PCE Instruments PCE-PFG Series User manual

© PCE Instruments
PCE-PFG Series Force Gauge
User Manual
User manuals in various languages (français,
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Last change: 2 February 2021
v1.0
English

© PCE Instruments
Contents
1Safety notes........................................................................................... 1
2Specifications........................................................................................2
3Delivery scope.......................................................................................2
4Dimensions............................................................................................ 3
5Key functions ........................................................................................4
6Battery.................................................................................................... 5
7Switching on and off.............................................................................5
8Measuring modes.................................................................................. 6
8.1 Real Time......................................................................................................................... 6
8.2 Peak................................................................................................................................. 6
8.3 Average mode.................................................................................................................. 6
8.4 Save mode (Automatic memory).....................................................................................12
9Alarm limits..........................................................................................14
10 Rotate display...................................................................................... 16
11 Communication interface and output interface...............................16
12 More settings.......................................................................................17
12.1 Product information.........................................................................................................19
13 Warranty...............................................................................................19
14 Disposal ...............................................................................................19

© PCE Instruments
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1 Safety notes
Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time. The
device may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments personnel.
Damage or injuries caused by non-observance of the manual are excluded from our liability and
not covered by our warranty.
•The device must only be used as described inthis instructionmanual. If used otherwise,
this can cause dangerous situations for the user and damage to the meter.
•The instrument may only be used if the environmental conditions (temperature, relative
humidity, …) are within the ranges stated in the technical specifications. Do not expose
the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme humidity or moisture.
•Do not expose the device to shocks or strong vibrations.
•The case should only be opened by qualified PCE Instruments personnel.
•Never use the instrument when your hands are wet.
•You must not make any technical changes to the device.
•The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use only pH-neutral cleaner,
no abrasives or solvents.
•The device must only be used with accessories from PCE Instruments or equivalent.
•Before each use, inspect the case for visible damage. If any damage is visible, do not
use the device.
•Do not use the instrument in explosive atmospheres.
•The measurement range as stated in the specifications must not be exceeded under
any circumstances.
•Non-observance of the safety notes can cause damage to the device and injuries to
the user.
We do not assume liability for printing errors or any other mistakes in this manual.
We expressly point to our general guarantee 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.

© PCE Instruments
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2 Specifications
Model
Measurement range
Resolution
PCE-PFG 20
0 … 20 N
0.005 N
PCE-PFG 50
0 … 50 N
0.01 N
PCE-PFG 100
0 ... 100 N
0.02 N
PCE-PFG 200
0 … 200 N
0.05 N
PCE-PFG 500
0 … 500 N
0.1 N
PCE-PFG 2K
0 … 2000 N
0.5 N
Accuracy
0.3 % of measurement range
Units
N, kgF, lbF
Sampling rate
500 Hz
Display
1.8" graphic display
Alarm modes
Below, Inside, Outside
Memory
100 measurements
Power supply
Lithium battery 3.7 V / 1500 mAh
Battery life
up to 36 h
Mains adaptor / USB charging adaptor
5 V / 1 A
Outputs
Interface: USB B,
switching output / alarm modes: MD6 with
2.85 V when active
Protection class
IP 54
Operating and storage conditions
5 ... 45 °C,
35 ... 65 % RH, non-condensing
Dimensions
189 x 707 x 34 mm
Weight
450 g
Models with external load cell
Dimensions / weight load cell
L 52 mm / H 72 mm / W 19 mm / M12 thread
/ 490 g
Cable length external load cell
approx. 1.8 m
Handheld dimensions
189 x 707 x 34 mm
Handheld weight
240 g
3 Delivery scope
For force gauges PCE-PFG 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500:
1 x flat head adaptor Ø13 mm
1 x pointed head adaptor
1 x hook adaptor
1 x extension rod (75 mm)
1 x USB cable
1 x USB charger
1 x user manual
1 x plastic carrying case
For the force gauge PCE-PFG 2K:
1 x 2000 N S measuring cell
2 x M12 joint eyes
2 x pressure fittings
1 x USB cable
1 x USB charger
1 x user manual
1 x plastic carrying case

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4 Dimensions
Dimensions for models with internal measuring cell
Dimensions for models with external measuring cell

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5 Key functions
Key
Description
"Power" key for switching the meter on and off
"MODE" key to select between the individual modes
"DEL" key to delete individual values
"UNIT" key
- Setting the unit in measuring mode
- Increasing displayed parameter
- Selecting the next item in the menu
"Enter" key to confirm the entry or to open a menu item
"DIR" key for switching between compressive and tensile alarm display
"ESC" key to exit the menu
"Zero" key to reset the zero point
"DATA" key:
- Select the next item in the menu
- Call up data memory
"SET" key:
- to enter the menu
- to select a menu item
- to apply settings

