Controlling Mitutoyo Caliper from Excel

I am not computer savy, so if it were me, I might try to put the foot switch on a timer. Just my thoughts.

That's a definite possibility. I don't have the foot switch, but I understand it plugs in with a 1/8" plug, so it may well be a simple switch closure that initiates the sending. That would logically place the foot switch in parallel with the one on the caliper.

Actually, I do have a programmable relay/timer on hand. If I can verify that the foot switch is indeed in parallel with the button, then I could connect the relay instead of the foot switch. I'm away for a few days, but as soon as I get back, I'll check it out!

Thanks for the thought!

This is really old but maybe you can adapt the code to your version of Excel:

http://www.princeton.edu/~mlittman/excellab.pdf

You're not the first to face the problem, but it looks like it'll cost you:

http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?ckey=474107-1-eng&pid=GeneratorsHome&nid=-536900124.0.08&lc=eng&cc=US

http://www.spbasic.com/Instrument_Control.html

Thanks for the links. I was not aware of spBasic. I taught BASIC for quite a few years, and did a fair amount of programming in RealBASIC, including controlling and using the RS232 serial port. Now that I think about it, I did actually write one program that successfully used the USB port to scan test marks on answer sheets, but I quit working on that program nearly three years ago...

Old stuff like those in your links nearly always uses the RS232 serial port, so I'm not going to spend any money on it.

It appears that to use the foot switch requires an adapter cable and Mitutoyo's proprietary software, and possibly a specialized foot switch. There went 3 or 4 hundred dollars...

I'm actually surprised that Mitutoyo doesn't provide the support; although they would sell fewer adapters and software, it seems like they would sell enough additional compatible calipers and other measuring instruments to make it worth their investment.

Taking a hint from harley, unless someone comes up with a macro for Excel, I'm going to make a mount to hold a small solenoid over the existing button, and pulse that solenoid with the programmable timer.

I can't point you to anything specific, but try searching these DIY websites:

http://www.instructables.com/

http://www.hackaday.com/

http://blog.makezine.com/

I have a vague memory of reading about a similar project, and it was most likely on one of those sites.

Good thought! Perhaps I did not use the right search terms, but I looked at all three and found nothing...

Try your hand at programming an Arduino or a Basic Stamp or the like. Those can be set up to output a pulse at repeated intervals. Use the pulse to trigger a relay and replace the foot switch with the relay contacts.

It's also possible to use a function generator to output the pulses you need. You may need to buffer the function generator output to be able to drive a relay but that's an option as well.

I do have a Basic Stamp, sitting unused for quite a few years...

I also have on hand an Eagle Signal B856 programmable timer, that will do it without programming, with just a few settings, so that's what I'll use unless something better shows up.

I have accomplished what you would like to do by using this keyboard wedge software.

Ace

Thanks for the link. I was unaware of the software. Unfortunately, like most of the the software I've seen, it appears to be for use with the RS232 serial port, not the USB port. It's been quite a few years since I had a current computer with a serial port. I have two different serial-to-USB converters, but have had very poor luck trying to use them.

The USB-ITN-C cable connects directly from the caliper to the USB port, and appears to the computer just as would an external 10-key pad. It takes exactly two mouse clicks to install it on the Mac. Once installed the first time, I just plug it in and it works!

All I need is a way for Excel to tell it when to send a reading.

The USB port function is generic both way. But the application gathering, packaging and sending on its way may be one way.

On the other hand, the description of the foot pedal is sketchy. IF that plugs in on a different port of any kind, then and only then a control sequence is sent to the caliper. You need then somebody with the proper knowledge to extract the control sequence generated. This is the neat solution.

Or is it plugging into the caliper itself? then it is parallel with the button. Some resistors or voltage shifting cannot be excluded from this distance.

Or, the hack. Send a pulse to the pedal from the spreadsheet. Then the product you purchased is intact, and still worthy a warranty. And you did it all in-house.

I agree that a lot of details are missing! I do NOT have the foot pedal (switch), and right now do not plan on buying one.

Unfortunately, I'm currently in northern CA, and the equipment is in southern CA, so I can't look at it to check... I'll be back next week. I don't remember seeing any place to plug in a foot switch, and the PDF description seems to show the foot switch plugging into a separate USB port. The Mitutoyo software requires a dongle key, so it looks like you need three USB ports: one for the caliper, one for the foot switch, and one for the dongle. I only have 2 USB ports on my laptop, so I'd have to use a hub...

"Or, the hack. Send a pulse to the pedal from the spreadsheet." That is really what I'm looking for! How?

Heck if it was me, I would buy a $16.00 Caliper made in China from Harbor Freight, and set up my cell phone to take a picture of the dial (or the digits) every five minutes.

What is this experiment for anyhow? Watching the grass grow?

Watching a sheet of metal grow!

and how is the sheet of metal grown? Is this some new form of wizardry for which you will have to answer to the inquisition panel? Is this a hot roll plant rolling some exotic hard metal?

I really can't say, but your last sentence is rather close.

Have you looked at the vision systems out today. I have used these to do very tight tolerance check of everything from seat belt latches to dry paint thicknesses. One PLC and and a little programing.

