[lynn]

How do you capture data to Excel when using glass scales, is it just like with calipers. Also is it possible to use a CMM Touch Probe to capture the data when you touch the probe to surface.Thanks lynn

[Tomer]

How do you capture data to Excel when using glass scales, is it just like with calibers. Also is it possible to use a CMM Touch Probe to capture the data when you touch the probe to surface.Thanks lynn

Hi Lynn, and welcome to the forum.

The Caliper2PC system can capture data from all supported devices e.g. linear glass scales, digital calipers as well as other encoders supported. The reference zero can be set manually in the software or automatically via reference switches.  

The hardware is designed to support simple switches for capturing data. This way simple foot swichtes can be used to capture one data set at a time. The I/O ports are 5V TTL compatible. The capturing switches can be connected between the Input pin and GND. The input pins are hold on High via pull up resistors. As soon as the switch connects the inpurt port with GND, the signal changes from HIGH to LOW. This is event is captured in the software for further processing.

   

Using CMM touch probes might be possible. The output must be compatible with 5V TTL and should be connecting the circuit to GND as soon as it touches the part. I've never tested the system with a CMM touch probe, however this seems to be an interesting approach. Depending on the CMM touch probe used, a signal converter circuit might be needed.

The zero offset for the probe can be set in the software.
 

In terms of the software:

The Caliper2PC software offers a variety of options for data capturing (eg. keyboard emulator, writing data into the clipboard, Excel and Auto capture).

If data has to be written into an open Excel table the following steps must be taken:


1. Excel:

For writing values directly into Excel you have to launch Excel from the Caliper2PC software:

"Output" -> "Excel" -> "Launch Excel"

After launching Excel from the Caliper2PC software you can choose a cell in any sheet (eg. Sheet1) and right click on it to open the context menu. From the context menu you choose "Set Origin Cell" for defining the first cell to be written to. For more features (eg. painting cells with max / min values in different colors) you can open the "Caliper2PC - Excel" window (see attachments). Each channel (P1 - P6) must be defined separately. Capturing can be triggered through a switch (eg. foot switch or a probe).

Values can be captured with the Caliper2PC Virtual Interface window see attachment.

   
   
   


2. Auto capture:

The Caliper2PC software facilitates value recording via a predefined timer (see "Output" -> "Auto Capture" feature)) (see attachment).

   

The software will create a *.csv Table (the *.csv file can be opened with Excel) with the data of all devices and all measurements (including a time stamp for each measurement). Data capturing can also be triggered by a probe or foot switch through an I/O input port. The Caliper2PC interface has 6 I/O input ports.