MTI Instruments Accumeasure Digital Series Basic Support Software Owner's manual

Brand: MTI Instruments

Model: Accumeasure Digital Series Basic Support Software

Type: Owner's manual

Digital

Accumeasure

Basic

Support

Software

7001-0059

Revision 1.06

01 Feb 2015

MTI Instruments Inc

325 Washington Avenue Ext

Albany New York 12055

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Table of Contents

Page

Digital Accumeasure Overview ........................................................................1

Installing the Windows Software Application....................................................2

Configuring a Desktop Shortcut .......................................................................2

Setting Up the Ethernet Network Interface.......................................................3

Setting Up Windows Firewall ...........................................................................7

Installing USB Communications Drivers ..........................................................9

Digital Accumeasure Basic Support Software Overview................................10

Connecting to the Digital Accumeasure .........................................................11

System Information ........................................................................................14

User Settings .................................................................................................15

Probe Setup...................................................................................................18

User Calibration .............................................................................................19

Thickness Calibration.....................................................................................22

Data Capture .................................................................................................23

Strip Chart Data Recording............................................................................24

Menu Functions .............................................................................................25

File – Save Screen Bitmap .......................................................................25

Tools – Create CFG Report......................................................................25

Tools -- Update Calibration Tables ...........................................................25

Tools – Calibration Table Report ..............................................................25

Tools – Update C28 Firmware..................................................................25

Tools – Update M3 Firmware ...................................................................25

Tools – Update Manual ............................................................................25

Tools – Upload Manual.............................................................................25

Help – Hardware Users Manual................................................................25

Help – Software Users Manual.................................................................25

Help – About.............................................................................................25

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Digital Accumeasure Overview

The Digital Accumeasure system is composed of one or two analog amplifier cards

and a digital controller card. The amplifier cards condition the probe signals and

present them to the digital signal processor (DSP) portion of the controller. The

DSP digitizes, filters, decimates, linearizes, and converts the probe signals to

analog voltages. The Arm processor controls the overall operation of the system

and provides USB and Ethernet communications to external computers. The

LEDS provide a visual indication of the displacement magnitude and are very

useful during probe setup. The SD flash stores configuration parameters.

Digital Accumeasure Block Diagram

The Digital Accumeasure system supports up to four (4) probe channels. After

passing through a signal conditioning stage, each probe channel connects to its

respective analog-to-digital converter (ADC) channel. The ADC is sampled at

20,000 samples per seconds. The sampled data is digitally filtered, decimated,

and linearized to compute a displacement value for each channel. The linearized

displacement is output as an analog voltage and is processed to compute

thickness. It is then passed through an optional moving average data smoother.

The final data is buffered for transmission over the Ethernet or USB connection to

an external computer. Single point data can be recovered using the

command/reply channel. Faster data rates can be achieved using the streaming

data channel.

Digital Accumeasure Data Processing Diagram

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Installing the Windows Software Application

The Digital Accumeasure ships

with a Software disk that contains

the Digital Accumeasure Basic

Support Program.

Insert the disk into the computer

drive and use Windows Explorer to

locate and execute the installation

program.

Follow the on screen instructions

to complete the software

installation.

Load software before connecting USB cable.

To execute the program, double click on the desktop icon.

Configuring a Desktop Shortcut

The /DFD=1 option enables a program

log file that records Digital

Accumeasure commands, diagnostic

messages, and error messages. The

file may be viewed after the Support

Program is closed. The file is

recreated each time the program is

run.

Since this file can become quite large,

this option should normally be

disabled. Omit the “/DFD=1” option or

specify “/DFD=0” to disable the option.

The log file is located in the folder

C:\DigitalAccumeasure\Program.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Setting Up the Ethernet Network Interface

The Digital Accumeasure uses Ethernet communications for instruments control

and data recovery. The network interface on the host computer or laptop must

be configured to be compatible with the Digital Accumeasure.

There are two general methods for interconnecting the Digital Accumeasure with

a host computer.

Direct Connection

Switched Connection

As shipped from the factory, the Digital Accumeasure IP address is set to

192.168.168.247. To establish initial communications, the host computer

network interface must be configured. Perform each of the following steps to

establish initial communications with the Digital Accumeasure.

