background image

 
 
 
Single Station Vicat Test Apparatus 
1.0360 
 

 

35 

4. 

Operation 

4.1  Software 

 
Install and configure the software on the PC. 
See the 

“Software Operating Manual” for this. 

 
 

 

Figure 31: VicatMPM application software 

 
 
 
 

 

       Note 

 

 

The VicatMPM software let you determine norm stiffness, initial time of seting and fi-
nal time of setting.

 

Final time of seting can be determined very accurately (in case the sample surface is 
appropriate) since the measurement deviation within the same level is 

 0.1mm. 

Summary of Contents for 1.0360

Page 1: ...ufacture and Distribution of Testing Equipment for Construction Materials Motzener Str 26b DE 12277 Berlin Tel 49 0 30 710 96 45 0 Fax 49 0 30 710 96 45 98 www testing de 1 Operating Manual Single Station Vicat Needle Testing Apparatus ...

Page 2: ... for sensor T1 17 3 5 Explanation of the process of water temperature control 18 3 6 Setting the parameters for the airflow control 19 3 6 1 Setting the upper temperature of heat sinks 20 3 6 2 Setting the lower temperature of heat sinks 20 3 6 3 Setting the run on temperature of the heat sinks 20 3 6 4 Setting the correction factor for sensor T2 20 3 6 5 Stop running fans 21 3 7 Settings for the ...

Page 3: ...the zero voltage of the humidity sensor 23 Figure 18 Adjusting the offset of the humidity sensor 24 Figure 19 Settings for the Vicat device 25 Figure 20 Choosing cleaner device 25 Figure 21 Hint for cleaner device position 26 Figure 22 Cleaner device position 26 Figure 23 Hint for samples cencer 27 Figure 24 Setting the Y coordinate of samples center 28 Figure 25 Hint samples zero level 29 Figure ...

Page 4: ...ecial conditions or with special modes of operation then this shall be authorized only after consultation with the manufacturer and after obtaining his prior and express approval The apparatus serves exclusively to measure the setting times of cement The beginning and end of the setting process are determined from the way in which a steel needle penetrates into a cement sample man ufactured under ...

Page 5: ...ely and use it again after you eliminate all hazards This operating manual contains safety instructions that you have to observe in order to exclude any risk of fatalities injuries damage to the equipment or improper operation Safety markings are as follows Caution This warning refers to dangers that could cause material damage Danger This warning refers to dangers that could cause severe injuries...

Page 6: ...re modified without such consent 1 5 Acceptance of delivery and transport 1 5 1 Acceptance of delivery When accepting delivery of the equipment first inspect it for its outer visible condition If this inspection is satisfactory the device may be accepted from the freight forwarder railways parcel service or other haul age company If there are no shortcomings and if there are no transport damages t...

Page 7: ...ged in another way 1 6 Scope of delivery The apparatus comes with the following standard accessories Power cord RS232 cable Handset unit Hex key SW 1 25 SW 2 for needle washing unit SW 2 for cone washing unit Operating Manual for apparatus Operating Manual for software Table 1 type of machine Vicat needlel Vicat rings glass plates spare brushes for needle 1 0360 1 station cement Ø1 13mm 1 piece 2 ...

Page 8: ...in which the device is installed Caution The manufacturer of the equipment is not be liable for any damages that result be cause of the information here is not observed Electrical tolerances Actual voltage 10 of the rated voltage Frequency 1 of the rated frequency continually 2 of the rated frequency on a short term basis The manufacturer shall not be liable for damages to persons or properties th...

Page 9: ... optional Test cycles The apparatus supports various cycle times 0 5 1 2 3 5 10 20 and 30 min According to the chosen standard the apparatus uses one of the following penetration patterns and the chosen cycle time to per form the test Figure 2 penetration patterns Note When in single range mode the check box use minimum cycle time is checked the apparatus uses minimum cycle time 0 5 min as soon as...

Page 10: ... a measurement connect the device to the VicatMPM application on a PC Do it with the supplied serial cable by connecting the RS232 socket on the rear of the device and the USB adapter connector on the PC side For more information about how to perform a measurement see VicatMPM Software Manual The touch display responds to the pressure of the finger or of a plastic pin Temperature control is off Pr...

Page 11: ...e that you will find on the CD in the folder according to your op erating system Or b device manager Right click USB Adapter and choose install driver Then click manual search for driver NOT automatic search Choose on CD ftdibus inf according to your operating system Maybe you have to redo the procedure to install drivers for COM Port ftdiport inf Note Communication via USB RS232 Adapter to PC jus...

Page 12: ...rol of the water bath Figure 3 modes of operation Press button to return to the previous display page Press button to go directly to the page TESTING logo Press button to access the settings options Press button to activate the monitoring mode Figure 4 TESTING logo Click on the upper left corner of the start page to go to the next display page Figure 3 settings monitiring Tel 49 30 710 96 45 0 Fax...

