Remote Computer Monitor/Control Leak Testers

Modern Machine Shop, Feb, 2001 by Elizabeth M. Gruber

New S-3085 Monitor software allows up to 34 IDC M-10 x 5 production-line leak testing instruments to be monitored and controlled by a remote IBM compatible host computer (virtually any PC) for better management of multi-station testing operations, QC/SPC programs and traceability documentation.

While each M-10 x 5 instrument reports test parameters, dynamic test data, statistics and final accept/reject status on its own front panel via vacuum fluorescent display, it continually stores data from its last 100 tests for recall display, printout, statistical calculations or output to other devices. The new software enables a host computer to continually harvest information and store it by date to the host's hard disk in Microsoft Access database format, at 2 million test records for every 100 MB of free hard disk space. Where traceability requires, stored data can be manually given work shift identity as well.

The host then can recall stored data for CRT-screen viewing, in total or using selection filters such as date, work shift, channel (test station), accept/reject results and causes of rejects (for example, high or low pressure, gross leaks and restarts) for each channel as well as totalized. It also can perform and display statistical calculations on selected data to show mean, standard deviation and mean [ or -]3 standard deviation for statistical process control (SPC) and other quality management programs.

For in-progress study, the software allows the host computer to display a real-time trace of the test transducer versus time from any online M-10 x 5 instrument, individually or grouped. In addition, the host can upload the results of the most recent 100 tests routinely retained by each M-10 x 5 instrument and display them as a trend graph in strip chart format or as a Histogram showing accumulated distribution of test results, in both cases with upper and lower limits annotated.

All M-10 x 5 instruments can store and recall up to 99 test programs for quick changeover among test parts and are equipped with bi-directional interfaces, so a host computer with S-3085 software can command program changeovers at the instrument level, download test parameter modifications within programs and issue a variety of other operational instructions.