3
Introduction
This manual will cover the operation and setup of all of the options available for your scale. It is important to note that some
described menu items will be missing if that option was not installed in your specific scale. All of the options listed may be
installed in any scale and may run concurrently. Any of the options may be instal
led later at the factory if it wasn’t installed at
time of purchase. Call our service department for details.
RS232 Communications Port
The RS232 option is a fully capable, bi-directional communications port. The port can be configured to operate at a variety of
baud rates and the output data frames are definable by the user. The printing of a frame can be initiated by pressing the print
button, by an external command, upon reaching a setpoint, or continuously when the print stream mode is activated.
The communications port also contains an extensive external command interface allowing key presses, adding and editing
memory slots and even scale calibration to be controlled from external equipment.
Configuring the Port
Baud rate and other parameters can be configured through the Port Configuration screen that can be accessed under menu
SETUP MENU/OPTION SETUPS/RS232/PORT CONFIG .The options are shown below.
BAUD RATE
Settable to 110, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 31250 or 38400 bits per second.
DATA BITS
Seven or Eight
STOP BITS
One or Two
PARITY
Even, odd or none
ECHO
On or off. When echo is enabled the scale will echo each character the scale receives back to the user.
Perform Test Print
As an aid to port configuration we have included a “perform test print” function to the RS232 menu. Executing this will cause
the string “Your RS232 port is working fine!”, a carriage return and a line feed to be output from the port. To access this
function go to the menu SETUP MENU/OPTION SETUPS/RS232/PERFORM TEST PRINT.
Loop Back Test
You may also test the operation of the RS232 port by performing a loop back test. On the output connector, TX and RX
(transmitted and received data) need to be shorted together. When you perform the test, the scale sends data and reads it
back through its own port, where it is compared and the results are show.
Print Stream Mode
Print stream mode will continuously print the currently active print frame at fixed time intervals. Stream mode can be
configured using menu SETUP MENU/OPTION SETUPS/RS232/PRINT STREAM. The lower menu selection ENB will
enable or disable print stream mode, and TIME will be the number of seconds between the beginning of each print frame.
Time settings of .5 to 1638 seconds (27.3 minutes) can be entered. Avoid using time values of less than .5 seconds as it
may slow down or lock up the scale.
When stream mode is enabled, use the print button or the external *P command to start or stop the printing process.
Printing at Stability Using Motion Detection and Stability Control
All Arlyn digital indicators have the capability of detecting motion and/or stabilizing the weight and using it to control printed
outputs. This can be useful in many applications. For example, if you wanted to print labels for several items, you could
simply place each item on the platform, and when the scale gets a stable reading it will print the label automatically. The
Motion Detect, Stability and printing at stability are fully configurable through their respective setup screens.
The Motion Detect indicator looks like an ‘M’ and it is located just to the right of the Zero Indicator / Bar Graph located on the
bottom of the display. It is crossed out if there is no motion, and it is uncrossed if there is motion.
The Stability Control indicator looks like a circle and it is also located just to the right of the Zero indicator/Bar Graph located
on the bottom of the display. The circle is unfilled when the weight is not stable and filled when the weight is stable.
