff sub-section). The backlight will turn on again when
activity resumes. The length of time of inactivity is programmed in minutes via the Set Minutes parameter. Available settings: 1-10, in 1 minute increments.
Default factory settings can be restored by selecting Restore Defaults from the menu. The settings may
be found in the Specifications section. The screen appears as follows:
RESTORE DEFAULT
SETTINGS?
No
Yes
11.7 Information / Welcome Screen
The following screen is displayed at power up and can be accessed at any time by selecting Information
from the menu:
Digital Torque Gauge
Series TT03
Model No: MTT03-50
Serial No: 1234567
Version: 1.0
(c) Mark-10 Corp.
±0.5% of full scale
2,000 Hz
AC or rechargeable battery. Low battery indicator appears when battery level is low, and
gauge powers off automatically when power reaches critical stage.
Backlight on:
Backlight off:
lbFin, ozFin, kgFmm, Ncm (depending on model)
Individual data point output by pressing DATA button. Configurable up to 115,200 baud.
150% of full scale (display shows “OVER” at 110% and above)
1.8 lb [0.8 kg]
Carrying case, AC adapter, battery, USB cable, resource CD (USB driver, MESUR
Lite software, MESURTMgauge DEMO software, and user’s guide), NIST-traceable
certificate of calibration
40 - 100°F, max. 96% humidity, non-condensating
3 years (see individual statement for further details)
up to 7 hours of continuous use
up to 24 hours of continuous use
Set points
Upper Disabled (defaults to 80% of full scale, clockwise, when enabled)
Lower Disabled (defaults to 40% of full scale, clockwise, when enabled)
Filters
Current 8
Displayed 128
Backlight Auto
Minutes 1
USB Output Disabled
Baud Rate 9,600
Data Format Numeric + units
Automatic Shutoff Enabled
Minutes 5
Tones
Keys Enabled
Alerts Enabled
Set Points Momentary
Initial Mode Real Time
Units Depends on gauge model
12.3 Capacity & Resolution
Model ozFin lbFin kgFmm Ncm
MTT03-10Z 10 x 0.01 - 7 x 0.005 7 x 0.005
MTT03-20Z 20 x 0.02 - 14 x 0.01 14 x 0.01
MTT03-50Z 50 x 0.05 - 36 x 0.05 36 x 0.05
MTT03-12 192 x 0.2 12 x 0.01 - 135 x 0.1
MTT03-50 800 x 0.5 50 x 0.05 - 570 x 0.5
MTT03-100 1600 x 1 100 x 0.1 - 1150 x 1