Ethernet Crossover Cable

Host

Computer

Digital

Accumeasure

Host

Computer

Digital

Accumeasure

Hub

Switch

Standard

Ethernet

Cable

Standard

Ethernet

Cable

Other Ethernet Devices

Internal Network

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

1. Disconnect the host computer from

any internal network.

2. Open Network Connections dialog:

Click Start

Settings

Control Panel

Network Connections

3. Locate the appropriate network

connection and right click with the

mouse to activate the popup menu.

4. Click Properties.

5. On the properties dialog, scroll down

through the list of network items and

highlight the Internet Protocol

(TCP/IP) item.

6. Click the Properties button.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

7. On the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Properties dialog, click on the

Alternate Configuration tab.

8. Enter an IP address in the range

192.168.168.xxx.

9. Enter the Subnet mask as

255.255.255.0.

10. Click the OK button.

11. After a short while, the computer network interface should reconfigure itself to

use the Alternate TCP/IP Configuration.

You may confirm the TCP/IP configuration by

using the ipconfig utility in a command

prompt window. Click Start-Run and then

type cmd. Click OK.

When the command prompt window appears,

type ipconfig and press <enter>. Verify that

the IP address and subnet mask are correct.

If necessary, disconnect from any internal network and reboot the

computer. When Windows restarts, the alternate TCP/IP configuration

should be active.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

You may test the Ethernet connection using the ping utility in a command

prompt window. Type the command ping followed by the IP address of the

Digital Accumeasure.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Setting Up Windows Firewall

In order to enable all features of the Digital

Accumeasure Basic Support Program,

Windows Firewall requires a simple

reconfiguration to add the

AccumeasureSupportProgram.Exe program

to the list of firewall exceptions.

1. Activate the Windows Firewall control

panel applet by clicking Start-

Settings-Control Panel-Windows

Firewall.

2. When the Windows Firewall dialog

appears, click the Exceptions tab.

3. Then click Add Program.

4. When the Add a Program dialog is

displayed, click the Browse button.

5. When the Browse dialog displays,

navigate to the

C:\DigitalAccumeasure\Program\Ac

cumeasureSupportProgram.Exe

program file and click the Open

button.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

6. When the Add a Program dialog re-

displays, click the OK button.

7. When the Windows Firewall dialog

is re-displayed, click the OK button.

8. Verify that the Digital Accumeasure

Support Program

(AccumeasureSupportProgramt.exe)

program appears in the Windows

Firewall exceptions list and has a

check mark in the box.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Installing USB Communications Drivers

After the Digital Accumeasure Support Software has been successfully installed,

the USB drivers for Digital Accumeasure must be installed.

The Digital Accumeasure is a plug and play device and should be automatically

recognized and configured by Windows.

1. Power down the Digital Accumeasure.

2. Set the Digital Accumeasure CONNECTION switch to the USB position.

3. Power up the Digital Accumeasure.

4. Plug in the USB cable to the Digital Accumeasure.

5. Plug in the USB cable to the computer.

6. The Windows New Hardware Wizard will detect the new hardware, but

will not find the correct driver.

7. Open Windows Device Manager.

8. Right click on Other Devices -> Digital Accumeasure

9. Select "Update Driver Software”

10. Click on "Browse my computer for driver software”

11. Browse to C:\Digital Accumeasure\USB Driver

12. Click "next"

13. If you see a Windows Security Warning, click "Install Anyway"

14. After the installation completes, click "close"

Note: If you inadvertently plugged in the USB cable for the Digital Accumeasure

before installing the Digital Accumeasure Support Software, you must:

1. Use Windows Device Manager to uninstall all Accumeasure devices.

2. Unplug the Digital Accumeasure USB cable.

3. Install the Digital Accumeasure Support Software.

4. Install the USB drivers.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Digital Accumeasure Basic Support Software Overview

The Digital Accumeasure comes with a Basic Support Software package that

allows the user to quickly connect to a Digital Accumeasure unit and begin

acquiring data. The primary purpose of the software is to assist the user with

probe setup and user application checkout. Some of the tools provided may also

be used to help diagnose probe connection problems, noise levels, and other

issues with the user’s application system.

The specific functions supported by the software include:

•Scan the Ethernet network for attached Digital Accumeasure units.

•Connect to a unit via Ethernet or USB.