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6 Battery
The force gauge has a built-in 3.7V rechargeable battery. If the meter is storedfor a longer period
of time, it should be recharged because the battery discharges itself. The battery is recharged
after approx. 6 hours.
When the battery is charging, the following icon is displayed:
When the battery is fully charged, the icon appears on the display.
When switched on, the battery indicator shows the current battery capacity when no charger is
connected.
Battery capacity
Icons
100 %
75 %
50 %
25 %
0 %
As soon as the battery is discharged, the force gauge switches itself off.
7 Switching on and off
To switch the force gauge on/ off, press and release the key once. When the force gauge
is switched on, the model, version number and serial number are displayed.

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8 Measuring modes
There are four different measuring modes in this force gauge. If the tensile or compressive force
is outside the measurement range, "OVER" is shown on the display. An acoustic signal is also
generated. Only when the measured value is back within the measurement range, a normal
measurement can be resumed.
To select between the modes, press the key in the current measuring mode. The current
measuring mode is displayed below the measured value.
Note: Zeroing can only be performed withing the range of 10 % of the total capacity.
8.1 Real Time
In Real Time (RT) measuring mode, the current measured value is continuously displayed.
8.2 Peak
In peak mode (PK), the highest measured value is displayed and held. This measuringmode can
be used for tensile and compressive force. The peak value is reset with the key .
8.3 Average mode
In Average (AVG) mode, the average value of a measurement is displayed. This mode can be
used, for example,for peel force, friction force and other tests where an average value is required.
There are two different functions in this measuring mode.
MOD1: With this function, the average value of the force curve is displayed from the set smallest
force and over the set period of time.

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MOD2: This function calculates the average above the set smallest measured value. When the
measured value falls below the set smallest measured value again, the measurement is finished.
This measuring procedure is possible over a period of 10 minutes.
As long as the measurement time of 10 minutes is not exceeded, this measurement can be
resumed at any time.
To make settings in this measuring mode, press the key twice.
To select a parameter, use the arrow keys. Press the key to select a parameter. Use
the arrow keys again to change the parameter properties. Press the key to apply the
settings you have made.

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Setting
Meaning
A.M.C.F.
Average Minimum
Capture Force
Here you set the force at which the average measurement is
to start.
Neg. Time
Neglectful Time
Here you enter the time span at the beginning of the
measurement that is not yet to be taken into account in the
average measurement. Available settings: 0.0 ... 300.0 s.
Resolution: 0.1 s. This parameter only affects the MOD1
function.
Cap. Time
Capture Time
Here you set the measuring time for the average
measurement. Available settings: 0.0 ... 300.0 s. Resolution:
0.1 s. This parameter only affects the MOD1 function.
Ave. Mode
Here you select between the MOD1 and MOD2 function.
To reset and save the average value, press the key. Up to 20 average values can be
saved. To view, delete or export these data, press the key. Now select "Average" with
the arrow keys. Confirm the selection with the key.

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Now you get a choice of four options.
Selection
Description
View Ave. Data
(Read out the memory of the
average measurement)
Here you can read out the memory of the average
measurement and delete individual saved measured values.
View Ave. Stat.
An average evaluation of all average measurements is carried
out here.
Send Ave. Date
Here, the saved measurement data are transferred directly to a
PC.
Clear All Ave.
Deletes all average measurement data.
Select the desired function with the arrow keys. Press the key to open the function. Press
the key to return.

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When viewing all saved measured values, you can select the desired measured value with the
arrow keys. Use the key to switch between the individual pages. Use the key to
delete the selected value.
In the summary of the average readings, you will see the highest, the lowest, the number of
readings and the overall average.
Under "Send Ave. Data", all data are sent to the PC. After all data have been sent, "SENT
FINISH" appears on the display.
With the function "Clear All Ave.”, you can clear the memory. As soon as clearing is completed,
"CLEAR OVER" appears on the display.

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8.3.1 Measuring procedure
If "WAIT" is displayed on the screen, the meter waits until the set minimum load is applied.
If "I.DLY" is shownon the display, the forcegauge will wait until theset minimum time has elapsed.
If the minimum load is present and the minimum time has elapsed, the actual measurement
begins. “GATHER" appears on the display. The measurement is made. During this measurement,
it is not possible to see the current measured value.
When the measurement is completed, the display shows "DONE".

