Nidec Shimpo FG-L1 User manual

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Loadmeter Model FG-L1 v1.0
For use with Shimpo force gauge models:
FGV-0.5, FGV-1, FGV-2, FGV-5, FGV-10, FGV-20, FGV-50, FGV-100,
FGV-200H, FGV-300H, FGV-500H
Congratulations on your purchase of Shimpo’s Loadmeter software. We trust you will enjoy many years of
professional results from this product.
Please read this entire instruction manual thoroughly before initial set-up and operation; the information
contained herein will aid you in operating your Shimpo Loadmeter software safely and with excellent
results.
If you have any questions regarding our product(s), call your local Shimpo representative or contact
Shimpo Instruments directly for assistance.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features and Benefits ....................................................................................................... 3
Important Safety Precautions ........................................................................................... 3
Software Installation and Cable Connection.................................................................... 3
Requirements for Software Installation and Use ...................................................... 3
Connecting an FGV Series Force Gauge to Your PC............................................... 3
Software Installation Instructions............................................................................. 3
Loadmeter Main Screen Description ............................................................................... 4
Tool Bar Icons..................................................................................................................5
Main Menu Display.......................................................................................................... 6
[File] Menu....................................................................................................................... 6
[Open] ....................................................................................................................... 7
[Save]........................................................................................................................ 7
[Print]........................................................................................................................ 8
[Exit] ......................................................................................................................... 8
[Condition] Menu............................................................................................................. 9
[Trigger].................................................................................................................... 9
[Time] ..................................................................................................................... 10
[Weight].................................................................................................................. 10
[COM Port]............................................................................................................. 10
[Help] Menu ................................................................................................................... 10
Table Data Display......................................................................................................... 11
Using Peak Hold............................................................................................................. 11
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................. 12
Warranty......................................................................................................................... 13

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Features and Benefits
Shimpo’s Loadmeter software offers many features and benefits, including:
•Allows user to display measurement results in a graph of force vs. time
•Displays and records last, maximum, minimum, average, and standard deviation values (for spc applications)
•Enables user to select minimum trigger force value to begin measurements, tension or compression
•Measures data in gram/kilogram force [gf], Newtons [N], and pounds [lb.]
•Provides option to have data displayed in table format
•Works with Shimpo force gauge models FGV-0.5, FGV-1, FGV-2, FGV-5, FGV-10, FGV-20, FGV-50,
FGV-100, FGV-200H, FGV-300H and FGV-500H for measurements up to 500 pounds (250kg/2500N)
•Distinguishes which Shimpo FGV model is being used with the software
Important Safety Precautions
Do not operate or store package in the following places: explosive areas; near water, oil, dust, or
chemicals; areas where temperature is above 104°F (40°C).
Do not connect or remove the serial cable when the computer is on.
Software Installation and Cable Connection
Requirements for Software Installation and Use
•Pentium®75 MHz CPU or greater
•Microsoft®Windows®95/98
•32MB available conventional memory
•One available 9-pin serial port
•VGA (640 x 480) display or greater
•FGV-RS232 communication cable (sold separately)
•FGV series handheld force gauge
Connecting an FGV Series Force Gauge to Your PC
1. With the computer’s power off, connect the FGV-RS232 cable (sold separately) 9-pin female side to
an available serial port in the back of your computer. Do not connect or remove the serial cable when
the computer is on.
2. Connect the round 10-pin male side of the cable to the RS232C output port of the FGV series force
gauge located next to the power input.
3. Confirm that the force gauge’s power is on and restart the computer.
4. Continue to “Software Installation Instructions” below.
Software Installation Instructions
1. For a clean installation, exit all running programs.
2. To install Loadmeter from the CD, insert the Loadmeter CD in your CD-ROM drive, double-click the
[My Computer] icon on the Windows desktop, double-click [CD-ROM drive]. Double-click “Setup”
to begin.
3. To run the Loadmeter software select [Start], select [Program], then select “Loadmeter”.