Not recently. It's been 5 or 6 years since we last used one from Keyence, and as I recall, that system was several thousand dollars. We did alignment of moving parts, and I did most of the PLC programming, but I think the folks from Keyence helped quite a bit.

So far we've only invested around $300 in this system, plus a number of hours making fixtures. I've started to make the fixture to mount a solenoid on the caliper, and have a digital timer to control it. Unfortunately, this is somewhat of a rush job, so we don't have time to do anything more sophisticated for now.

I still think one or more macros in Excel should be able to do the job; I'm working on a couple of possible contacts...

Check out Billsredirect software, cheap and it works. http://www.billproduction.com/

Another one I was not aware of. Thanks, but I don't see how it would help.

The data already goes directly into whatever cell is selected in Excel or any other software, and subsequent readings go right down the column.

The problem is telling the caliper when to send, at definable intervals.

Re: #11-15.

Please think about of the redirection packages once more. Your desire was, that excel sends out a string and gets back a string. Simple and clean, IF doable without a main hack. And, one of them might come in handy at the end of this message.

I am foremost into hardware. And a firm follower of the K.I.S.S principle. It can be refined later, if needed. In this case, you need a pulse generator, an oscilloscope (10MHz useable, 50 - 100MHz better),+probes. EBay has them, cheaply.

Open up the footpedal cover, and you will see the mechanical switch. Measure the terminals, and in all likelihood you will find a few volts. When depressed, in all likelihood it goes to zero for the duration. Or the reverse, no matter. In this case you halfway homefree. Get a low voltage relay, 5Volt. Drive it from the pulse generator with, say 10 sec spacing and 0.1-1sec pulse width. Put its contacts parallel with the footswitch. It ought to simulate the original footswitch nicely, and your spreadsheet should fill up nicely. At this point the data collection starts by turning on the generator, and stops by turning it off. The process is the same, if the switch plugs in directly to the caliper.

If the generator has a trigger input, it can be controlled later from the spreadsheet. But, right now, we know too little about details. It requires a unique port for the spreadsheet to send to. As I very much would like to avoid dealing with all traffic on an USB plug to your PC. An USB port can be set up that way by programming, and wiring to trigger the generator once for each incoming character.

The mitutuyo pdf is clear and excellent for sorting out things on the input side. The footswitch adapter plugs in as USB, So does the Dongle. Fine. But a note is nclear to me: "If not using optional software.... the footswitch can be used...." THAT the company has to explain.

Thanks for your thoughts. I do NOT have the foot pedal, so can't take it apart!

I do have the caliper and the direct USB cable. The data switch is molded into the connector at the caliper end. I don't want to take any chances with this cable, but if this project continues, I may just buy a second cable, cut it open, and solder a couple of wires in parallel with the existing switch.

I do have a 'scope, and at least a couple of pulse generators, and could rather easily make a custom one if required.

I agree to the KISS principle, and right now the simplest thing seems to be to mount a small solenoid to press the existing Data button at the desired interval. I've got the solenoid in front of me, and already started to design a mount...

You are on the right (only one seeming open right now) track. Please note, That the caliper has to have an application hard/software in it. The USB plug has a generic low speed interface, and an interface HW/SW in it to properly couple the caliper into it.

Now, unless you can find out from the barebones use of the caliper, that the button there triggers the transmission, you cannot be sure, that the app. portion or the caliper is responsible for it. The mechanical trigger is good, the splice is 50-50..

Good hunting!

Yes, the button initiates data transmission (one distance reading and a return character; in Excel, fill a cell and move down to the next), without any special software.

Here's my solution:

I drilled a hole in the closed end of a 24V solenoid so the pulling in of the core pushes a small rod which presses the button, and mounted that on the caliper. The caliper is also mounted on a mechanism that transfers vertical motion in a limited space to horizontal motion of the caliper. A 24V pulse triggers the data transfer quite nicely.

Thanks to all for your suggestions!

Dick

Good work. Congratulations!

Did you ask Mitutoyo about measure link version 7.0? This is supposed to be their top of the line measurement data acquisition software. How would this not work in your situation, I don't know.

I've only looked at it somewhat briefly. I'd rather not have to install Windows on my Mac, although I do own a copy, and I did have it installed on my previous Mac. Since the caliper does send the data correctly to the Mac, I'd like to have the Mac control the sending of data.

No, I have not asked Mitutoyo yet. In looking through their information, I saw data entry into Excel and into databases, but I did not see any reference to continuous data logging.

The following document explains the way to solve your problem:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282614057_Automatic_Data_Collector_for_the_Mitutoyo_264-012-10

I hope that works for you. We collect the data with Matlab, if you are interest in knowing how let me know. Regards. MSc. Erik E. Ramírez

Welcome to CR4!

Although the original project was finished over 2 years ago, I have a similar one coming up, and I never got an answer showing how to Have Excel send a control signal, so I welcome your response.

For some reason, clicking on your link leads to a "Server not Found" message, but copying and pasting it into the address field does work. I have not used an Arduino yet, but a close friend just got one this week, and and I have helped a couple others who have them, so I guess it is time I got one too...

Thanks!

Dick