Itm Mark-10 Series 3 User manual

Series3
DIGITALFORCE GAUGES
User’s Guide
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Series 3 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
1
Thank you…
Thank you for purchasing a Mark-10 Series 3 digital force gauge, designed for
tension and compression force testing applications from 0.12 lbF to 500 lbF
(0.5 N to 2,500 N) full scale. The Series 3 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 3 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
OPERATING MODES.........................................7
CHANGING THE UNITS.....................................7
DIGITAL FILTERS..............................................7
SET POINT INDICATORS..................................8
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTPUTS...............9
CALIBRATION ................................................ 10
OTHER SETTINGS.......................................... 14
SPECIFICATIONS ........................................... 17
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1 OVERVIEW
1.1 List of included items
Qty.
Part No.
Description
M3-012 –
M3-20
M3-50 –
M3-100
M3-200 –
M3-500
1
12-1049
12-1049
12-1049
Carrying Case
1
AC1030 /
AC1031 /
AC1032
AC1030 /
AC1031 /
AC1032
AC1030 /
AC1031 /
AC1032
AC adapter body with US, EU, or UK prong
1
08-1026
08-1026
08-1026
Battery (inside the gauge)
1
G1024
G1024
G1031
Extension rod
1
G1026
G1026
G1033
Cone
1
G1025
G1025
G1032
Chisel
1
G1027
G1027
G1034
V-groove
1
G1029
G1029
G1036
Flat
1
G1028
G1038
G1035
Hook
1
N/A
G1039
G1037
Coupling
1
-
Certificate of calibration
1
09-1165
USB cable
1
-
Resource CD (USB driver, user’s guides,
MESUR Lite software, MESURgauge DEMO
software, User’s Guide)
1.2 Safety / Proper Usage
Caution!
Note the force gauge’s capacity before use and ensure that the capacity is not exceeded.
Producing a force greater than 200% 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
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Series 3 Digital Force Gauges User’s Guide
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accumulate in the sample during testing. Extra bodily protection should be worn if a destructive
failure of a test sample is possible.
6. In certain applications, such as the testing of brittle samples that can shatter, or other applications
that could lead to a hazardous situation, it is strongly recommended that a machine guarding
system be employed to protect the operator and others in the vicinity from shards or debris.
7. When the gauge is not in use, ensure that the power is turned off.
2 POWER
The gauge is powered either by an 8.4V NiMH rechargeable battery or by an AC adapter. Since 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.
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 Mechanical Setup section for details.
USB connector
Power input jack
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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 the
two captive screws on the back side of the housing, separate the two housing halves, rotate one half 180
degrees, and reassemble. Exercise care when reassembling the two halves of the housing, ensuring that
internal wires do not interfere.
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. An additional two holes are supplied
for metric screws. These holes are designed to accommodate screws in order to hold the gauge in place
(Mark-10 test stands include a set of thumb screws for gauge mounting). The screws must not be used
for load bearing purposes. Failure to use a 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. Ensure that the grip or fixture
is positioned to ensure axial load with respect to the loading shaft of the force gauge. When using a grip,
ensure that it secures the sample in such a way that it is prevented from slipping out during a test,
preventing a potential safety risk to the operator and others in the vicinity. If using a grip or fixture from a
supplier other than 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.
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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
No.
Name
Description
1
Tension /
compression
indicator - indicates a compression (push) direction
- indicates a tension (pull) direction
These indicators are used throughout the display and menu.
2
Peaks
The measured compression and tension readings. These readings are reset
by pressing ZERO or by powering the gauge off and on.
3
Primary reading
The current displayed force reading. See Operating Modes section for
details.
4
Load bar
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.
5
Units
The current unit of measurement. Abbreviations are as follows:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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lbF – Pound-force
kgF – Kilogram-force
gF – Gram-force
N – Newton
Note: not all gauge capacities measure in all the above units. Refer to the
capacity / resolution table in the Specifications section for details.
