Niigata seiki LEVELNIC User manual

Precision Electronic Level≪ ≫
Compact Digital Level
DL-m3
LEVELNIC Owners Manual
Than you for purchasing Niigata Sei i LEVELNIC.
Please read this manual thoroughly before use to insure proper operation
and a long service life.
[ CONTENTS ]
Introduction ････････････････････････････････････ ２
Features ････････････････････････････････････････ ２
Part Identi*cation・Function ･･････････････････････ ３
Measurement Range and Zero Point ･･････････････ ７
How to Use ･････････････････････････････････････ ９
Zero-Point Setting ･･･････････････････････････････ １１
Leveling a Surface ･･･････････････････････････････ １３
Output Signal ･･･････････････････････････････････ １ 5
Shipping ････････････････････････････････････････ 17
Notices ･････････････････････････････････････････ １８
Speci*cations ･･･････････････････････････････････ １９
-1-

[ INTRODUCTION ]
This high precision microcomputer controlled level measures angle by measuring the
displacement of a pendulum.
Displacement is converted to an electronic signal and is displayed as mm/m of
inclination on the digital display.
[ FEATURES ]
Capacitive sensor for high sensitivity and stable output.◎
Can measure a wide range of slope angles compared to a bubble (or "spirit") level.◎
（±5mm/m）
Fast response compared to bubble level.◎
(Full range response time approx. 10 sec.)
Easy to read digital display reduces user fatigue and errors.◎
◎Reference point easily set using 0-Cal and 1/2-Cal Buttons.
RS-232C output signal for connecting to computer or printer.◎
◎Small and lightweight for easy portability.
-2-

[ PART IDENTIFICATION ・FUNCTION ]
（1）Display
（2）0-Cal Button
（3）Power Switch
（4）1/2-Cal / Output Signal Button
（5）Function Select Switch
（6）Battery Cover Screw
（7）Battery Cover
（8）Data Out Jac
（9）Base
-3-

（1） Display
Display shows angle measurements, battery status, and communication status.
Angle
The angle is displayed in units of mm/m.
If the angle exceeds the measurement range, an error message is displayed.
For a positive out-of-range error, "EEE" is displayed, and for a negative out-of-
range error, "－EEE" is shown. The "E" on the elevated side will blin .
When the angle is reduced to within the measurement range, normal
operation will continue.
Battery Status
When Battery level is getting low, the display will blin .
When the display starts to blin please replace the battery with a new one.
Communication Status
If an error occurs during data transmission, or if cable is not properly
connected, an error message (E1, E2) will be displayed for about 3 seconds.
Refer to "Output Signal" section for details.
（２） 0-Cal Button
0-Cal Button sets the displayed measurement to zero.
Button requires deliberate press of about 1 sec.
(Button can not be used during error display.)
（3） Power Switch
Gauge is ready for use about 5 sec. after it is switched ON.
0-Cal and 1/2-Cal settings are not stored when power is turned off; when power
is turned bac on the reference point will need to be reset.
-4-

（4） 1/2-Cal / Output Signal Button
Button function is set by the Function Select Switch to wor as either 1/2-
Cal Button, or Output Signal Button.
1/2-Cal Button
Press the 1/2-Cal button to divide the displayed reading by 2.
Value is changed when the 1/2-Cal button is released.
Button requires deliberate press of about 1 sec.
（Button can not be used during error display.）
Output Signal Button
Press the Output Signal Button to output data,
When pressed, the instrument transmits the measured data on the RS232C
port. Signal output is initiated upon release.
Button requires deliberate press of about 1 sec.
If there is a problem with communication such as the cable not connected, an
error message (E1, E2) will be displayed for about 3 sec.
Please refer to "Output Signal" section for details.
（5） Function Select Switch
Used to set function of 1/2-Cal / Output Signal Button
"1/2" position sets the function as 1/2-Cal,
"OUT" position sets the function as Output Signal when pressed.
-5-