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Loadmeter Main Screen Description
Main Screen
nMain Menu
oTool Bar
pData Display
qGraph Display
rWindow Title
sScroll Bars
o
p
s
q
r
n

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Tool Bar Icons
Opens file
Saves file
Prints recorded data
Selects COM port
Selects trigger
Selects time interval (x-axis)
Selects force (y-axis)
Selects y-axis gram/kilogram force units
Selects y-axis Newton units
Selects y-axis lb. units
Starts recording
Stops recording
Increases force interval
Decreases force interval
Tare function adjusts nonzero force value to zero
Obtains measurement data at specified time interval
Creates table for data
Records peak value

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Main Menu Display
Displays Trigger Mode
Displays Current Status of Loadmeter
Displays Trigger Level Value
Displays Trigger Level Direction
Displays Maximum Peak Value
Displays Maximum Measured Value
Displays Trigger Position
Displays Minimum Measured Value
Displays Time and Date of Measurement
Displays Total Number of X-axis Increments
Displays Current Y-axis Force Measurement
Displays Comment, i.e. file name
Displays Current Average Value
Displays Standard Deviation (N)

Displays Standard Deviation for Population (N-1)
[File] Menu
[Open] Open a *.dat file
[Save] Save a *.dat file
[Print] Print all main screen measurement data
[Exit] Exit program




   

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[Open]
1. Select [Open] as described above in “[File] Menu”.
2. Select appropriate drive and folder of file you wish
to open, if not already selected.
3. Open the highlighted file by clicking [OK].
[Save]
The Loadmeter software allows saving files in two
formats. Each saved file can be viewed using a
spreadsheet program, for example, Microsoft®Excel.
cReal Data
dResult Data
The Real Data option will save recorded data every 0.2
increments of the user set time interval for six intervals.
For example, if the user sets the time interval (x-axis) to
1 second, data will be recorded every 0.2 seconds for six
seconds.
The Results Data option will save the maximum force value for every six intervals.
NOTE: Continuous trigger must be selected to record data in this mode, see “[Trigger]”
on page 9.
1. Select [Save] as described in “[File] Menu” on page 6.
2. Select appropriate drive and folder of the file you wish to save, if not already
selected.
3. Select cReal Data or dResult Data.
4. Name the file or select one already named and select [OK].
c
d

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[Print]
Selecting [Print] as described in “[File] Menu” on page 6 prints data and a graph of
recorded measurement. See example below.
[Exit]
Selecting [Exit] as described in “[File] Menu” on page 6 exits Loadmeter software.

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[Condition] Menu
[Trigger] Sets trigger force to begin measurement
[Time] Sets x-axis measurement increments, 0.5 second to 10 minutes
[Weight] Sets y-axis measurement increments (g/kg, N or lb.)
[COM Port…] Selects COM Port for input from force gauge
[Trigger]
1. Select [Trigger] as described above in “[Condition] Menu”.
2. [Mode] Select appropriate mode:
[None]: Continuous recording.
[Single]: Measures one triggered six-interval time measurement.
[Continue]: Continuous triggered six-interval time measurements.
3. [Direction] Select the appropriate direction. [Up] direction triggers on increase in
force, positive slope, while [Down] triggers on decrease in force, negative slope.
4. [Load Level] Select the value of force to begin triggered measurements.
5. [Time Position] Begins triggered measurement on selected x-axis interval. Displays
previous intervals prior to trigger after measurement is complete.
6. [Range] Informs user that only intervals 1 through 6 may be selected.
[Direction
[Mode]
[Load Level] [Time Position]
[Range]

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[Time]
1. Select [Time] as described in [Condition] File on
page 9.
2. Select time interval, x-axis. Interval may be
selected in 0.5-sec, 1-sec, 2-sec, 5-sec, 10-sec,
20- sec, 0.5-min, 1-min, 2-min, 5-min or 10-min.
[Weight]
1. Select [Weight] as described above in
[Condition] Menu on page 9. The domain of the
weight is selected automatically by the
Loadmeter software and depends on the limits of
the force gauge used.
2. Select Scale: gf (gram/kilogram force),
N (Newtons), or lb. (pounds). You may also
select these options using the force gauge.
3. The scroll key selects an interval of force, y-axis.
[COM Port]
Selecting [COM Port…] provides user with the ability to select appropriate COM port.
[Help] Menu
[Introduction] Explains icons, words and phrases
[Version] Loadmeter software version information