6
Mode
The current measurement mode. Abbreviations are as follows:
RT – Real Time
PC – Peak Compression
PT – Peak Tension
See Operating Modes section for details about each of these modes
7
Battery / AC
adapter indicator
Either the AC adapter icon or battery power icon will be shown, depending on
power conditions. Refer to the Power section for details.
8
High / low limit
indicators
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
9
Set points
The programmed force limits. Typically used for pass/fail type testing. 1, 2, or
no signals may be present, depending on the configuration shown in the Set
Points menu item.
4.2 Controls
Primary
Label
Primary Function
Secondary
Label
Secondary Function
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.
ENTER
Various uses, as described in the
following sections.
ZERO
Zeroes the primary reading and
peaks.
(UP)
Navigates up through the menu and
sub-menus .
MENU
Enters the main menu.
ESCAPE
Reverts one step backwards through
the menu hierarchy.
MODE
Toggles between measurement
modes.
(DOWN)
Navigates down through the menu
and sub-menus.
DATA
Transmits the current reading to an
external device, via the USB port.
DIRECTION
Reverses the display during
calibration, and toggles between
tension and compression directions
while configuring set points and other
menu items.
Note: Measurement units are configured through the menu. Refer to the 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.
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For parameters requiring the input of a numerical value, use the UP and DOWN keys to increment or
decrement the value. Press and hold either key to auto-increment at a gradually increasing rate. When
the desired value has been reached, press ENTER to save the change and revert back to the sub-menu
item, or press ESCAPE to revert back to the sub-menu item without saving. Press ESCAPE to revert one
step back in the menu hierarchy until back into normal operating mode.
Refer to the following sections for details about setting up particular functions and parameters.
5 OPERATING MODES
Caution!
In any operating mode, if the capacity of the instrument has been exceeded by more than 110%,
the display will show “OVER” to indicate an overload. A continuous audible tone will be sounded
(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 Series 3 gauges. To cycle between the modes, press MODE
while in the home screen.
5.1 Real time (RT)
The primary reading corresponds to the live measured reading.
5.2 Peak Compression (PC)
The primary reading corresponds to the peak compression reading observed. If the 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.
5.3 Peak Tension (PT)
Same as Peak Compression, but for tension readings.
6 CHANGING THE UNITS
Series 3 gauges display one of three measurement units. To change the unit, select Units from the
menu. The display appears as follows:
The gauge will always power on with the unit selected.
7DIGITAL 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.
UNITS
* lbF
kgF
N
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To access digital filter settings, select Filters from the menu. The display appears as follows:
Two filters are available:
Current Reading – Applies to the peak capture rate of the instrument.
Displayed Reading – Applies to the primary reading on the display.
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
visual stability.
8SET 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 Pointsfrom the menu. The screen appears as follows:
Either one, two, or none of the set points may be enabled. To toggle between the tension and
compression directions, press the DIRECTION key.
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:
DIGITAL FILTERS
(1 = Fastest)
Current Reading
8
Displayed Reading
128
SET POINTS
Upper Disabled
* Upper Enabled
5.00
Lower Disabled
* Lower Enabled
3.50
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– 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 reference the displayed reading, not necessarily the current live load.
9COMMUNICATIONSAND OUTPUTS
Communication with Series 3 force 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. For continuous output,
the gauge also responds to the ASCII command ‘?’ (no quotes), terminated with a Carriage Return
character or with a Carriage Return/Line Feed combination. The gauge’s responses are always
terminated with a Carriage Return/Line Feed. Any detected errors are reported back by means of error
code *10 (illegal command).
Series 3 gauges can send individual data points or continuous data to MESURTMgauge and MESURTM
Lite software.
9.1 Communication Settings
To set up communication settings, select USB Settings from the menu. The screen appears as follows:
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.
USB SETTINGS
+ Baud Rate
+ Data Format
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