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8.4 Save mode (Automatic memory)
In "SAVE Mode", the highest measured values can be saved in a single measurement run.
Sufficient memory space for 100 measured values is available (memory items no. 00 ... 99). The
number of memory items used is displayed to the left of "SAVE". As soon as a single
measurement run is completed, the highest measurement value is automatically saved. The
minimum load for this function is specified in the settings under P.M.C.F. To evaluate the data,
press the key. Then press to select "PEAK".
The following options are now available:
Selection
Description
View Peak Data
(Read out the memory of the
peak values)
Here you can read out the memory of the peak values and
delete individual saved measured values.
View Peak Stat.
The highest, lowest and average of all peak values are
displayed here.
Send Peak Date
Here, the saved measurement data are transferred directly to a
PC.
Clear All Peak
Deletes all peak readings.
Use the arrow keys to make your selection here. Use the to select the desired function.

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When viewing all saved measured values, you can select the desired measured value with the
arrow keys. Use the key to switch between the individual pages. Use the key to
delete the selected value.
The peak summary shows you the highest, the loweest, the number of readings and the total
peak.
Under "Send Peak Data", all data are sent to the PC. After all data has been sent, "SENT
FINISH" appears on the display.

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Use the "Clear All Peak" function to clear the memory. Once clearing is complete, the display
shows "CLEAR OVER".
9 Alarm limits
The alarm limits function is useful, for example, to check during quality control whether the sample
is working within the specified tolerances. Two limits can be set here. If the measured value is
lower than the set "Lower Limit", this is signalled by the red and green LEDs lighting up. If the
measured value is between the set "Higher Limit" and "Lower Limit", only the green LED lights
up. If the "Higher Limit" value is also exceeded, only the red LED lights up.
Note:
This function is only available in the measuring modes RT, PK and Save. If the "Stop Force"
function is activated, no LED or only the green LED will light up, depending on the setting.

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To set the alarm limits, press the key in the current measuring mode.
Display
Meaning
This setting refers to tensile force
This setting refers to compressive force
L. Limit
Lower Limit. Here you set the first limit value. This value cannot be higher than
the H. Limit value.
H. Limit
Higher Limit. Here you set the second limit value. This value cannot be smaller
than the L. Limit value.
Number
Here you set the desired limit.
Use the arrow keys to select the desired parameter. Now press the key to make
changes to this value. You can now use the arrow keys to change the value as desired. Confirm
the entry with the key. Press the key to return to the measuring mode.
Note:
The second limit value must always be higher than the first set limit value. The set values are
shown above the display in measuring mode. Pressing the key selects between the
display of the set alarm tension or the set alarm compression.

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10 Rotate display
To rotate the display, press and hold the key in the current measuring mode. Then
release the key. The display will rotate by 180 °.
11 Communication interface and output interface
With this force gauge, the saved measurement data can be transferred to a PC. To do this,
connect the USB cableto the meter andto the PC. To activatethis function, first press the
key four times. Now select the "Online" function with the arrow keys. Now press the key.
With the arrow keys, you can now change the setting from „OFF“to “ON”. Now confirm your entry
with the key. The USB interface is now activated with this setting.
After installing the drivers and the software, you can establish a serial connection to the force
gauge via the software. To do so, set the parameters of the force gauge under "Serial Port
Setting". Now use the "OPEN" button to establish a connection. The force gauge has a memory
for the peak values and a memory for the average values.
To read out the memory for the peak values, type a "P" into the text field of the software and
then click on "Send". The memory content is then displayed below the software. If you want to
read out the memory for the average values, type "A" intp the text field and click on "Send".
To remove the read data, click on "Clear".
You can also save the data to your PC permanently. To do this, click on the "SAVE" button. The
data can be saved in “.xls" and ".txt" file format.

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12 More settings
To make further settings to the meter, press the keythree times inmeasuring mode. Use
the arrow keys to select your desired parameter. Once you have found your desired parameter,
press the key to select the function. Use the arrow keys again to make the changes.
Confirm the entry with the key.

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The displayed functions have the following meanings:
Function
Meaning
St. Force
Here you can set the limit weight at which a test stand is to stop.
Stop Mode
Here you can activate and deactivate the control of the test stand via the
PCE-PFG.
S. Point
This is the starting point where data recording is to begin.
F. Point
This is the end point at which data recording is to be stopped.
The key must be pressed again for the following functions.
Function
Meaning
P.M.C.F
Here you set the minimum load for the
measuring mode "SAVE MODE" to save a
peak value.
Shutoff
Here you can select when the force gauge
switches itself off. Selectable range: 0 ... 30
min. Selecting 0 minutes switches off this
function. The force gauge is then
permanently switched on.
Backlight
Here you can switch the backlight on and
off.
Online
This activates the data interface.
To exit the menu again, press the key.