AfiMilk MPC 3 User manual

Afimilk MPC™
Installation Manual
The Afimilk MPC is a milk meter, used for measuring milk yield
and forcontrolling milking point apparatus at bovine milking
parlors. When used together with AfiFarm 5 dairy herd
management system, Afimilk MPC is used for collecting milking
data and alerting milkers to animal health problems. Milkers can
also send animal information to the computer database via
Afimilk MPC control box. Afimilk MPC can be used in the most
common parlor types and brands, and control common milking
point aparatus such as vacuum valves, pulsators, removal etc.
International
Committee for
nimal Recording
Conformité
Européenne
(European
Conformity)
Standards
Institute of Israel
afimilk Kibbutz fikim, 15148 Israel
Tel: [phone] | Fax: [phone]
[email protected].il | www.afimilk.com
Afimilk MPC : Product P/N 4498999
This manual: P/N 9440320
Date First Release - March 2013
2
nd
Release (Ver2.16) - Nov. 20
th
2013
3
rd
Release (Ver 3.0) – June 2015

Afimilk MPC carries all necessary regulations and approvals as the documents at
the following pages show. It is officially approved by IC R committee for cow
milk recording and passed all regulatory safety tests.
Without prior notice and without obligation, the
contents of this manual may be revised to incorporate
changes and improvements.
Every effort is made to ensure that the information is
complete and accurate at the time of publication.
Nevertheless, fiMilk cannot be held responsible for
errors or omissions.
Trademarks, patents, and copyrights apply.
Contents of this manual may be revised to incorporate
changes and improvements.
CAUTION
responsibility to install, operate, and maintain the
system in accordance with all applicable codes,
regulations, and safety measures
.

Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................. 15
System Requirements ........................................................................... 15
Overview of Components ......................................................................... 16
The afimilk MPC Control Box ................................................................ 16
Afimilk MPC Milk Meter Body .............................................................. 17
fimilk MPC Inner Structure ............................................................. 18
fimilk MPC Options ............................................................................. 19
Ordering fimilk MPC ....................................................................... 19
fimilk MPC Connection Box ............................................................ 20
Operation Sequence ................................................................................. 21
Mounting Components ............................................................................ 23
Mounting fimilk MPC Control Box ...................................................... 23
High Protection Cutout in cabinets ................................................... 25
Plugging the main cable at the Control Box ..................................... 28
Mounting the Milk Meter Body ............................................................ 29
Milk Meter Body Mounting Bracket ................................................. 29
Vacuum and Clean-air Lines ................................................................. 30
Installing Vacuum & ir Lines ........................................................... 33
Washing the Vacuum Line ................................................................ 35
Vacuum Shut-off Valves ........................................................................ 36
Installing the Power System ..................................................................... 37
Power Supply Transformers ................................................................. 38
Laying Cables and Connecting Wires ....................................................... 39
Cables .................................................................................................... 39
Cable Protection ................................................................................ 39
Communication Cable .......................................................................... 40
Laying Communication Cables .......................................................... 40
Connecting Communication to the PC .............................................. 41
Power Cable .......................................................................................... 43
Connecting Power Cables and Filter .................................................. 43

Using Connection Boxes to wire the system ........................................ 44
Inserting Cables into the Connection Box ......................................... 44
Connecting Wires to the fimilk MPC Control Box .............................. 45
fimilk Cable Braids Offerings ........................................................... 48
First Time Operation ................................................................................. 49
fimilk MPC Start-up Sequence ............................................................ 50
Loading Default Parameter Values ....................................................... 51
Parameters Load Procedure ............................................................. 51
Setting Milking Point ID Numbers ........................................................ 52
How to number Stall ID ..................................................................... 52
Setting ID numbers at the Control Box ............................................. 53
fiMilk MPC Parameters of Milking Functions ..................................... 54
utomatic Cluster Removal ( CR) .................................................... 54
CR ctivation ............................................................................... 54
CR Parameters ............................................................................. 55
Vacuum valve &Milk Sweep ................................................................. 58
Milk Sweep Parameters .................................................................... 58
Pulsation Control .................................................................................. 59
Pulsator Installation .......................................................................... 59
Pulsation Parameters (Milking) ......................................................... 59
Pulsation Rates .............................................................................. 59
Pulsation Ratios ............................................................................. 59
FCP Programs – Flow controlled pulsation ....................................... 60
PreMilk Stimulation ....................................................................... 60
dditional Operation Parameters......................................................... 61
Cleaning Mode parameters .............................................................. 61
Display parameters ........................................................................... 61
Setting-Up Parameters ............................................................................. 62
fimilk MPC and fiMilk Configuration ................................................ 62
Setting Parameters via the afimilk Computer................................... 63
Setting-up parameters via the control box .......................................... 65
Changing Parameter values .............................................................. 65
Parameter Groups definitions ........................................................... 66