Page 13: ... heat sinks lower temperature of the heat sinks run on temperature of the heat sinks correction factor for the temperature sensor of the airflow control Parameters for the Vicat apparatus choice of the cleaner device for needle or cone cleaner device position Y coordinate and Z immersion deepness of the needle center of the sample Y coordinate zero level of the sample surface of the glass plate pe...

Page 14: ...s of the button increases the brightness by 1 Pressing and hold down this button increases the brightness continuously until you release it or the bright ness has reached 100 One time short press of the button decreases the brightness by 1 Pressing and hold down this button decreases the brightness continuously until you release it or the bright ness has reached 10 To get the set value also after ...

Page 15: ... increases the set point continuously by 0 1 C If you press and hold the button for more than 3 seconds the step size increases to 1 C This process continues until you either release the button or you reach the maximum permissible value One time short press of the button decreases the setpoint by 0 1 C Pressing and hold down this button decreases the set point continuously by 0 1 C If you press an...

Page 16: ...ximum permissible value One time short press of the button decreases the hysteresis by 0 1 C Pressing and hold down this button decreases the hysteresis continuously by 0 1 C If you press and hold the button for more than 3 seconds the step size increases to 1 C This process continues until you either release the button or you reach the minimum permissible value To get the set value also after swi...

Page 17: ...e correction factor by 0 1 C Pressing and hold down this button increases the correction factor continuously by 0 1 C If you press and hold the button for more than 3 seconds the step size increases to 1 C This process continues until you either release the button or you reach the maximum permissible value One time short press of the button decreases the correction factor by 0 1 C Pressing and hol...

Page 18: ...ocess starts as soon as the water temperature reaches the value set point heating hyste resis heating or falls below this value The heating process stops as soon as the water temperature rises to the value set point heating or if it has exceeded this value The Figure below shows the graphical representation of the facts Setting values Process values Figure 12 Temperature control start cooling stop...

Page 19: ...s Run on temperature of the heat sinks Correction factor for the temperature sensor of the airflow control Figure 13 parameters for the airflow control At the upper temperature the fans reach the maximum speed and thus produce the maximal airflow The lower temperature of the heat sinks determines the starting velocity and thus the minimum airflow In order to remove the excess heat the fans may con...

Page 20: ... button decreases the value by 0 1 C Pressing and hold down this button decreases the value continuously by 0 1 C If you press and hold the button for more than 3 seconds the step size increases to 1 C This process continues until you either release the button or you reach the minimum permissible value To get the set value also after switching off the device press the button 3 6 2 Setting the lowe...

Page 21: ...un until the heat sinks reaches the run on temperature even after switching off the temperature controller If you want to stop the fans before reaching the run on temperature press the button The fan button changes to and the fans continue to run with a low idle speed Monitoring 12 1 21 3 C 376 sec 34 3 mm 3 45 1 95 3 rH Wait state ...

Page 22: ...s of the humidity sensor Parameters of the humidity sensor Slope Zero voltage Offset The offset adjusts the value to a more accurate reference device Normally this value is set to 0 0 rH Press the button to get to the page for entering the slope Press the button to get to the page for entering the zero level Press the button to enable the use of the humidity sensor Ther Button changes to and when ...

Page 23: ...ert the desired value Decimal delimiter Delete digit To get the set value also after switching off the device press the button 3 7 2 Adjusting the zero voltage of the humidity sensor Figure 17 Adjusting the zero voltage of the humidity sensor Proceed as in the section 3 7 1 Settings Humidity sensor Slope mV rH 30 08885 Settings Humidity sensor Zero voltage Volt 0 835126 ...

Page 24: ...rH If you press and hold the button for more than 3 seconds the step size increases to 1 rH This process continues until you either release the button or you reach the maximum permissible value One time short press of the button decreases the value of the offset by 0 1 rH Pressing and hold down this button decreases the value continuously by 0 1 rH If you press and hold the button for more than 3 ...

Page 25: ...value Press one of the buttons to get to the page where you can performe the desired aktion 3 8 1 Choosing cleaner device Depending on the material to be tested cement or gypsum the right cleaner device is needed For cement sample choose cleaner device for needle For gypsum sample choose cleaner device for cone yet not avaable Figure 20 Choosing cleaner device Press the radio button of the desired...

Page 26: ...cation After pressing this button disables until the device has acknowledged the interruption The label of the but ton changes to Continue measurements and it is blinking during interruption Now you can press button again to get the page where you can perform the desired action Figure 22 Cleaner device position To change the other coordinate simply touch the appropriate field The cursor changes hi...

Page 27: ...sample Y coordinate must be set accurately enough to meet the standard criterion for the distance of the puncture points from the edge of the Vicat ring On the page settings Vicat device press the button If sample is under test the display shows a message to interrupt the measurements Figure 23 otherwise the page for setting the samples center point appears Figure 24 and the needle moves to the la...

Page 28: ... until either you have released the button or you reach the maximum permissible value One time short press of the button decreases the Y value by about 0 1 mm The needle moves toward cleaner device If you keep this button pressed the value continuously decreases by the relevant proportion until either you have released the button or you reach the minimum permissible value To get the set value also...