（6） Battery Cover Screw
When replacing battery, turn counter cloc wise to remove.
（7） Battery Cover
When replacing the cover, ma e sure the tab is inserted into the slot at
the bottom of the compartment.
（8） Data Out Jac
RS-232C port for sending the displayed value and units to a remote device for
recording or display.
Signal can be output directly to a computer or printer equipped with an RS-232C
port.
Please refer to "Output Signal" section for details.
（9） Base
The dimension are: Length 100mm, Width 50mm.
-6-
Tab
Slot

[ Measurement Range and Zero-Point ]
The instrument can be set to display a reference point of "0" at any angle using the 0-
Cal and 1/2-Cal buttons.
However, the measuring range of the instrument is limited by the range of the
internal variable measured by the device. (This value can be seen when power is *rst
turned ON, before changing the reference point.)
Instrument does not have an internal reference to true horizontal.
The zero reference when power is *rst turned on does not necessarily show true
horizontal.
When an absolute reference to horizontal is needed, the zero-point must be set each
time power is turned on.
In this way, the zero-point is accurate with each use with the advantage that any error
due to drift in the zero-point is eliminated.
Refer to the section "Zero-Point Setting" below and follow the 0-Cal and 1/2-Cal
procedures to set the zero-point.
The measurement range of the instrument is limited by two factors. The sensor
operating range for what angles can be detected is ±8mm/m around it's internal zero-
point. The range of the display is ±5mm/m. The instrument measurement range of
±5mm/m is limited by both these constraints.
The following diagrams represent these two measurement ranges for various
conditions. The internal measurement range is shown on the number line at the top
of each diagram, and the displayed range shown below.
-7-

Cal, 1/2-Cal operations have not been performed.◎
(Zero reference point for displayed value is same as internal reference.)
-8-
Display Zero→
Measurement Range
Internal Zero
Display Zero→
Measurement Range
Display Zero→
Measurement Range
◎Reference point moved 1 mm/m using the 0-Cal, 1/2-Cal operations.
(For example, initial reading was 1 mm/m when 0-Cal is performed,
or 2 mm/m before 1/2-Cal is performed.)
Internal Zero
◎Reference point moved 3.4 mm/m using the 0-Cal, 1/2-Cal operations.
（For example, initial reading was 3.4 mm/m when 0-Cal is performed.)
Internal Zero

[ HOW TO USE ]
This is a precision instrument. Please handle with care and avoid any shoc or
mishandling.
Before use, wipe the instrument base and the surface to be measured using a soft
cloth or lens cloth moistened with mineral spirits or alcohol to remove any grease and
contamination.
Place the instrument on the surface to be measured.
Turn on the instrument using the Power Switch.
For best results, wait about 10 min. after power on for internal circuitry to stabilize.
The zero-point will shift up to 0.02mm/m when *rst turned on as the system warms
up. If this level of precision is not needed you can begin measurements as soon as it is
turned on.
Ma e sure there is no difference in temperature between the instrument and the
surface to be measured.
When the instrument is moved from a warm location to cold, (or visa versa) the
display reading will not be stable. Please allow time for display to stabilize before
ta ing measurements, or place the instrument where it will be used an hour in
advance.
After use, protect the base of the instrument by coating with rust-preventive oil
before storage.
-9-

When viewed from the front (with the display on the right side,) if the right side is
elevated the angle reading will be an increasing positive number.
If the angle is out of range an error message will be displayed. For negative angles, a
"‒" sign is also shown. In the error message, the "E" on the elevated side will also blin
to indicate the direction of the out-of-range error.
The gauge will display the angle of inclination as mm/m, which is the elevation for the
surface over a distance of 1 meter.
The actual height difference over a speci*ed distance or pitch can be calculated as
follows:
Pitch
Height Difference / Pitch = Reading × 1000 [mm]
For the example with the measurement pitch = 100mm,
100
Height Difference / Pitch = Reading × 1000 [mm]
= Reading × 0.1 [mm]
-10-
Display Display
Display
Error
Blin ing
Blin ing
Display (mm)
1m