Milk Meter Calibration ............................................................................. 69
Calibrating Electrodes ........................................................................... 69
Milk Meter Electrodes Calibration tool ............................................ 69
Electrodes Calibrating Procedure ..................................................... 70
Reviewing Calibrated Values of Electrodes ...................................... 71
ir intake compensation ....................................................................... 72
Checks before Calibration ................................................................. 72
Measuring Claw ir dmission ............................................................. 73
Measuring ir dmission using ir Gage .......................................... 73
djusting calibration value per air intake ......................................... 74
ccuracy djustment ............................................................................ 75
djusting the “G” Parameter Value .................................................. 76
djusting the “H” Parameter Value .................................................. 76
djusting the values of G & H via communication ........................... 77
Regulatory meter tests and Calibration ............................................... 78
Collecting the Milk into a Milk Bucket .............................................. 78
Statistical ccuracy Calculation ........................................................ 79
“Milker ssistant” Functions .................................................................... 81
External Start Button ............................................................................ 82
Hardware and Electronic Configuration........................................ 82
Liners Replacement lert ..................................................................... 83
ctivating Liners Counter .................................................................. 83
Viewing the Remaining Working Hours per Liner ............................ 84
Resetting Liner Replacement Timer.................................................. 84
Sleep Mode ........................................................................................... 85
Setup .............................................................................................. 85
Operation ...................................................................................... 85
ssigning Milking Operations to specific cows..................................... 86
Settings Interface .......................................................................... 86
Central ctivation of Washing/Milking Mode ...................................... 87
Description .................................................................................... 87
ctivation ...................................................................................... 87
Operation ...................................................................................... 87

Lowering clusters and raising them in batches .................................... 88
Description .................................................................................... 88
ctivation ....................................................................................... 88
Blood Detection with AfiLab installed .................................................. 89
Description .................................................................................... 89
ctivation ....................................................................................... 89
Delay of Vacuum at Start ...................................................................... 90
Stimulation ssignment Options .......................................................... 90
Setting Stimulation Start options .................................................. 90
dditional Output Configurations ............................................................ 91
Overview of Features ............................................................................ 91
Individual Backflush .......................................................................... 92
Strip ................................................................................................... 93
Milk Diversion ................................................................................... 94
Hardware and Electronic Configuration ........................................ 94
ssigning Milk Diversion command to cows ................................. 94
fiMilk MPC Extender ........................................................................... 95
MPC Extender Connections Diagram ................................................ 96
Setting-up MPC Extender .................................................................. 97
Cleaning and Maintenance ....................................................................... 99
General Instructions ............................................................................. 99
Cleaning Cycle ..................................................................................... 100
Detergent Wash .............................................................................. 100
cid Wash ........................................................................................ 101
Cleaning Exterior Surfaces .................................................................. 101
Preventive Maintenance of Milk Meters ............................................ 102
Replacing rubber parts .................................................................... 102
Maintaining clean ir/Vacuum to Solenoids .................................. 102
DR IN the lines ............................................................................ 102
SUCTION FILTER ........................................................................... 102
Washing the V CUUM LINE : ...................................................... 103
Fault lerts .............................................................................................. 104

ccessories ............................................................................................. 106
Vacuum shut off Valves ...................................................................... 106
Valve main features: ................................................................... 106
Range of Shut-off Milk Valves ......................................................... 107
Normally Closed Vacuum-Operated Valve ................................. 107
Normally Open ir-Operated Valve ............................................ 107
Normally Open Vacuum-Operated Valve ................................... 107
Ordering Info ................................................................................... 108
Valve ccessories ........................................................................ 108
The Fat Sampler .................................................................................. 109
Mounting the Fat Sampler .............................................................. 109
Parts List ................................................................................................. 111
Loading Software into afimilk MPC ........................................................ 114
When to Upgrade MPC(s) ................................................................... 114
Pre-upgrade Requisites....................................................................... 115
Checking Milk Meters Operation Mode ......................................... 115
fiMilk MPC Version selection ........................................................... 116
To upgrade software from the parlor ............................................. 116

Introduction
Chapter
1
AfiMilk MPC Installation Manual 15
Introduction
Afimilk MPC milk meter is a milking point controller configurable at most parlor types and
brands. Its primary features are measuring cow's milk yield during milking and controlling
milking point apparatuses such as vacuum, removal and pulsation. Afimilk MPC consists of
control box and milk meter body (Measuring chamber) as shown in the following chapter.
System Requirements
Afimilk MPC is installed at every milking point as either a standalone unit OR under
communication mode as part of AfiFarm – milking parlor management system. Afimilk
MPC version 3 is designed for optimal performance when operating under AfiFarm5
management software. Its basic system requirements include:
oSoftware – afimilk parlor control module as part of AfiFarm program version .00 or
higher.
oPower System – Afimilk MPC is powered by a 24Vac per specifications at the
"Power Supply" chapter below.
onimal Type – The Afimilk MPC was tested and approved for milking cows only.
odditional capabilities - Afimilk MPC version 3 controls the basic functions of the
milking point (Pulsation, vacuum and removal). n additional unit – MPC Extender is
used for controlling additional functions such as milk separation, backflush etc.
odditional Sensors – Afimilk MPC may be configured in conjunction with AfiLab
milking point analyzers. Under AfiFarm5- AfiLab is configured to communicate via
Afimilk MPC and not directly to the PC via a separate communication line, as was
practiced with previous versions of fiFarm.

