MTI Instruments TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Viewer Owner's manual

Brand: MTI Instruments

Model: TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Viewer

Type: Owner's manual

MTI Instruments TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Viewer is a versatile piece of equipment designed to view, analyze and convert digitized tachometer signals acquired by other compatible products sold by MTI Instruments. The viewer software can display the raw data signal and the conditioned output pulses simultaneously. It allows zooming for improved viewing, converts data files to WAV files for simulated speed signal testing, and even converts the data files to TEXT files for further analysis and graphing using other software like Microsoft EXCEL.

MTI Part Number 7001-0013

Revision 1.1 – December 7, 2012

Tachometer Signal Viewer

Software Manual

This document discloses subject matter in which MTI Instruments Inc. has proprietary rights and such subject matter shall not, without

written permission of MTI Instruments Inc. be either

(a) used, released, or disclosed in whole or in part

(b) used in whole or in part for manufacture.

This legend shall be marked on any reproduction hereof in whole or in part.

MTI Instruments, Inc.

325 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, New York 12205 USA

MTI Part Number 7001-0013

Revision – 1.1

Released December 7, 2012

Tachometer Data Viewer

Software Manual

325 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, New York 12205 USA

█ Phone: (518) 218-2550 █ FAX: (518) 218-2506

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Tachometer Signal Viewer Software

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Revision 1.1 – December 7, 1012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page

FOREWORD................................................................................... iii

1 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION.................................................1-1

2 OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS...............................................2-1

2-1 Functional Overview ..............................................................2-1

2-2 Controls Overview..................................................................2-2

2-3 Individual Controls.................................................................2-3

2-3.1 Status and Information Windows ........................................2-3

2-3.2 Controls and Function Buttons .............................................2-5

OPEN FILE Button ....................................................................2-5

CLEAR Button ...........................................................................2-7

ZOOM OUT Button....................................................................2-8

ZOOM Control ...........................................................................2-9

ZOOM OUT Button..................................................................2-11

RESET ZOOM Button ..............................................................2-11

SAVE AS WAV FILE Button ....................................................2-12

PLAY WAV FILE Button..........................................................2-16

SAVE AS TXT FILE Button...................................................... 2-18

EXIT Button.............................................................................2-22

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Tachometer Signal Viewer Software

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Revision 1.1 – December 7, 2012

FOREWORD

This manual provides instructions for the installation and use of the Tachometer Signal Viewer Software

package. This package has been developed to allow the viewing, analysis and conversion of digitized

tachometer signals acquired by various products sold by MTI Instruments. These products include, but

are not limited to PBS-4100+ portable systems, PBS-4100R+ test cell systems and TSC-4800A tachometer

signal conditioning systems. Each of these systems employ digital processor based speed signal

conversion circuits that feature a unique ability to digitize and save the raw speed signal. These files,

saved in a special format, can be viewed and studied using the Tachometer Signal Viewer Software you

have just received. Additionally, the Tachometer Data Viewer software allows the re-formatting of the

tachometer data into WAV files which can be played by audio players for additional analysis and testing.

The Tachometer Data Viewer Software also support the conversion of the files into TXT format for use by

other software programs such as Microsoft’s EXCEL.

The information and instructions contained within this manual are arranged as follows:

1. Section 1 explains how to install the Tachometer Signal Viewer Software on your

windows based computer.

2. Section 2 contains instructions for using the Tachometer Signal Viewer Software.

NOTICE

The Tachometer Signal Viewer Software is compatible with the data structures utilized by the various

products in the PBS-4100 family of engine balancing and vibration monitoring products manufactured by

MTI Instruments Inc. Consequently, references made to the PBS-4100, PBS-4100

, PBS-4100R

, or PBS-

4100R, and not specifically to the TSC-4800A should not be considered as typographical or technical

errors.

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Tachometer Signal Viewer Software

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SECTION 1

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

1-1 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

The Tachometer Signal Viewer Software package can be easily loaded from the provided CD.

