Contents

Overview

Laboratory equipment often allows for electronic data collection, typically via an RS-232 port. QESTLab can communicate with the equipment for the collection of data that would otherwise need to be typed in by an operator. This could lead to an increased efficiency and reduces error.

Prior to beginning this configuration the serial port settings and format of the data that the equipment item sends to the PC should be known. The steps outlined in Obtaining Equipment Serial Port Settings and Output Format can be followed to determine this.

Prerequisites for Interfacing Equipment with QESTLab

The QESTLab component that communicates between QESTLab electronic worksheets and the laboratory equipment is called the QEI (QEST Equipment Interface). Not all equipment can be interfaced with the QESTLab software. The main guideline's for equipment to interface with QESTLab are:

• The serial output for the equipment can be read through a COM Port.
• The equipment data output from the equipment to the PC match the expected format of a /wiki/spaces/QPS/pages/696745986.

Some equipment drivers currently exist for the following equipment items:

• Electronic Balance
• Compression Machine
• Concrete Cylinder Measure Machine
• Shrinkage Gauge

The following information is required to interface equipment with QESTLab:

The use the equipment interface in QESTLab the feature must be licensed. If the feature is licensed an additional Interface tab will be available on the equipment data entry form for equipment items in the Equipment register.

From this tab you will need to set the:

Interfacing Equipment for QESTLab Weigh & Measure Station 

When using the Weigh & Measure Station there are two types of interfacing scenarios. 

1. To configure a separate Concrete Cylinder Measure and Balance interface.
2. To combine the Concrete Cylinder Measure and Balance interface. 

Separate Concrete Cylinder Measure and Balance

To configure a Cylinder Measure to interface dimensions but not weight:

• Select a driver that only interfaces dimensions.
  Note: Most drivers are dimensions only, a combined driver will be named appropriately to ensure there is no confusion that it interfaces weight.
  
  

Combined Concrete Cylinder Measure and Balance

To configure a Cylinder Measure to interface dimensions and weight:

• Select a driver that interfaces both dimensions and weight.
• Calibrate the equipment, set the calibration value "Measure Weight (Yes/No)" = "Yes"

Using the Equipment

When working with an electronic worksheet that supports equipment interfacing, the interfaced equipment item can be selected in equipment section on the test worksheets from the equipment drop downs. If the interfaced equipment item is selected on the PC that was specified in the equipment interface tab, then a blue band will be visible above and below the equipment drop down.

If the blue bands does not appear, the equipment item will not connect with QESTLab.

Data Collection - With Interfaced Balance

Once you have selected the equipment item connected to the current PC, all fields that can be collected from the equipment will be highlighted  blue bands.

To move between fields use TAB on the keyboard or click onto an interfaced field. Once selected press SPACE to start communication with the interfaced equipment item. A window similar to the one shown below will be displayed.

Once a reading has successfully been taken it will be displayed in the window with the following options:

 - If the value is not accurate click this button to bring in an updated value from the equipment.

 - Click when the value is acceptable and it will be automatically added to the interfaced field.

- Click to return to the test worksheet without saving the interfaced data. 

Data Collection – Concrete Testing

Two specialized modules are available for concrete testing. The QESTLab Weigh & Measure Station for interfacing to a laser measurement apparatus and balance and the QESTLab Concrete Crush Station for interfacing to a compression machine. These modules are designed for optimised data entry. 

QESTLab Weigh & Measure Station

Separate Concrete Cylinder Measure and Balance

As per the standard electronic worksheets, the equipment is selected using a equipment drop down fields. When using separate interfaced equipment, select the Concrete Cylinder Measure using the dimensions only driver, and a Balance with it's own interfaced balance. Steps to complete the data entry with the interfaced equipment is as follows:

1. The QEST Weigh & Measure Station supports three different methods of searching for concrete specimens to test.

   1. By Test Date - Select a date from the Test Date drop-down field. All concrete specimens due for testing on the specified date at the selected laboratory will be listed in the Next Specimen ID drop-down.

   2. By Date Cast - Select a date from the Date Cast drop-down field. All concrete specimens which were cast on the specified date assigned to the selected laboratory for testing will be listed in the Next Specimen ID drop-down.

   3. If the specimen ID is known, it can be directly entered into the Next Specimen ID drop-down. Note, unexpected behaviour can result if duplicate specimen IDs are found. 

2. Once the specimen is selected press ENTER, the specimen and sample information will be displayed in the application. The interface display will show separately joined connections to each equipment item, the Concrete Cylinder Measure with the dimensions and the Balance with the weight. 
   
3. Press ENTER again to commence interfacing and ENTER to accept the returned value(s) once they are displayed. Choosing to accept the result will write the dimension and weight details to the concrete grid in the application.
4. If there was an error in reading the result, it can be manually adjusted by editing the values in the concrete grid. 
5. The Next Specimen ID will have been automatically incremented to the next one in the list. If this is correct, the user need only hit Enter to begin testing the next specimen. Otherwise, locate the desired specimen in the drop-down list and press Select to commence the process.

Combined Concrete Cylinder Measure and Balance

When using the combined interface, select the Concrete Cylinder Measure with the driver that uses both dimensions and weight. When selected the Balance equipment selection will be hidden as it is unused. Steps to complete the data entry with the combined interfaced equipment is identical to the steps for the Separate Concrete Cylinder Measure and Balance. However, the interface will show a single connection combining the dimensions and weight of the selected Concrete Cylinder Measure.

QESTLab Concrete Crush Station

As per the standard electronic worksheets, the equipment on the QEST Crush Station is selected using the drop down.

Steps to complete the data entry with the interfaced equipment is as follows:

1. Search for the Specimen ID, the QEST Crush Station supports three different methods of searching for concrete specimens to test.

   1. By Test Date - Select a date from the Test Date drop-down field. All concrete specimens due for testing on the specified date at the selected laboratory will be listed in the Next Specimen ID drop-down.

   2. By Date Cast - Select a date from the Date Cast drop-down field. All concrete specimens which were cast on the specified date assigned to the selected laboratory for testing will be listed in the Next Specimen ID drop-down.

   3. If the specimen ID is known, it can be directly entered into the Next Specimen ID drop-down. Note, unexpected behaviour can result if duplicate specimen IDs are found.

2. Once the specimen is selected press ENTER, the specimen and sample information is displayed. 
3. Press ENTER again to commence interfacing and ENTER to accept the returned value(s) once they are displayed. Choosing to accept the result will write the load together with the calculated strength to the grid.
4. If there was an error in reading the result, it can be manually adjusted by editing the Load value in the grid. 
5. The Next Specimen ID will have been automatically incremented to the next one in the list. If this is correct, the user need only hit Enter to begin testing the next specimen. Otherwise, locate the desired specimen in the drop-down list and press Select to commence the process.

Troubleshooting

Various problems can prevent the successful interfacing of equipment. A number of avenues of investigation are given in the table below.

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