Chapter
2
Overview of Components
AfiMilk MPC Installation Manual 16
Overview of Components
Afimilk MPC milk meter consists of two main components – a control box (shown below)
and a milk meter body (shown on the following page). Both components have their own
connection cable, available at various lengths per needs.
n Afimilk MPC connection box is available for securing and protecting wiring
connections.
Each Afimilk MPC milk meter body (measuring chamber) is wired to its control box. ll
control boxes installed in the milking parlor are connected to the AfiControl PC (The
fiFarm software communicating with fi sensors) via a single communication line.
Figure 1: Component Overview Diagram
The afimilk MPC Control Box
The control box serves the following functions:
oControls milking activities.
oDisplays data such as cow number, milk yield alert
codes and cow data.
oUsed to enter data such as cow numbers at manual ID
and send messages from the pit to the AfiControl PC.

Overview of Components
Chapter
2
AfiMilk MPC Installation Manual 17
Afimilk MPC Milk Meter Body
Afimilk MPC body is a measuring chamber connected as part of the milking system in the
parlor. The milk meter body is installed between the milking cluster and the milk line thus
all the milk harvested from the cow flows through the body during milking. The Afimilk
MPC body is an assembly of three main parts:
oUpper Cover and Inlet Port: Milk enters the main chamber through the inlet. The
inlet is available in two diameters: 5/8 inch, or 7/8 inch (see Ordering Afimilk MPC,
below).
oMid-Section: Milk fills up the measuring chamber in the mid-section while the
outlet port's valve is closed. The mid-section body contains the following
components:
>Three electrodes measuring milk electrical conductivit
>A c lindrical valve, which also serves as overflow tube
>A silicon gasket
oLower Cover and Outlet Port: Lower cover is the milk discharge mechanism of the
milk meter. Its outlet port connects the milk meter to the main milk line via a
rubber elbow pipe. The mid-section body contains a solenoid and diaphragm
lifting and lowering the valve in the mid-section, allowing milk to accumulate and
be dumped into the main milk line per Afimilk MPC's operation sequence.
The electrodes detect milk conductivity
and the milk level in the mid-section.
When a full mid-section is detected, a
signal is sent to energize the solenoid.
When the solenoid is energized, vacuum
causes the flexible diaphragm to pull the
valve down, a path opens between the
mid-section and the lower cover and the
milk drains via the outlet port into the
milk line.
Each portion of milk is measured
precisely. The amount of each portion
may vary from 200 to 330 cc, depending
on the milk flow rate.

Chapter
2
Overview of Components
AfiMilk MPC Installation Manual 18
Afimilk MPC Inner Structure
The body consists of three main sections: an upper cover, a mid-section, and a lower
cover. Each section can be easily dismantled by releasing the retaining clasp.
The mid–section is a measuring chamber with electrodes protruding from its side. The
electrodes, probing the milk in the chamber for measuring milk conductivity, are wired to
the Afimilk MPC Control Box.
Figure 2: Milk Meter Body—Internal Structure

Overview of Components
Chapter
2
AfiMilk MPC Installation Manual 19
Afimilk MPC Options
Each Afimilk MPC body is connected to the control unit via a connection box or by any
other means ensuring connections protection. Afimilk MPC body incorporates integrated
cables, connecting its sensing probes and electronic solenoid to the control unit inside
Afimilk MPC control box. Afimilk MPC control box cables and Afimilk MPC body cables are
both available at different lengths according to the requirements of installation (Distance
between components). Some lengths of the Afimilk MPC control box cable are not stock
items, but may be manufactured per order. These are marked with an asterisk.
Afimilk MPC may be ordered with one of two inlet port diameter options according to the
milk hose in use (cluster size).
Ordering Afimilk MPC
This chapter explains how to order a milk meter with the desired lengths of cables. The
standard configuration of Afimilk MPC offers:
o5/8 inch inlet port diameter.
o2m long Afimilk MPC control box cable.
o3.5m long body cable (probes and valve).
Part number 4498999 is used for ordering the standard configuration of Afimilk MPC
described above.
Different cable lengths may be ordered by
adding suffix letters to the part number as
explained in this diagram.
Afimilk MPC can also be ordered with a non-
standard larger inlet port. dd I suffix before the
cable length suffixes to order the product with a
7/8 inch inlet port diameter.
Example: 4498999IAC will be:
oI= 7/8 Inlet
oA= 2m Control box cable
oC= 10m body cables

Chapter
2
Overview of Components
AfiMilk MPC Installation Manual 20
Afimilk MPC Connection Box
connection box for protecting cable connections is available at afimilk. This component,
a highly recommended accessory for installation, is ordered separately from the milk
meter.
Afimilk MPC connection box P/N 4493840