•View unit configuration information.

•Monitor unit status.

•Configure Ethernet communications parameters

•Configure data acquisition and processing control settings.

•Monitor voltage, displacement, and thickness data.

•Capture, display, and store voltage, displacement, and thickness waveforms.

•Export data in CSV file format for analysis by other software programs.

When the software is activated, the following screen display is presented.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Connecting to the Digital Accumeasure

The first step to using the Digital Accumeasure Basic Support Software is to

connect to a Digital Accumeasure unit.

Units with a Connection Switch

Two connection methods are supported, but only one method is active at a time

depending upon the setting of the CONNECTION switch.

Ethernet Standard IPV4 Ethernet communications at speeds up to 100

MB/sec. DHCP or STATIC addressing is supported.

USB The Digital Accumeasure appears as a Universal Serial Bus

device (USB) in Windows Device Manager.

To enable a communications mode:

1. Power down the unit.

2. Set the CONNECTION switch as required.

3. Connect the communications cable.

4. Power up the unit.

Notes: For Ethernet communications using DHCP addressing, the Ethernet cable

must be connected before powering the unit, otherwise the unit will not

connect. Do not remove the Ethernet cable while a connection is active.

For USB communications, the USB interface may be reset by removing the

USB cable at the computer end and reinserting the cable after waiting 5

seconds.

Units without a Connection Switch

Two connection methods (Ethernet, USB) are supported, but only one method is

active at a time depending upon the setting of the CommunicationsMode

parameter.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

To enable a communications mode:

1. Start the Digital Accumeasure Basic Support Program.

2. Click Scan for Units.

3. Connect to the desired Digital Accumeasure unit

4. Select the User Settings page

5. Select the new Communications Mode to be used

6. Save the new settings.

7. Exit the Digital Accumeasure Basic Support Program.

8. Power down the unit.

9. Connect the appropriate communications cable.

10. Power up the unit.

Ethernet Connection

1. Click the Scan For Units button

2. Wait until the scan is complete

3. Select the desire Digital Accumeasure unit from the drop list

4. Click the connect button

USB Connection

1. Click the Scan For Units button

2. Wait until the scan is complete

3. Select the desire Digital Accumeasure unit from the drop list

4. Click the connect button

When the CONNECT button is clicked, the software will establish a

communications link, upload current settings, display system configuration

information, and begin monitoring unit status.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Status Item

Description

Up Time

Time in minutes that the unit has been running since the last

controller reset or power up.

Total Time

Total time that the unit has been running since it left the

factory.

Temperature

Current internal temperature in degrees C. Normally ~40 C

Boot Flags

Boot status after last reset. Double click for details.

Connections

Communications status after last reset. Double click for

details.

Error Flags

Runtime error status. Double click for details.

User Save Fails

Internal SD flash write error counter. Should always be zero.

System Save Fails

Internal SD flash write error counter. Should always be zero.

Data Send Fails

Streaming data send failure counter.

Channel Status

Channel settings status. Double click for details.

Preferences

Preference settings. Double click for details.

C28 Block Id

C28 DSP data block counter. Should be constantly changing.

Button

Description

Scan ForUnits

Clicking this button will initiate a scan of the Ethernet network

and USB network for all connected Digital Accumeasure units.

The list of found units is loaded into the communications drop

list. List entries are formatted as follows:

Ethernet: <UnitName> (IP Address)

USB: <UnitName> (USB interface number)

Ethernet: <delilah> (192.168.168.198)

Ethernet: <sampson> (USB0)

Connect

Clicking this button will establish a communications link via

Ethernet or USB to a Digital Accumeasure unit. Once

connected, addition function tabs will be displayed on the

screen.

Disconnect

Clicking this button will close a previously opened

communications link to a Digital Accumeasure. All function

tables will be closed except for the CONNECTION tab.

Reset Controller

Clicking this button will reset the connected Digital

Accumeasure. The communications link will be closed and

then automatically re-established after the reset completes.

Several dialogs are displayed to allow the user to sequence

the reset process.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

System Information

The INFORMATION tab displays factory defined configuration parameters for the

Digital Accumeasure. This information will be requested when seeking support

from the factory.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Users Settings

The USER SETTINGS tab allows the user to define Ethernet communications,

data sampling, and data processing parameters for the Digital Accumeasure.

