MTESTQuattro Calibration

Calibration View: create or select an existing calibration

The following procedure will help you calibrate or verify a calibration. Examples will be given for axial tension/
compression load and axial position but can be applied for torque, angle, strain, or any other calibration.
1. What is a calibration and how does MTESTQuattro use calibrations?
a. Analog Calibrations: MTESTQuattro uses electrical signals from the transducer and converts them into counts.
The calibration table is used to correlate the counts into real engineering values. For example, the calibration
table is set such that 0counts is 0lbf and 1,000counts is 10lbf. When the system reads a signal of 500 counts, the
output will be a load of 5lb and a signal of 1,500counts will output a load of 15lbf. The correlation between load
and signal is often linear enough that only 2 points are needed to establish a calibration table. ADMET Systems
typically ship with a 2 point load call. MTESTQuattro allows up to 10 points of calibration if needed.
i. Calibration table should be created in order of increasing values. 0, 5, 50, 500lbs.
ii. In tension, counts should increase when the tension load is increased. If a tension load is applied and the
counts do not increase in a positive direction, please consult ADMET.
iii. Zero load should result in a count value in the range -1000 to 1000 counts.

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MTESTQuattro Calibration

b. Digital (Encoder) Transducers: A digital transducer pulses once a certain amount of movement has occurred.
MTESTQuattro tracks the digital signals that a transducer produces. The calibration data correlates the amount
of pulses required to move 1inch. For example, if the position calibration is 100pulses/in, MTESTQuattro reports
a displacement of 1 inch after 100pulses have been detected. If 50pulses were detected, a displacement of 1/2in
is reported. For every 1 pulse a displacement of 0.01in is reported. Note that the system does not wait for
50pulses to occur but increments the displacement with every pulse.
2. Entering calibration screen.
a. From Utilities menu, select Calibrate or click the calibration button:
b. Default password is quattro
3. Creating a NEW calibration (if modifying a calibration go to step 5. Modifying an existing calibration).
a. Select the tab of the calibration type being performed. Load, Postion, AxialStrain, etc.
b. Right click anywhere in the calibration tab and select New.
c. Enter Range: (capacity) of calibration. Typical values are the capacity of the load transducer, but lower value
may be used. The machine will automatically stop once this value is reached. It does not matter if the machine is
in test, jogging or going home. All machine movement will stop. Machine movement in the direction of
unloading will be allowed.
d. Enter Transducer Resolution.
i. Analog Resolution values are typically 1/10,000 of the capacity of the load cell. Resolution values are
base ten; round the resolution down to the nearest 1 value if the resolution calculation is not a base 10:
1. 10Klb load cell > 1lb resolution
2. 10lb load cell > 0.001lb resolution
3. 5lb load cell > .0005lb > .0001lb resolution
ii. Digital (encoder) Resolutions are typically determined by dividing 1 by the pulses/in value. Resolution
values are base ten; round the resolution up to the nearest 1 value if the resolution calculation is not a
base 10.
1. 100,000pulses/in > 0.00001in resolution
2. 360,000pulses/in > 0.000003in > 0.00001in resolution.
e. Press the Update button next to the SmartDucer ID: field. If the system is set up with auto transducer
recognition, the field will update with a unique serial number for the transducer. When transducers such as load
cells or extensometers are changed, only calibrations tied to this unique serial number will be available for
selection. Position and Angle calibrations do not have SmartDucer IDs.
f. For Position or AxialStrain calibrations select Analog or Encoder. For more information see section 7.
MTESTQuattro Calibration Explained.
g. For Load calibrations select the Direction of Loading. Used for establishing correct machine movement for a
tension or compression test.
i. Tension Calibration - Positive Position establishes positive displacement in the tension direction.
ii. Compression Calibration - Negative Position establishes positive displacement in the compressive
direction.
iii. Torque calibrations - CW Clockwise and CCW Counter Clockwise rotation.
h. Enter encoder input calibration value.
i. Position - This field is filled in for ADMET Machines
ii. Position - For retrofits see the position transducer for pulses per inch value.
iii. Strain This value is on the calibration certificate provided with the extensometer/ displacement device.
ADMET, Inc. | 51 Morgan Dr. Norwood, MA (781)769-0850

MTESTQuattro Calibration

i.