As illustrated below, the CD includes not only the Tachometer Signal Viewer software files to be

loaded, but also a PDF copy of this manual and a copy of the ACROBAT reader software for

those without a copy on their computer.

To install the software package, insert the CD into your computer CD drive, using Windows

Explorer open the CD and run the

SETUP.EXE

file.

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As the software begins to load, you will first be greeted with the loading introduction display

illustrated below:

Press the

button to continue to the Software License Agreement display.

Press the

YES

button to agree to the License agreement and to continue with the loading

process.

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As the software begins to load, the loading progress display illustrated below will be presented.

At the conclusion of the loading process, the loading complete message will be displayed as

illustrated here.

Click on the

FINISH

button, and then remove the CD from the CD drive and place it in a secure

place.

Installation of the software has been successfully completed.

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Tachometer Signal Viewer Software

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SECTION 2

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

2-1 FUNCTIONAL OVERVIEW

The Tachometer Signal Viewer Software package features a series of different functions

designed to allow users to view, analyze and re-format acquired tachometer data from other

systems. These systems, such as the TSC-4800A have the capability to sample speed signals

using a high speed A/D converter and save the raw data in a special format. These files are

saved with the DAT extension, and are typically saved with labels such as:

Tach1-2010042211071500.DAT.

The Tachometer Signal Viewer Software allows users to:

 View the Speed Signal – The Tachometer Signal Viewer Software

package presents an oscilloscope-like view of the raw data signal.

 View the conditioned Output pulses – The tachometer signal

conditioning card that produced the DAT file also produces a conditioned

output pulse for every cycle of the speed signal, or for every revolution of

the engine, depending upon the nature of the speed signal and the

programming of the conditioner card. The Tachometer Signal Viewer

Software package presents an oscilloscope-like view of the conditioned

output pulses along with the raw data signal.

 ZOOM for improved viewing and analysis of the data – The

Tachometer Signal Viewer Software permits zooming into the data for

clearer views of individual cycles of the speed signal. Forward and

reverse zooming is supported.

 Convert the Data files to WAV files – The Tachometer Signal Viewer

Software also supports conversion of the DAT file into a WAV file. The

WAV files can then be played on an audio player to provide “simulated

speed signals for testing other system components or new conversion and

detection algorithms.

 Play converted WAV files – The Tachometer Signal Viewer Software

also includes a special WAV file player that allows continuous looping of

WAV files. This can be used to provide a non-stop stream of audio data

which is useful for system testing.

 Convert the Data files to TEXT files – The Tachometer Signal Viewer

Software also supports conversion of the DAT file into a TEXT file. The

TEXT files can then be analyzed and graphed by using other programs

such as Microsoft EXCEL.

The following sections describe how to use each of the capabilities of the Tachometer Signal

Viewer Software package.

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2-2 Controls Overview – As a part of loading the Tachometer Signal Viewer Software on

your PC computer, an icon was saved to the desktop for easy starting of the program. This icon

appears as illustrated below:

If an Icon was not placed on the desktop, the program can be found at:

C:\PBS\TachViewer\TachViewer.exe

After launching the program, the main display screen will be produced as illustrated below:

Tachometer Signal Viewer Software Main Display

Note that the display consists of a large graph area where the actual speed signal data will be

displayed. This graph area displays the signal using an oscilloscope style display where the

vertical axis is voltage and the horizontal axis is in units of time.

There are control buttons along the right side of the display to allow changes to the data display

and to convert the data into other formats. These buttons and controls are explained in the

following sections.

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2-3 Individual Controls– As can be seen on the illustration below, there are several different

buttons and display areas surrounding the display grid. The following paragraphs will explain

the purposes and uses for each of these items.

2-3.1 – Status and Information Windows – The status and Information windows appear

along the bottom of the display, and show information concerning the currently selected

tachometer signal file. The illustration and text below explains the information displayed in

each of the windows.