Setting

Description

Filter

Select the desired digital filter from the drop list. Double

click or right click to activate the drop list.

Range Extension

Select the desired range extension from the drop list.

Double click or right click to activate the drop list.

Streaming Data

Rate

The Digital Accumeasure internally samples and filters at

20000 samples per second. This data is then decimated to

satisfy the user’s data rate request. The maximum

achievable sustained streaming data rate is dependent

upon data reported, network loads, PC processing power,

other running software, and many other factors. If data

losses are reported, the data rate must be reduced.

Streaming Data

To Report

When in streaming data mode (Capture or Strip Chart) only

the requested data values are transmitted to increase data

throughput. Minimally, 20,000 values per second can be

streamed. As additional values are enabled for streaming,

the data rate must be reduced.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Communications

Mode

Two communications modes are supported: Ethernet and

USB. Select the desired mode. When shipped from the

factory, USB mode is enabled.

Position Input

Mode

Quadrature Only: Both quadrature encoder inputs are

enabled.

Mixed Trigger: The first input is a quadrature encode.

The second is a trigger.

This item is grayed out if position inputs are not available.

Position Input

Units Per Count

Conversion factor for converting encoder counts into

position value.

This item is grayed out if position inputs are not available.

Position Input

Units Label

Units label for position values.

This item is grayed out if position inputs are not available.

Unit Name

User definable name for the connected Digital

Accumeasure unit.

Carrier Sync Mode

MASTER or SLAVE

Enable Analog

Outputs

Enables or disables the use of analog outputs.

This item is grayed out if analog outputs are not available.

Min Displacement

Displacement value that maps to the minimum voltage

range value.

This item is grayed out if analog outputs are not available.

Max Displacement

Displacement value that maps to the maximum voltage

range value.

This item is grayed out if analog outputs are not available.

Voltage Range

Analog output voltage range: -10 to +10, -5 to +5, 0 to +10,

or 0 to +5.

The voltage range together with the minimum/maximum

displacement values define a linear mapping function for

converting displacements to analog voltages.

This item is grayed out if analog outputs are not available.

Address Mode

IP addressing mode. If connected to a network with DHCP

support, select DHCP. Otherwise, select STATIC and

define the static IP address as required.

Static Address

Static IP address to assign. Default is 192.168.168.247

Subnet Mask

Ethernet subnet address mask. Normally set to

255.255.255.0

Gateway Address

Not used. Should be set to 0.0.0.0

Client Limit

Not settable. Must be 1.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Button

Description

Save Changes

When settings have been changed, this button will become

enabled. Clicking this button will transfer the new settings

to the Digital Accumeasure.

Discard Changes

When clicked, all pending changes will be discarded and

the previous settings will be displayed.

Save To File

Sets of User Settings may be saved to local PC disk

storage for easy recall at a later time. When this button is

clicked, the current settings will be saved to a disk file on

the local computer system.

Load From File

When clicked, a previously saved set of User Settings can

be loaded into the User Settings Page and then saved to

the Digital Accumeasure.

Factory Reset

Clicking the Factory Reset button will command the Digital

Accumeasure to reset all of its parameters to a factory

default values.

Accumeasure Basic Support Software 7001-0059 Revision 1.06

Probe Setup

The PROBE SETUP tab is a simple data monitor function that constantly

requests data from the Digital Accumeasure unit and displays that data

numerically on the screen. The data is sampled and displayed at a 10 Hz rate.

A data logging option is provided to allow a user to record data (CSV file format)

over long time intervals.

Button

Description

Disable/Enable

Averaging

Enables and disables data averaging. Click the SETTINGS

button to change the amount of data averaging.

Reset Errors

Clears the data error counter.

Settings

Displays a dialog for editing the settings that control the

operation of this page. Settable parameters include:

Data Averages

Volts Decimal Digits

Displacement/Thickness Display Units

Logging Interval

Data To Log

Start/Stop Logging

Starts and stops the logging of data points.

Page is loading ...

MTI Instruments Accumeasure Digital Series Basic Support Software Owner's manual

MTI Instruments Accumeasure Digital Series Basic Support Software Owner's manual

MTI Instruments Accumeasure Digital Series Basic Support Software Owner's manual

Related papers

Other documents