Page 25
The Computer Interface
——————————————————————————————————————
If you purchased MicroSet with the optional Computer Interface Software, you can
record readings on a computer. This is a very powerful feature with great benefit to the
watchmaker. Three versions of the software are available. To take full advantage of the
watch functions you need Version 3 of the Windows software.
You will find that, in most watches, the rate will change from one reading to the next.
This happens for many reasons. With a personal computer connected to MicroSet you
can see how the rate changes over time and get a feeling for the range and stability
of the watch you’re working with. You can capture rate data for as long as you like and
plot the changes to reveal the effects of positional error, spring tension, wheel errors,
temperature change, and many other factors. The software presents live charts and
running averages of rate changes, all of which can be saved on disk or printed on paper
for later reference or to give to customers.
The Windows interface software is also needed to display balance wheel amplitude.
Paper tape watch timer simulation
The Windows interface program version 3 will also display a simulation of the paper tape
displays of early watch timing machines like Vibrograph and Tickoprint. If you’ve used
one of these machines, you have learned that they can reveal subtle details about how
a watch is performing. The trouble with these machines is that they’re old, less accurate,
expensive, and noisy! MicroSet and the Windows interface program can produce the
same kinds of displays, but with added features made possible by the computer. Rate
information is displayed directly rather than interpreted from the slope of the readings.
Beat error can be read directly from the screen. The sloping lines can be “normalized”
to run flat so irregularities can be more easily observed, and you can “zoom in” or out to
see finer detail or longer periods. The graphs can be saved on disk or printed on paper.
And the software can be set to work for any beat time, so you need not interpret the
displays differently for unusual beat watches.
The computer interface can be added to any MicroSet. Please call for details and
availability.