Selected Tachometer Channel – This area reports the assigned channel number from which

the raw tachometer waveform data was recovered. All PBS-4100 and TSC-4800A systems have

assigned tachometer channel numbers (generally running from 1 to 4). In the example above,

the data was acquired from Channel 1 (Tach=1).

Conditioner Data Filter Setting – Each tachometer conditioner channel has a low pass filter

that can be set to a variety of different frequencies. This window reports the setting of the filter

at the time the raw signal data was collected. In the above example, the filter was set to 5,000

Hz.

Input Configuration – Each tachometer conditioner channel can have its input configuration

set to either differential or single ended. In the above example, the input channel was set to a

differential configuration.

Measured Speed – This area displays the measured speed at the time the data was acquired.

In the example above the measured speed is reported to be 4,167 RPM.

Speed Signal Graph – The captured tachometer signal is graphed using a green color line.

This time/voltage display provides an accurate illustration of the sampled signal.

Output Pulses – If the tachometer signal conditioner has produced one or more output pulses,

they will be displayed along the bottom of the graph as a second signal using a red colored line.

The timing relationships between the measured speed signal and the output pulses are

maintained.

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Cursor Position Readout – Located in the upper left corner of the graph is a readout of the

current cursor (pointer) position. Two numbers are displayed as illustrated below. One reports

the time axis position of the pointer, and the second number displays the voltage level of the

cursor position.

Time Voltage

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2-3.2 – Control and Function Buttons – Along the right side of the Tachometer Signal

Viewer Display are buttons that activate various functions. As illustrated below, when the

program is first launched, only two of the buttons are activated. The following paragraphs

explain the functions of each button.

OPEN FILE Button – This button is used to initiate a data viewing session. Pressing the

button will produce a file browsing window as illustrated below. Use this browser to designate

the source of the DAT file that contains the raw signal data.

When the desired DAT file has been located, the name can be entered.

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As illustrated below, when selecting the desired DAT file, the specific file can be highlighted.

Pressing the

Open

button, starts the file reading process and the display is refreshed with a

view of the selected data as illustrated below.

Note that 20 milliseconds of the data file will be displayed. This is a default time base which

has been selected to display “a reasonable amount” of the acquired speed signal data. 20

milliseconds corresponds to a 50 Hz signal which is in the range of most speed signals. Using

the control buttons and the zoom controls that are explained in the following sections, more or

fewer data samples can be viewed.

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CLEAR Button – This button is used to “erase” the current display as illustrated below. After

pressing the

CLEAR

button, all data is removed from the internal buffers, and the viewer is

ready to open another data set.

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ZOOM OUT Button – This button is used to change the view of the data on the display. Most

DAT files contain approximately 20 million data samples of the tachometer signal which will

represent many cycles of the tachometer signal. The Tachometer Signal Viewer can display all

of this data or only a portion of the data. Pressing the

ZOOM OUT

button displays all of the

collected data as illustrated below.

This view is limited in its usefulness because too much data has been displayed. Although it

illustrates that many cycles of data were captures, the specific nature of the signal is not clear.

To better view the data, the ZOOM controls need to be used.

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ZOOM CONTROL – The zoom control is not a button function, it is a mouse function that can

provide the viewer with a closer view of individual cycles of the speed data. The zoom control is

accomplished by drawing a box in the data display area. This process is explained in the

following steps:

Start with the multiple cycle view as illustrated above.

Next, use the mouse to click in the graph area just to the left of where you want the zoom

region to begin.

Hold the left mouse button down and drag the pointer (magnifying glass icon ) to the right.

This action will create a rectangular box that outlines the area that will be magnified. Note that

any horizontal motion of the mouse from the starting point will create a rectangular shaped

selection area.

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MTI Instruments TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Viewer Owner's manual

Brand: MTI Instruments

Model: TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Viewer

Type: Owner's manual

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MTI Instruments TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Viewer Owner's manual

MTI Instruments TSC-4800A Tachometer Signal Viewer Owner's manual

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