Page 29: ...place on the measuring sta tion Attention if the rubber buffer is set so that the needle does not reach the glass plate the zero level is determined incorrectly On the page Settings Vicat device press the button If sample is under test the display shows a message to interrupt the measurements Figure 25 otherwise the page for setting the samples zero level appears Figure 26 Figure 25 Hint samples z...

Page 30: ... number of measurement points After performing the measurements the view changes to the next page Figure 28 Figure 28 Zero level determination finished To get the set values retained also after switching off the device press the button Settings Vicat device Sample s zero level Please wait measurement in progress 1 73 Settings Vicat device Sample s zero level Determine zero level of the sample Sett...

Page 31: ...the penetration time by 1 second If you keep this button pressed the value continuously increases until either you have released the button or you reach the maximum permissible value One time short press of the button decreases the penetration time by 1 second If you keep this button pressed the value continuously decreases until either you have released the button or you reach the minimum permiss...

Page 32: ...r gipsum This symbol shows the penetration depth in millimeters measured at the time displayed This symbol is displayed only if the temperature control is switched on and cooling is in progress This symbol is displayed only if the temperature control is switched on and the heating is in progress 3 These symbols show the remaining time until the next measurement on sample 1 Display format minutes s...

Page 33: ...the fans before reaching the Run On temperature press the button The fan button changes to and the fans continue to run with a low idle speed Various states and actions of the device are displayed during the runtime in the status line Vicat is ready wait state Drop rod present Move to the target position Target position achieved Rod released Penetration Measurement Move to the cleaning device Clea...

Page 34: ...erence switch is open Z Reference switch is open Rod magnet defect Time out Motor Z M Time out Motor X M Time out Motor Y M Time out Motor Z M Time out Motor X P Time out Motor Y P Time out Motor Z P Time out Motor X C Time out Motor Y C Time out Motor Z C Time out UART1 M means during the measuremet R means during the reference search P means during moving to position C means during the correctio...

Page 35: ...Operating Manual for this Figure 31 VicatMPM application software Note The VicatMPM software let you determine norm stiffness initial time of seting and fi nal time of setting Final time of seting can be determined very accurately in case the sample surface is appropriate since the measurement deviation within the same level is 0 1mm ...

Page 36: ...Vicat ring use the supplied glass plate 120x5 mm as the base Place the sample on the measuring station and fix it with the fixing ring note the driving pin Figure 32 Fixing the sample on a measuring station Fixing ring Vicat ring Glas plate Measuring station Slot for driving pin on the sample s plate ...

Page 37: ...ed Start the Vicat test via the PC software After each penetration the needle is cleaned with the cleaning device Cover the humidity sensor if available with a rubber cap Figure 33 Cleaning device for needle Note After starting the measurements the device works independently and saves the measurement data internally If the device is connected to PC the measuredt data are transmitted automatically ...

Page 38: ...er each penetration the needle is cleaned with the cleaning device Hinweis If the humidity sensor shows 0 it is either wet or dirty If the humidity sensor is wet it must be carefully blown dry If the sensor is dirty lime dirt it must be carefully cleaned with a soft brush and a non aggressive cleaner e g brake cleaner The surface must look like glass Temperature sensor Humidity sensor Protect the ...

Page 39: ...ront of the glass plate instead Behind the drop rod there is a screw on which the rubber buffer is screwed This screw is secured by a nut Figure 34 Adjustment of the rubber buffer Attention The detection of the needle breakige does not works anymore Rubber buffer Nut M4 SW7 Allen screw M4 SW3 Needle The holding bracket of the drop rod with the needle lies on the rubber buffer while the tip of the ...

Page 40: ...o that the needle can no longer be cleaned they must be replaced Loosen the screws and pull out the brushes from the holders Insert new brushes and tighten the screws Figure 35 Replacing the brushes of device cleaner for needle Note The brushes can be turned into position by hand so that the screws can be reached with the key Insert new brushes and tighten the screws Loosen these screws ...

Page 41: ...Apparatus 1 0360 41 5 3 Replacing the needle 4 Reinsert the drop rod and lock the flap Figure 36 Replacing the needle 1 Loosen the knurled screws to open the flap 2 Remove the drop rode 3 Loosen the screw and re place the needle ...

Page 42: ...ing ring situated under the plate for the sample To do this the plate for the sample must be unscrewed and re moved Then loosen and take out the ring with the sealing ring and replace it with a new one Install the plate and tighten it Figure 37 Replacing the seal ring Unscrew this screw Remove the plate Unscrew this ring and change the seal ring O ring Ø25x2 Seal ring ...

Page 43: ... 12 6 2 Copyright The copyright to this Operating Manual is held by TESTING Bluhm Feuerherdt GmbH This Operating Manual is intended for use only by the User and his her staff It contains instructions and data that may NOT be Reproduced Distributed or Provided to any third party Any person acting in violation of the above stipulations may be prosecuted before a court of law 6 3 Spare parts and tech...

Reviews: