PCE Instruments PCE-FM 50N User manual

PC Software PCE-FM 200 / PCE-FM 50N / PCE-FM 500N
User Manual
User manuals in various languages (deutsch,
français, italiano, español, português, nederlands,
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) can be found by using
our product search on: www.pce-instruments.com
last change: 29 January 2019
v1.0
English

© PCE Instruments
Contents
1Safety notes........................................................................................... 1
2System requirements ........................................................................... 1
3Installation ............................................................................................. 1
4Operation ............................................................................................... 2
4.1 Description of the user interface ....................................................................................... 2
5Meaning of the individual icons on the toolbar ................................. 3
6Operation ............................................................................................... 5
6.1 First use of the software ................................................................................................... 5
6.2 Connect to the PCE-FM 200 ............................................................................................ 5
6.3 Disconnect from the PCE-FM 200 .................................................................................... 5
6.4 Numerical display............................................................................................................. 6
6.5 Statistical data.................................................................................................................. 6
6.6 Graphical representation .................................................................................................. 7
6.7 Performing the measurement ........................................................................................... 8
6.8 Export of series of measurements .................................................................................... 8
6.9 Loading and saving series of measurements.................................................................... 8

© PCE Instruments
1
1 Safety notes
Acquaint yourself with the operation of the measuring device before using it in combination with
the PC software. For this purpose, use the instruction manual, which comes with your PCE
product. All safety notes from the device’s manual have to be observed as well when the device
is used with this software.
The device and the software may only be used by qualified personnel. Damage or injuries
caused by non-observance of the manuals are excluded from our liability and not covered by
our warranty.
We do not assume liability for printing errors or any other mistakes in this manual.
We expressly point to our general warranty terms which can be found in our general terms of
business.
If you have any questions please contact PCE Instruments. The contact details can be found at
the end of this manual.
2 System requirements
•Operating system Windows XP SP3 or higher
•USB port (2.0 or higher)
•installed .NET framework 4.0
•minimum resolution of 800 x 600 pixels
•optional: printer
•processor with 1 GHz
•4 GB RAM recommended
•CD-ROM drive
3 Installation
The software can be downloaded here:
https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/download-win_4.htm.
Please run the "Setup-PCE-FM-200.exe" and follow the instructions of the setup.
4 Meter Setup Configuration
Note – the meter requires you to enable “print” mode or F-12 in the FM meter options menu for
data to be transferred to the PC.
Configure F-12 for “conti” or continuous sending.

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5 Operation
5.1 Description of the user interface
The main screen consists of several sections:
Below the title bar, there is a tool bar with icons that can be selected by a mouse click. These
icons are grouped according to their functions.
Below this bar, you can find an area where the measuring points are displayed graphically
(“Graphical evaluation”).
The next section below the graphic shows a chart with the measuring points determined on the
right and an area with statistical data on the left-hand side.
The lower edge of the main window shows two status bars containing important information,
directly above each other.
The lower bar shows the statistical settings of the program that can be defined in the settings
screen.
The upper status bar shows the dynamic settings or data of the PCE-FM 200 which are directly
taken from the connected device. These include the selected unit.

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6 Meaning of the individual icons on the toolbar
Group "Connection"
Connect to the PCE-FM 200
Disconnect from the PCE-FM 200
Group "Data"
Start a measurement
Stop a measurement
Export a series of measurements
Load a series of measurements from a file
Save a series of measurements in a file
Group "Graphics"
Enlarge the graphics area ("Zooming") or move the
enlarged graphics
Restore the orginal graphics
Change the background and representation of the
graphics
Print the currently visible graphics

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Group "Settings"
Open settings dialog
Select one of the languages supported by the program
Group "Program"
Display an information dialog
Exit the program

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7 Operation
7.1 First use of the software
Before the PCE-FM 200 can work with the software, the assigned COM port must be set in the
software once. It can be set via the “settings dialog”
In addition to entering the connection data, the settings for the date and time format and for the
decimal format can be made here.
7.2 Connect to the PCE-FM 200
Note – the meter requires you to enable “print” mode or F-12 in the FM meter options menu for
data to be transferred to the PC. Configure F-12 for “conti” or continuous sending.
After the desired settings have been made and the settings dialog has been closed with a click
on the "Apply" button, the connection to the PCE-FM 200 can be established by clicking on the
icon.
If the connection has been successfully established, the term "Connected" is displayed in green
on the status bar for the dynamic data.
If, however, no connection has been established, the term "Disconnected" is displayed in red.
7.3 Disconnect from the PCE-FM 200
By clicking on the icon, an active connection to the PCE-FM 200 can be terminated.
If you exit the software while the connection is active, the connection will also be terminated.

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7.4 Numerical display
In the lower part of the main window, all the measured values are tabulated.
The chart can be sorted by columns by clicking on the respective column heading
("Date", "Time", "Duration" and "Measurement value").
Note:
These data come directly from the PCE- FM 200; the time can thus deviate from the PC time.
7.5 Statistical data
The statistics include the number of measured points, the smallest and largest measured force
levels and the average value. Also, they include the date, start time, end time and duration of
measurement.

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7.6 Graphical representation
In the area for the graphical evaluation, the selected unit ("N","kgf","lbf") is shown on the y axis
and the duration (in seconds) is shown on the x axis.
Moving the mouse cursor to a point on the displayed line makes a small information window
with the data (time and unit) of the currently selected measurement value pop up after a short
time.
A freely selectable part of the displayed graphics can be enlarged.
For this purpose, the corresponding icon in the toolbar (“Enlarge the graphics area ("Zooming")
or move the enlarged graphics) must be a magnifying glass .
Then, a rectangle can be drawn over a part of the graphics by holding the mouse button down.
When the mouse is released, the selected area appears as a new graphic.
As soon as at least one enlargement has been made, it is possible to switch from enlargement
mode to shift mode by clicking on the icon (“Enlarge the graphics area ("Zooming") or move the
enlarged graphics) with the magnifying glass icon.
Shift mode is represented by the icon.
If the mouse is now placed over the graphics area and then the left mouse button is pressed,
the depicted section can be moved by holding the mouse button down.

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Another click on the icon changes back to enlargement mode, which is recognizable by the
icon.
The original graphics can be restored at any time by clicking on the icon next to the
magnifying glass or hand.
The background of the graphics and its representation can be changed via the icon to the
right. A click on the icon works like a switch:
A single click makes the division of the background finer and adds some more dots to the
graphics. A further click on the icon changes back to standard view.
The currently displayed graphics can also be printed.
A click on the icon opens the "Print" dialog.
7.7 Performing the measurement
If an connection to the PCE-FM 200 is active, a new measurement can be started.
After clicking on the corresponding icon in the toolbar ("Start a measurement"), a new dialog is
displayed, with the help of which additional options, relevant for the upcoming measurement,
can be determined.
An ongoing measurement can be terminated by clicking on the icon in the toolbar.
7.8 Export of series of measurements
Measurement series can also be exported. The entire content of one series of measurements
can be exported in CSV format by using the icon of the toolbar.
7.9 Loading and saving series of measurements
A series of measurements can be loaded and saved via the and the icon in the toolbar.