The laboratory and laboratory devices as internal service providers of a heat and surface treatment company often end up as separated departments and in many cases are not properly integrated into the company's workflows. The working results of the laboratory department are often not fully available to the whole company.
In the following the neutral expressions „testing software" or „test devices" are used. The task is to better integrate the data exchange around the laboratory into the processes as an integral part of a company.
Interfaces are provided for numerous well-known manufacturers of test devices and laboratory equipment. This contains several products from the manufacturers:
More connections are currently in progress. We are happy to further inform you.
A connection includes different components and provides the following
AMS creates an interface-exchange-format for each order line or batch. The test software should have the function to enter the order line number or batch number. Alternatively to the manual input via keyboard the operator should be able to scan the bar code located on the AMS documents. The bar code contains the order line or batch number. Afterwards the provided data is read through a test device and displayed for the operator in the test software.
An expensive, duplicate and error-prone registration of the order data through qualified employees is no longer necessary.
After the testing of an AMS job item or batch the test software creates a comparable interface exchange format. There can be any number of test series for each order line or batch. Every test series includes much more detailed information.
Of course AMS processes all common test loads and test methods.
After the testing for an AMS order line or batch is finished, the test software transmits a PDF document to AMS containing the test report or the graphically prepared measured hardness profile.
AMS processes this data and internally assigns it to the order line or batch.
Alternatively to software to software communication AMS provides the opportunity to receive and process test values directly, or in other words: close to the test device. Using this communication usually no software is switched between the device generating the test result and AMS. The data exchange happens directly.
The following means of communication are available:
Many test devices are connectable to a PC. Options often used are the RS-232 (EIA-232) interfaces, establishing a point-to-point connection between test device and PC. Via this connection measured test results are transmitted to AMS. During the transmission AMS is in a reception state which enables the assignment of the transmitted results to a job item or batch.
Further connection types like e.g. RS-485 (EIA-485) or superior TCP/IP network connections are available as well. In these cases the test devices' wiring and connectivity must be considered.
In this form of communication calculated test results, that are not further processed in AMS but directly carried on to permanent storage, are transmitted.
A special form of serial data transmission is the connection of digital calipers for reading out indentation diagonals. For this communication the transmitted values first need to be converted into test results by AMS. The transmitted values represent raw values. Initially they must be converted to correct hardness values via AMS according to the requirement settings and can afterwards be stored in AMS. Often used devices are the digital caliper by Sylvac that can be connected via the RS-232 interface and are triggered by a simple foot switch.
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