Right click in the anywhere in the calibration tab and select Save As. Typical calibrations are named as follows
LoadCellCapacity-SerialNumber-Direction: Load cell calibration used in Tension Testing: 10KLB-012478-Tension.
For other types of transducers, Description-SerialNumber is sufficient: 1 in gauge length 10% extension
extensometer: 1in10per-012478.
4. Entering values into the calibration table.
a. Clear the default calibration table by clicking the Clear All Points button.
b. Entering Values into the calibration table.
i. The first calibration point should be zero. Once the Live Counts stop fluctuating (within a few counts),
click the Set Point button. The counts value will be recorded to the calibration table on the right hand
side of the tab.
ii. Using machine to apply load
1. Set a slow jog rate in the procedure tab. See section 6. Setting up the machine to perform or
verify a calibration.
2. Jog the machine up or down until the desired calibration load is achieved.
3. Click Set Point button to record calibration point. The counts value will be recorded with a value
of zero. Change the value to the actual load on the cell or wait until all points have been taken
to enter them into the table.
4. Jog the machine further to achieve more load.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until enough points have been collected.
iii. Using Dead weights to apply load
1. Hang a weight from or set a weight on the load cell.
2. Click the Set Point button to record calibration point. The counts value will be recorded with a
value of zero. Change the value to the actual load on the cell or wait until all points have been
taken to enter them into the table.
3. Continue adding weights or replacing with larger weights and recording points.
iv. Using a Shunt calibration - TENSION
A shunt calibration simulates a signal from the transducer. The default internal shunt is 150K. If the
transducer was purchased from ADMET, Inc. The value that correlates to this simulated signal is written
on the calibration certificate.
1. Click the Shunt button to the right of the Live Counts: Area. It should turn red once the shunt is
active.
2. Wait until counts stabilize and click the Set Point button. The counts value will be recorded with
a value of zero. Change the value next to the shunted count to the calculated value or one
written on the calibration certificate.
v. Using a Shunt calibration - COMPRESSION
1. Clear the default calibration table by clicking the Clear All Points button.
2. Click the Shunt button to the right of the Live Counts: Area. It should turn red once the shunt is
active.
3. Wait until counts stabilize and click the Set Point button.
4. Click the Shunt button again to deactivate the shunt. The button should turn grey.
5. Wait until load stabilizes and click the Set Point button. Change the value to the calculated value
or one written on the calibration certificate. The table should have a larger positive counts value
next to the zero load and a smaller counts value next to the higher load.
ADMET, Inc. | 51 Morgan Dr. Norwood, MA (781)769-0850

MTESTQuattro Calibration

c. Once all points are taken and corresponding values are entered, right click in the calibration tab and save the
calibration.
d. Go to step 7. Verifying a calibration.
5. Modifying an Existing calibration.
a. Open the calibration to be modified. See section 1 for entering the calibration menu.
b. Modify the Values in the calibration table until the MTESTQuattro readings match the standard. See sections 4.
Entering values into the calibration table and section 6. Verifying the Calibration.
6. Setting up the machine to perform or verify a calibration.
a. Using the machine to apply load or a displacement.
i. Creating a new profile to check calibration.
1. From the file menu select new and then Test Procedure
2. In the Channels tab select the calibration to verify. You will need to turn on channels in order to
select a calibration if the calibration is not load or position (torque or angle).
3. In the Servo Control tab Set up a jog rate. During calibration this should be about
0.005in/minute. When Fixturing the calibration load cell, the speed can be faster 1-5in/minute.
4. In the Channels tab, the live reading will be displayed next to the channel name.
5. In the calibration menu, the jog functions are operational and should be used to apply load to
the machine.
6. Save the new Procedure by going to the file menu and selecting Save As. Enter a name such as
calibration.
7. Proceed in fixturing the calibration transducer into the machine. Use appropriate jog rates.
ii. Modifying an existing profile to check calibration.
1. Open the procedure that will be modified to check calibration.
2. In the channels tab, check that the correct calibrations are selected.
3. In the general tab, Jog/Home Overload may need to be disable (set to 0) to load the tensile/
torque transducer to capacity.
4. In the Servo Control tab Set up a jog rate. During calibration this should be about
0.005in/minute. When Fixturing the calibration cell, the speed can be faster 1-5in/min.
5. In the Channels tab, the live reading will be displayed next to the channel name.
6. Changes to this procedure will NOT be automatically saved. Changes will be implemented and
used during calibration, but upon exiting the program or changing procedures, changes will NOT
be saved. To save this procedure as a calibration procedure, select the file menu and select
save as. Name the procedure calibration.
7. Proceed in fixturing the calibration transducer into the machine. Use appropriate jog rates.
b. Using dead weights or other methods not requiring movement of the machine to perform or verify a calibration.
i. Creating a new profile to check calibration.
1. From the file menu select new and then Test Procedure
2. In the Channels tab select the calibration to verify. You will need to turn on channels in order to
select a calibration if the calibration is not load or position (torque or angle).
3. In the Channels tab, the live reading will be displayed next to the channel name.
ii. Modifying an existing profile to check calibration.
1. Open the procedure that uses the calibration to be verified.
2. In the Channels tab, the live reading will be displayed next to the channel name.
ADMET, Inc. | 51 Morgan Dr. Norwood, MA (781)769-0850

MTESTQuattro Calibration

7. Verifying a calibration.
a. Open or create a procedure. See section 5. Setting up the machine to perform or verify a calibration.
b. Select the correct channel from the Channels tab in the procedure.
c. Click the zero button next to the live reading to tare out the reading.
d. Load the transducer and verify the output against your standard.
8. MTESTQuattro Calibration Explained.

Channels View: select appropriate calibration to verify

ADMET, Inc. | 51 Morgan Dr. Norwood, MA (781)769-0850